Soft-Tex International, a leading producer of bedding and home comfort products based in Waterford, has opened a facility in Sugar Land, Texas, which it said will provide an immediate improvement in overall shipping efficiency and double the company’s production capacity for fiber-filled products, adding hundreds of new jobs over the course of 2021.
In the first half of 2020, Soft-Tex previously announced an expansion doubling capacity and set an aggressive target of continued domestic expansion by at least 20 percent per year for the next five years. The ramp up of the new facility will double the total of domestic capacity, far exceeding the annual growth target.
The company also has plans to add 40,000 square feet of storage and office space. The mattress and pillow maker received approval from the Halfmoon Planning Board in March to add warehouse space at 430 Hudson River Road in Halfmoon, next door to an existing Soft-Tex factory.
The Sugar Land facility will begin immediate warehousing and distribution operations that will improve overall shipping efficiency to both retailer warehouse networks and direct-to-consumer shipments with three-day or better ground service coverage, as Soft-Tex scales inventory balancing, officials said in a news release.
In parallel, Soft-Tex will add new production equipment for fiber-filled products and personnel in Texas and hopes to begin manufacturing at the facility by June 1.
“As promised, Soft-Tex has delivered and now continues to expand upon its commitment to growing its domestic footprint,” Soft-Tex principal Mark Smiderle said at the opening of the Sugar Land facility. “These efforts will continue to improve Soft-Tex’s, and in turn, our partners’, overall service quality, speed, and costs, which we recognize is critical to driving continued growth.”
Last summer, Soft-Tex’s officials said the company was speeding up manufacturing and delivery times by moving more production from China to the United States. The company also is focusing on higher-margin products, including anti-microbial lines as well as bedding with heating and cooling technology.
“As offshore sourcing volatility continues in the ever-changing geopolitical landscape exacerbated by the continued pandemic, Soft-Tex has launched initiatives to shift volume for many other bedding product categories back to domestic and/or nearshore supply chains through investing in fabric and ticking partnerships and the planned launch of domestic foam pouring,” the news release said.
The company has also started a subsidiary to build a new sales pipeline in Europe, Asia and South America. The international sales push follows the decision to double production of pillows and mattress pads at its factory in Waterford.
Soft-Tex International is an innovation company focused on building the most comfortable products to help the world sleep and live better. With hundreds of patents, patents pending, and trademarks, Soft-Tex is a leading choice for retailers looking to offer a differentiated, well-merchandised assortment of bedding and home comfort products with the latest features and benefits, according to the company..