California Apparel News

U.S. yarn spinner Buhler Quality Yarns has been acquired by Samil Spinning Co. Ltd. in an all-cash deal for an undisclosed amount.

The South Korean spinning mill acquired the Jefferson, Ga., company from its parent company Switzerland-based Hermann Bühler AG. The acquisition gives Samil Spinning a manufacturing foothold in the Western Hemisphere and increases the company’s global footprint and client portfolio, according to a statement from Buhler, which further said Samil will provide “targeted investments” in the U.S. spinning mill to “build on Buhler’s full product portfolio.”

“We’re very excited,” said Marty Moran, chief executive officer of Buhler Quality Yarns. Samil Spinning acquired the spinning mill’s name and logo, Moran said, “There’s talk of investing to modernize our facility.”

Existing Buhler customers will experience no change following the acquisition, Moran said.

“It’s business as usual for Buhler Quality Yarns,” he said. “We will continue to be Buhler Quality Yarns and operate the portfolio of yarns we have.”

Samil Spinning produces many of the same yarns, including MicroModal, MicroTencel and Modal, as Buhler, “which overlaps nicely with what we do,” Moran said.

Well-known in Asia, Samil’s reach now includes operations in the Western Hemisphere.

“Rather than building a new facility in the U.S., they have access to our customer base and footprint and can build on that, which will accelerate their foray into the Western Hemisphere,” Moran said.

Founded by the late Werner Bieri, Buhler Quality Yarns has built a reputation as a spinner of fine yarns made from Supima cotton, MicroModal Edelweiss, MicroTencel and other blends. Bieri opened the U.S. facility in 1996 to capitalize on Hermann Bühler’s growing U.S. business. Hermann Bühler AG closed its yarn plant in Switzerland late last year.

Buhler Quality Yarns produces 9 million pounds of yarn annually for the fashion, functional apparel, home textiles and industrial fabrics markets in the United States, Central America, the Caribbean, Mexico and Canada.

Samil Spinning opened in 1983 and has grown to be a leading yarn spinner in South Korea supplying yarn—including Lenzing MicroModal, MicroTencel, cotton, wool, silk and linen—for global apparel companies, as well as industrial safety apparel, military uniforms, and fireproof garments. The company has an annual capacity of approximately 50 million pounds.