This week Shalag celebrated the opening of its second U.S. plant, located in South Hill, VA with a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by key company executives, the site workers and local and state officials. The investment, announced last year, reinforces the Israeli company’s commitment to serving its U.S. customer basedwith high quality nonwoven fabrics.

“I can’t say enough about how wonderful it has been to work with everyone in South Hill, Mecklenburg County and the state of Virginia,” says plant general manager, Rodney Clayton.
Shalag closed on the building in August 2024 and, in the past 14 months has completed a major undertaking, not only on schedule but also within budget. The site is now producing materials on an air through bondlng line and a spooling line.

Shalag’s cutting-edge 3D Hybrid technology combines aperturing and embossing to achieve to create extremely soft, strong and absorbent nonwovens. This technology is ideal for a wide range of applications including topsheets and backsheets for hygiene items and filter media HVAC systems.

Tommy Wright, Virginia delegate for the Southside of Virginia praised Shalag and the new facility. “Everyone is very happy you are here,” he says. “This is an exciting chapter for South Hill and Mecklenburg County.”

Wright adds that the investment speaks volumes about Shalag’s confidence in the community as well as its confidence in the local workforce. The site has added more than 50 jobs to the community with an annual salary of $53,000 per year.

Shalag is already paving the way for future investment with a second air through bonding line reportedly planned for the end of 2026 and space for three more nonwovens lines plus valued added machinery.

The South Hill site is Shalag’s second in the U.S. Its initial North American investment, located 45 miles away from South Hill in Oxford, NC, was established in 2009 after a comprehensive search for an optimal location. In 2011, Shalag added a second line to the site and a third line in 2015, bringing the manufacturing site in Oxford to 80,000 square feet.

“By 2024, it became clear that to meet our customers’ needs we had to take the next big step and expand,” says Natan Levy, CEO of Shalag. “This led us to South Hill, VA and this building, which has been completely renovated.”

To date, Shalag’s total U.S. investment stands at $160 million, with $30 million in Virginia.

“We are not done yet,” Levy adds. “We expect this site to become a true twin to the Oxford facility.”

Beyond the U.S., Shalag operates sites in Israel and Italy.