Sri Lankan apparel and fabric manufacturing conglomerate MAS Holding is set to open its first manufacturing and development centre in the US in Randolph County in a move designed to improve speed to market and flexibility for its customers and will also create 133 new jobs. This was announced by Governor Roy Cooper.

North Carolina enjoys a worldwide reputation as a center for textile research and workers. Their excellent business climate and location offer international firms an ideal place to reach and serve customers in the United States.

The company's selection of a North Carolina location includes a pending acquisition of Asheboro based textile manufacturer Acme-McCrary, a 108-year-old textile manufacturer, with additional facilities in Chatham County and the Republic of Honduras. The company produces legwear and active wear for large US retailers.

WH Redding, chairman of Acme-McCrary stated that MAS Holdings brings to North Carolina an exemplary corporate culture and a growing business. Their concern for environmental impact is world class and keeping and growing textile jobs in North Carolina is exciting.

Mahesh Amalean, chairman of MAS Holdings said that they are delighted to be associated with Acme-MCCrary, whose values and philosophy are very much in alignment with MAS. Their presence in the Western Hemisphere enables them to strengthen their value propositions of speed and flexibility offered through on-shore and near-shore operations to their customers. It also enables them to engage and strengthen their continued association with academia and research institutions in the US.

MAS plans to invest nearly US$20m in the Asheboro facility, providing additional payroll impack exceeding $4m annually. An a performance based grant of $575,000 from the One North Carolina Fund will help facilitate the new centre.

MAS Holdings headquartered in Sri Lanka, employs more than 85,000 associates worldwide, operating 48 state-of-the-art facilities in 15 countries including design offices, apparel and component manufacturing plants and private industrial parks. Recently, the company has been working to integrate technology into clothing, partnering with startup companies in the Silicon Valley region of California and in New York in the fields of wearable technology and health and wellness.