Flokser Buys Flock Line, Zimmer Printer From Culp
January 22, 2003
High Point, N.C., (USA) — After almost one year of on-and-off negotiations, Culp Inc. finally completed the sale of its flock equipment in Burlington, N.C., as well as its complete printing operation in Lumberton, N.C., to Flokser of Turkey. The purchase price was not disclosed.
Flokser has already begun dismantling the flock range as well as the 22-color Zimmer printer line it purchased from Culp. The Zimmer wet printer is supposedly capable of printing flock and all other types of textiles.
The purchase will enable Flokser to increase its output of flock fabrics by 25 percent, from 800,000 yards to one million yards a month from its Istanbul-based factory. Otherwise put, it elevates Flokser to the second-largest flock fabric producer in the world behind Microfibres (Pawtucket, R.I.).
Flokser beat out a Russian bidder to purchase the equipment. Sources said the used equipment should be up and running in the Flokser plant in a few months.
The sale completes Culp's exit from flock production although it will continue to convert flock fabric and purchase greige cloth from an outside source. Flokser dragged its feet in making the purchase for the past year in order to be sure there was still a strong market for flock upholstery.
"The flock fabric business has shifted from the U.S.A. to Russia, India, Pakistan and the Far East," one source commented. "It is a less expensive fabric to produce compared to other types of upholstery and is sought after by furniture manufacturers and retailers in those other markets but is just not as desirable in the U.S.A."
A recent tour of Russian furniture retailers by the flock supplier Intermark confirmed that flock sales are indeed stronger than ever in the Russian upholstery market. F&FI
Flokser has already begun dismantling the flock range as well as the 22-color Zimmer printer line it purchased from Culp. The Zimmer wet printer is supposedly capable of printing flock and all other types of textiles.
The purchase will enable Flokser to increase its output of flock fabrics by 25 percent, from 800,000 yards to one million yards a month from its Istanbul-based factory. Otherwise put, it elevates Flokser to the second-largest flock fabric producer in the world behind Microfibres (Pawtucket, R.I.).
Flokser beat out a Russian bidder to purchase the equipment. Sources said the used equipment should be up and running in the Flokser plant in a few months.
The sale completes Culp's exit from flock production although it will continue to convert flock fabric and purchase greige cloth from an outside source. Flokser dragged its feet in making the purchase for the past year in order to be sure there was still a strong market for flock upholstery.
"The flock fabric business has shifted from the U.S.A. to Russia, India, Pakistan and the Far East," one source commented. "It is a less expensive fabric to produce compared to other types of upholstery and is sought after by furniture manufacturers and retailers in those other markets but is just not as desirable in the U.S.A."
A recent tour of Russian furniture retailers by the flock supplier Intermark confirmed that flock sales are indeed stronger than ever in the Russian upholstery market. F&FI