TEXTILES.ORG
Officine Maccaferri announced this week that it will expand its U.S. manufacturing footprint with a significant investment in Synteen Technical Fabrics Inc. with a newly renovated, multi-technology production facility in Fort Lawn, S.C.
Maccaferri acquired Synteen in February 2025. Following twelve months of industrial and commercial integration and portfolio expansion the group is now scaling up its U.S. operations to support a new phase of structured, long-term growth in the region. The investment significantly enhances Synteen’s ability to manufacture in the United States at scale, integrating domestic production with Maccaferri’s global engineering and manufacturing know-how.
By broadening domestic production, the company says it is improving supply chain reliability, reducing lead times, and strengthening service to environmental and civil engineering markets across the region, while ensuring greater customer proximity and faster response times. Production relocation to the Fort Lawn facility is being executed through a phased transition, designed to ensure full operational continuity for customers without supply disruption. Synteen will continue to utilize its legacy site in Lancaster, S.C., transitioning it into a warehouse and logistics facility to support distribution and regional supply chain operations.
The Fort Lawn expansion project encompasses building renovations, infrastructure enhancements, and new manufacturing equipment. As operations ramp up, the facility is expected to create approximately 75 new manufacturing and operations roles, supporting workforce growth and long-term career development in Chester County. The company is investing in training programs, production and maintenance skill development, and manufacturing leadership advancement to build a strong local team.
To sustain this next phase of growth, Maccaferri has recently appointed several new roles. Todd Anderson has joined the Group as Commercial Director for North America, bringing over 30 years of experience in the geosynthetics and civil infrastructure industry to accelerate commercial growth and deepen customer relationships across the region. Robert Hipszer has joined as Synteen Distribution Manager, using over three decades of experience in the industry to support the distribution network sales of Synteen and handle key accounts across North America and the Caribbean. John M. Lostumbo, P.E., has been named the Business Development Director for North America, focusing on new business development, technical project support, and advancement of industry standards, leveraging over 25 years of experience in civil engineering and geosynthetic design applications.
The Fort Lawn facility encompasses 133,690 square feet, compared to the current Lancaster 40,000-square-foot production facility.
Stefano Susani, CEO at Officine Maccaferri, said, “North America represents a fundamental pillar in the Group’s growth trajectory and in strengthening our global leadership in sustainable infrastructure and climate change adaptation engineering. The investment reinforces Maccaferri’s global industrial platform and consolidates our positioning as a partner of choice for advanced and sustainable solutions.”
Aaron Smith, Regional President North America, added. “This investment supports Maccaferri North America’s broader vision to become a leader in the North American market delivering innovative solutions for civil and hydraulic engineering applications, leveraging local manufacturing capabilities, strong technical expertise, and strategic distribution partnerships. Our goal is to deliver innovative, high value-added solutions capable of addressing the region’s infrastructure challenges.”