Universal opens 200,000-square-foot upholstery plant in Hildebran

The recent relocation of Universal Furniture’s upholstery operation from Conover to Hildebran came with a number of built-in positives.

The Hildebran facility allowed consolidation of the operation in a one-floor, 200,000-square-foot building.

“This facility allows more flexibility,” said Universal President Sean O’Connor at the Hildebran facility’s grand opening on Wednesday afternoon.

“Everything is on one floor which simplifies the entire work process,” O’Connor told a gathering of furniture industry VIPs, on-site managers, and several media members.

Relocating from Conover to Hildebran resulted in a $1 million operational savings for the company, O’Connor said.

One possible negative to the move: O’Connor was fearful that not all of the plant’s 120 employees would want to make the transition.

His fears proved baseless. All of the current employees made the move and Universal plans to hire an additional 20 to 30 employees over the next two years.

“That is a strong statement to me that we are building pride in our brand and in our company,” O’Connor said. “We want this to be an attractive place to work.

“We didn’t move here to stand still,” he continued. “We moved here to grow.”

Universal is owned by Samson Marketing, and the upholstery facility is part of an 800,000-

square-feet campus under one roof, surrounded by more than 50 acres of additional land.

The campus is just a stone’s throw away from U.S. 70 and is even closer to the Southern Railway line. It’s also just across the street from one of Eastern Burke County’s more famous eateries, Tex’s Fish Camp.

Before Universal closed the Conover facility and made the move to Hildeban, a number of renovations and improvements had to be made to the plant.

Seven new HVAC units and eight new boiler heaters were installed.

The electrical systems in all areas of the plant were fully updated.

Nine new offices dedicated to product development, management, human resources, and shipping were placed in the building.

Cosmetic improvements included full interior and exterior painting, including new signage across the building and its loading docks.

In addition, Universal added a dedicated on-site health care suite to meet the health needs of its workers. This includes an on-site clinic with an examination room and a waiting area.

A registered nurse or a physician’s assistant will be on-site two days a week to meet with employees about their health care needs.

Also included in the renovation was an upgraded break room, featuring a new canteen with an outside vendor to provide fresh food options daily.

According to promotional material provided by Universal, the company is known throughout the furniture industry as a respected provider of whole-home furnishings.

“By expanding its made-to-order capabilities and focusing on designer-centric customization and fabric and material innovation,” a press release reads, “Universal has worked to balance craft tradition with operational efficiency.”

Although no local officeholders were recognized at Wednesday’s grand opening, O’Connor did read a statement provided by U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis.

“I’m proud to see Universal Furniture continue investing in North Carolina with the opening of its new upholstery facility in (Hildebran)” read Tillis’ statement.

“This expansion reflects our state’s strong business climate and skilled workforce,” the statement continued, “which continue to drive growth and renovation across our communities.”

Universal Furniture was founded in 1968 and is based in High Point. It is a brand of Samson Holdings.