Flooring maker adds third shift, 30 workers to Dalton facility

And in a housing market in which almost half the sales of flooring products are to remodelers, it's no surprise that Belgian-based IVC is adding a third shift at Dalton, even though its first American factory has been open barely more than a year."This actually, is our second expansion," says Andrew Kearton, IVC-US Vice President for Manufacturing.The thirty workers will join more than 100 production personnel, who had been working 12-hour shifts and 3-day weeks. The added shift will put workers on 8-hour days and 5-day weeks.It also means IVC begins its second year, where many expected it to be at the end of the third.

"Dalton has a very good pool of talent here in terms of workers in a similar type of industry, Kearton says.A free-flowing and deep pool, thanks to the Great Recession and the near-collapse of the homebuilding industry. Kearton has pored over hundreds of applications, to fill his dozens of opening."We have very specific concepts and processes, he says. "Experience in those would be worthwhile having. Dye-making is very important, so color-knowledge is good, as is understanding how all the processes work together."Scott Nutter and Doug Bradley of Shamberg Johnson Bergman Win 1.6 Million Verdict Against Image Flooring.

IVC began third-shift hiring in December. Job postings on its web site, ivcgroup.com, include openings for an Electrical Engineer, a Process Engineer, Ink Maker, Quality Inspector, Claims Specialist, Credit Specialist, and a Technical Development Manager.IVC won't show us the factory itself or allow interviews with workers; citing proprietary technology and trade secrets. But the need of for those symbolizes a level of competition that offers lessons and direction as to how Dalton's flooring industry can put itself on more solid ground."We do not have to be just a flooring economy," says Brian Anderson, President/CEO of the Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce.