Raleigh, N.C—After months of anticipation, Pergo has officially opened its new 180,000-sq.ft. distribution center in Garner, N.C. In relocating from a 136,000-sq.-ft. facility at Keystone Park in Durham, N.C., and moving its distribution center to a position adjacent to its manufacturing plant, Pergo hopes to realize improved operating efficiencies in both inventory storage and distribution. The new, larger facility should be fully operational by June 10, and the laminate producer will transfer 45 positions from Durham to Garner as part of its move, noted Lars von Kantzow, Pergo’s president and CEO. No additional positions were created as a result of the change. “This new distribution center will help contribute to improved profitability and efficiency,” he said. “By having our distribution facility adjacent to the manufacturing plant, we will save on transportation costs. We are already energized by our positive, first-quarter results and believe this effort will contribute to future success of our business.”

Von Kantzow’s statement comes following Pergo AB’s—the laminate producer’s parent company—recent earnings announcement at the company’s annual general meeting that worldwide net sales during the first quarter of 2002 amounted to an increase of 6% compared to the corresponding period in 2001. Pergo AB also reported a worldwide operating profit compared to a loss in the prior year. A Charlotte-based builder/developer, The Keith Corp., was appointed for the the Pergo expansion project while the Bovis Construction Corp. and the architectural firm of Arcadis, Geraghty & Miller comprised the core team of professionals. “We are extremely pleased to have met our objectives for this project,” concluded Bengt Lundgren, Pergo’s vice president of manufacturing, logistics and planning. “They’ve done an excellent job on our behalf.” For more information on Pergo and its products, call 919/773-6000. —Louis Iannaco