Südwolle Group, a German-based producer of spun wool yarns plans to open its first U.S. distribution facility in Mount Airy. It is projected to open this month. The 94-year-old family owned company, based in Nuremberg, makes pure wool and wool-blend worsted spun yarns for weaving, and circular and flat knitting. It also has operations in Australia, China, Italy, Poland and Romania.

The facility will employ four workers and has the potential to grow from there. It would be announcing full details at the SpinExpo trade show in New York City on July 15-17. It will serve as a central U.S. location to help Sudwolle better serve its customers in the hosiery business and provide a quicker turnaround for shipping products to along the East Coast and in the South and Midwest. Through their new facility in Mount Airy, they can respond even more effectively to their customers in the United States.

Hans von Schuh, managing director of sales for Südwolle, said that the U.S. market for wool yarns is critical for them and continues to grow in importance as consumers demand more premium wool products. Legwear and circular knit fabrics for active/outdoor apparel and legwear are two of its key markets.

Südwolle has spinning operations in Zhangjiagang City, China, Lodz, Poland, and Simleu Silvaniei, Romania. It has a dyehouse in its China operation, two central warehouses in Germany and one each in China and Italy, and a farm in Australia.

It has an annual spinning capacity of about 21,000 tons of yarn, with 60 percent produced in Europe and 40 percent in China.

Its brands are: Südwolle for weaving yarns; Biella Yarn for flat knitting yarns; Yarn in Motion for circular knitting yarns; Richter for hosiery; Stöhr – yarns for technical applications, such as automotive, upholstery and corporate; and Soey – for air jet yarns.

The Germany company, Südwolle sees the U.S. has a really viable place to do business.