Fluvitex, a subsidiary of Masias Maquinaria SL, opened its first U.S. factory, cutting the ribbon in October on a new, state-of-the art, filled soft-goods plant.
Fluvitex, a filled-bedding producer headquartered in Valls, Spain, held the grand opening October 3 of its first U.S. production facility, located in Groveport, Ohio. Operating in the United States as Fluvitex USA Inc., the company is a subsidiary of machinery and technology company Masias Maquinaria SL, based in Girona, Spain.
The new automated factory was designed and equipped by Masias and will supply longtime customer IKEA.
The 123,000-square-foot plant utilizes a new filling-station concept previously developed by Masias in Spain in collaboration with IKEA. According to a news release, it increases productivity by about 50% over older filling systems. The two companies have worked together for more than seven years.
The Ohio plant represents an investment of about $9.5 million in machinery and equipment, alone, and a total investment of more than $13.4 million.
The plant is scheduled to produce about two-thirds of the quilts, comforters and pillows sold by IKEA in North America and will employ about 80 residents of the greater Columbus area. Initial production projections are for 4.3 million pillows per year and 1.45 million comforters, with capacity for more.
Masias is a 75-year-old machinery supplier with a history as a leader in the development of technologies for the handling and treatment of fibers for furnishings and beddings.
View the following photo gallery of the October 3 grand opening of the first Fluvitex plant in the United States in Groveport, Ohio. The event included a ribbon-cutting and formal remarks from representatives of Masias, Fluvitex, IKEA and government officials, as well as a factory tour and buffet lunch:
