Shaw sells interest in company in Augusta

Published 5:40 pm Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Dalton-based Shaw Industries has sold its controlling interest in Nylon Polymer Co. in Augusta to Royal DSM, but the sale has no impact on any other Shaw facilities there, officials said.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. It’s not expected to affect current Shaw employees.

Royal DSM was previously Shaw’s partner in the Nylon Polymer Co. DSM now owns complete control of the facility that produces nylon polymer.

“The transaction is a clear win for both companies,” stated Hal Long, executive vice president of operations for Shaw. “DSM has a need for additional nylon polymerization capacity for engineering plastics. Shaw was able to meet their needs through our excess capacity.”

There was some confusion that the deal involved Shaw’s Evergreen Nylon Recycling plant in Augusta. Long dispelled those rumors.

“This transfer has absolutely no impact on Shaw’s Evergreen Nylon Recycling Facility, its caprolactam production or other assets on site in Augusta,” Long said.  

Shaw acquired the recycling plant in 2006 and invested several million dollars into it. Shaw uses the plant to recycle post-consumer carpet into caprolactam, which is a building block of nylon, to make new nylon fiber. The facility has become one of the company’s key components in its efforts to be more conscious of the environment.

Shaw Industries is the world’s largest carpet manufacturer and has about 26,000 employees. The company has approximately $5 billion in annual sales.