Bedding Manufacturer Relies on Unit Production for High Quality
ALPHARETTA, GA - March 28, 2006 - Eton Systems, the world's leading provider of unit production systems (UPS) for the sewn-product industries, announces that HomTex, Inc.; a leading domestic manufacturer high-quality sheet sets, mattress pads, and pillow cases; has successfully completed the conversion of its Vinemont, Alabama manufacturing facility from manual processes to fully automated unit production systems. Over the past five-plus years, the company has implemented a total of five Eton production lines, which are now used to produce its entire line of branded and contract bedding products.
Founded in 1988 as a contract sewing company, HomTex, Inc. caters to the hospitality, retail and home furnishing industries. With the growth and popularity of luxury mattresses, the company developed its DreamFit ® brand to meet consumers' needs for a better fitting linen line that would stay on their bed during the night. Currently manufactured at 250, 310 & 420 thread counts, the patented DreamFit ® fitted sheet comprises the highest quality materials that exceed industry standards and sells at mid-point retailers and specialty sleep shops.
HomTex has also focused significant effort on improving production flow and productivity in its 99,000 square-foot facility. With a total of 85 employees, the company produces approximately 25-30,000 units per week on its five Eton production lines. "With Eton, we were able to increase our overall productivity by 20%", noted Jeannie Long, General Manager at HomTex. "In addition to the obvious reduction in handling, we also experienced a big reduction in employee fatigue. This allows our operators be much more productive during the entire day. Removing the manual handling of the large pieces has provided us with benefits beyond our expectations."
Eton's computerized conveyor system eliminates manual transportation and dramatically reduces non-productive operator handling by consistently delivering perfectly organized component parts in the most efficient manner for each operation. By converting batch processing to highly efficient unit production flow, Eton drastically reduces costly WIP inventories, shrinks production lead times, and focuses resources on the highest priority products. With the overhead conveyor, the system minimizes floor space requirements, creates greater visibility on the production floor, and reduces damages during production.
"One of our key goals with Eton was to consolidate all of our production into one centralized area", added Ms. Long. "By hanging the products from the high-mounted system, we were able to save a tremendous amount of floor space as compared to the old method of using large tables throughout the lines. We also improved the flow of products through our facility by consolidating all of the production lines into one central location."
About Eton Systems
Eton Systems AB is the innovator and world's leading supplier of the Unit Production System (UPS), the renowned productivity and management system developed specifically for use in the sewn-products industries. Eton's UPS automates material flow through the production process and minimizes material handling for each operation throughout the manufacturing process. Eton's technology and know-how enables companies to manage material and information in the most efficient fashion, including wall-to-wall data management from operations performed within as well as outside of the UPS system.
Headquartered in Sweden, the company operates with direct subsidiaries and agents worldwide. Eton Systems Inc. is based in Alpharetta, GA and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eton Systems AB.
For more information on Eton Systems, phone: (770) 475-8022 (USA - Georgia) or + 46 33 231200 (Sweden); e-mail: sales@etonsystems.com; or visit the website at: www.etonsystems.com.
The Americas Global
Rick Ludolph Fredrik Sätradahl
Marketing Consultant Marketing
Phone: (770) 321-9842 (Atlanta) Phone: + 46 33 231200 (Sweden)
r.ludolph@productivesol.com fredrik.satradahl@eton.se.
