New Trion Company Starts With 50 Employees

By JIMMY ESPY
Staff Writer
The “big machine” at Dixie Specialty Fibers is now operating and more than 50 employees are drawing paychecks at the new plant in the Trion Industrial Park.
The plant will produce microfine denier – extremely fine fibers – to be used by the floor covering industry, primarily in the manufacture of bathmats.
Lisa Tyson, financial manager with LaFayette-based Dixie companies, praised the cooperation of Trion officials.
“Anytime we needed anything, they got it done,” said Tyson. “They have been very good to work with.”
She was also pleased with the new workforce.
“We’ve got a great group of people, a great team,” she said. “Things have been a little chaotic, as you would expect with a new company, and a little stressful. But the team has been bearing up through it all.”
Company officials are already discussing expansion plans for the future.
“Phase two will mean a second machine in operation,” according to Tyson. “We’re in talks now about purchasing it. But that will take time. It takes 12 to 18 months just to build one of the machines.”