Firms to add more than 300 new jobs in Calhoun, Dalton
Sep 14, 2009 | 1651 views | 14 14 comments | 12 12 recommendations | email to a friend | print
Plans announced by two flooring manufacturers Monday mean more than 300 new jobs in Northwest Georgia.

Dalton-based Shaw Industries said it is expanding its operations in Calhoun, and will add 200 jobs at its previously idled facility there. Shaw expects the facility’s expansion to be completed by mid-2010. Meanwhile, Belgium’s IVC Group announced it will open its first plant in the U.S. in Dalton in 2011, bringing 115 jobs to the city.

Previous Shaw employees in the community who have been displaced over the past few months due to economic conditions will be given the first opportunity to fill the new positions.

“Our commitment to our customers and future growth drives our long-range planning,” said Vance Bell, Shaw Industries CEO. “This expansion of operations, which is located in a community and state we’ve had great experiences with, will give us the best competitive advantage and position for the long term.”

IVC currently operates a 220,000-square-foot distribution center in Dalton and another in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. The centers distribute a wide range of cushioned-back vinyl products designed specifically for the U.S. market.

“We reviewed proposals and looked at sites in many areas of the country,” said IVC US Inc. CEO Xavier Steyaert. “Ultimately, we’ve established strong roots here in the state of Georgia. So many positive factors combined to end our journey where it began — back home in Dalton.”

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comments (14)
« Bond,JamesBond wrote on Saturday, Sep 19 at 01:10 PM »
I'm not disagreeing that pride days aren't a joke. I don't attend them unless made to. Alot of things around shaw don't make sense, but no matter what company you work for, it will be that way. Mostly from plant employees I have spoken to it's the legal workers that won't to move to d7
« anonymous wrote on Saturday, Sep 19 at 12:15 PM »
I have not worked for shaw,but have done vending at 2 plants for years,pride day is a joke,last year they had cookout at plant,had like karaoke,you go around inside plant and have games like toss balloons,just silly little games.not like ya"ll used to get.and they are chosen by random to have pride day.I wouldn't won't it.you get cool gifts,but they take taxes out on you at end of year,and then all these plants shutting down,for what to reopen another one.just to let the illegals get jobs first.
« Bond,JamesBond wrote on Friday, Sep 18 at 03:17 PM »
A pride day is something shaw awards plants that are doing great, or that what is said. I have saw pride days awarded to plants that have bad numbers, I'm not sure how the award them. Blondie I wouldn't be surprised if those 3 mills close, and you are right to the one who decide the fate of a plant( and it's employees) seniority doesn't matter. To anonymous the sheets I am talking about are expenditures verses income. Those show 7 loosing money for sometime. Also, I'm not an IE. Even those it isn't right those are what matters to the decision makers. You are right only 5 employees from 7 are at D5 now, several went there, but didn't stay longer than a few days. About the overhaulers everytime I walked threw they were on break or proped on there tool boxes doing nothing. Plant 7 was due to close sadly. It sounds like you worked at 7 not sure as what though, maybe a supervisor. They were more negatives on paper than positives that had alot to do with it closing
« blondie2 wrote on Friday, Sep 18 at 10:36 AM »
Forgot to ask. What is a pride day?
« blondie2 wrote on Friday, Sep 18 at 10:34 AM »
The spun yarn plants are down to 3 now, I think. I have several relatives that work at different Shaw plants. I was told there would be another of the remaining 3 closed soon. These employees are being offered jobs in other plants and then those are being closed. There isn't much notice given. They walk in the door and tell them you have weeks to find another job. There is no job security from what I read. Seniority means nothing. 25 years on the job means nothing. If you don't want to take a huge cut in pay and travel to a plant further away, so sorry. We appreciate your years of valuable service but there is the door.

« anonymous wrote on Friday, Sep 18 at 10:13 AM »
« anonymous wrote on Friday, Sep 18 at 12:18 AM »
007-- I have ran the ole Suessen many times. Also worked im spinning,winding,carding,the lab,blending and shipping and Rec. in a long career.

Don't know what records from #7 you have access to,maybe you work in an IE position. When you are making yarn that nobody wants. Numbers can say anything Not selling spun Carpet, not paying the bills...Right??

When Plant 7 closed,it was at the top of the list for Spun mills.They saw the list every monday morning.The employees did everything asked to do.

As a matter of Fact They were awarded a Pride Day 2 weeks before they were shut down. Shaw gave them checks in leiu of a Pride day.

Less than 5 employees from Plant 7 went to D5

I don't think 5 out of 400 is a good measuring stick on a group's work ethic.

As for the Overhaulers? I don't know how you arrived at that statement? Were they costing money or did you see them doing nothing?

Plant 7 was closed for a change to a selling product. Plant 7 had to many positives to remain closed.Location to tufting mills is one.

I bet new plans for DX will magically appear in 6 months too

« Bond,JamesBond wrote on Thursday, Sep 17 at 05:51 PM »
If you think that running a superba or sussien heatset machine is easy why dont you apply for a job. I have also been around and threw the d4/d5 facilities several times. I have several freinds that have ran those machines and they arent a breeze. They work the butt's off for months before getting good at it. While what you say about what the old plant 7 employees were told is true. From looking at the spread sheets for plant 7 over the past few years the last 3 inpartular they werent a top running mill, they cost were overwhelming. They had what 15-20 overhaulers sitting and doing nothing. From people I know at d5 that got alot of people from plant 7, they all say the people are slow, and some are untrainable to run anything at d5. Did the hourly employees deserve better-YES. I am sorry they got honestly screwed like they did. I honestly do beleive with the right management direction along with some cut backs plant 7 could have stayed open.
« anonymous wrote on Thursday, Sep 17 at 03:32 PM »
True,seniority at Shaw does not mean anything. Work 1 year at Shaw you make the same as the same as a 30 year employee.



Most of the Laid off workers from Plant#7 have not found new jobs. 100 have been retained by Shaw. Most off those 100 have taken major pay cuts to keep employment.20 of those 100 or so were management level.

As for training on new filament equipment over old spun yarn. That does not hold water. It takes less than a week to adapt.As a matter of fact. The new equipment is a breeze to operate.

Spun Yarn compared to filament is a much more complicated process.There is much less involved in a filament mill.I have been in d4 and d5 many times.There is no rocket science going on there.

The employees at 7 were told on shut down day that Plant was no longer needed due to the decline of spun yarn sales. They were also told that to switch the process over to something else was too costly. I guess things change in 6 months.

I just believe they deserved better than they got.Plant 7 was a top performing mill for Shaw when they closed.Poor management had them running the wrong product.
« Robert E, Lee wrote on Thursday, Sep 17 at 12:02 PM »
I stand corrected.
« rbk2003 wrote on Wednesday, Sep 16 at 06:21 PM »
that isnt true I work for shaw operators make the same no matter if they have been there 2 months or 20 years. The reason they are offering d5 people jobs first is cause they arent the same machines as plant 7(d7 now) had before d5 people have experince with the machines going in there now. Some of the people that were laid off at 7 before will get there jobs back but sum have already moved on within shaw or other companies
« Robert E, Lee wrote on Tuesday, Sep 15 at 01:56 PM »
New hires make less money than long timers.
« Truthfinder wrote on Tuesday, Sep 15 at 09:49 AM »
Why doesnt Shaw give these 200 Jobs back to the Workers they displaced last May? Many of those employees had 20 25 30 years at Plant#7

Giving the existing workers at D5 the first chance at "New Jobs" at The NEW "D7" just doesnt seem right

« Truthfinder wrote on Tuesday, Sep 15 at 09:37 AM »
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