Vortex Companies launched United Felts last week, which was the result of the acquisition of Applied Felts Inc., FerraTex Solutions, and MaxLiner. The new company will unite the three under the banner of United Felts, solidifying its position as the premier supplier of Cured-In-Place Pipe (CIPP).
But aside from the name change and related rebranding effort, the 200 employees of the facility in Martinsville will notice few changes, according to Matt Timberlake, president of United Felts.
He explained that the operation previously included three distinct groups – the Applied Felts manufacturing facility on College Drive, the FerraTex facility on Holley Drive, which opened in 2019 and applies the resin needed on products for delivery to customers, and MaxLiner, which shares space in the Holley Drive building and produces small diameter products needed to rehabilitate residential sewer lines.
The building on Holley Drive “will continue to be a shared space,” Timberlake said.
“We do both standard liner construction. The majority of our business” is the production of standard sizes, he said. “But we also can do custom design,” and therefore can tailor products to specific customer needs.
Operations span multiple shifts, depending on many factors, including capacity and demand,
Vortex announced that the Applied Felts Inc. & FerraTex Solutions brands will be retired over the coming months. The MaxLiner brand will remain intact under the operation of United Felts.
The launch of United Felts coincided with a momentous milestone: the production of the company’s 100,000th liner, representing an astounding 200 million feet and “a testament to our unwavering dedication to excellence and customer satisfaction,” the company stated in a release. “This milestone, on the day we announce United Felts, positions us as a leader in the trenchless rehabilitation sector and marks the beginning of an exciting journey towards even greater achievements.”
Timberlake said continuing to build on the company’s legacy is his goal.
“We want to continue to build on” Applied Felts’ “30-year legacy,” Timberlake said and added the facility is ranked as a Best in Class. “Martinsville is home for everyone at that plant, and we’re not going to change that. We’re going to continue to invest in the facility” and in its employees.
“I have been overwhelmed by the number of employees I’ve talked to” in the last few weeks, who have been dedicated to the Martinsville operation for 25 years or more, Timberlake said, adding there are plans to grow the Martinsville operation.
“As early as last week, I was looking at other” industrial sites, Timberlake said. “We want to build on the legacy that is there” in Martinsville.
Timberlake noted that “the launch of United Felts marks a pivotal moment in our journey, as we continue to push boundaries and deliver solutions to our customers. United Felts inherits decades of manufacturing experience and innovation to lead the industry, offering unparalleled quality, efficiency, and service excellence,” Timberlake said and added that the ethos of the company is encapsulated in its brand promise: United to Deliver Big. It also reflects the company’s dedication to surpassing customer expectations, delivering with precision, speed, and reliability, each step of the way.”
As part of the rebranding effort, United Felts also introduced a new logo, to symbolize its commitment to a bold new era in trenchless rehabilitation and American-made quality. The logo embodies the company’s values of innovation, quality, and reliability, setting the stage for a future defined by excellence.
A leading provider of advanced trenchless water and sewer technologies, Vortex Companies delivers a comprehensive suite of rehabilitation products, equipment, services, and field support to the municipal, industrial, and commercial marketplaces, according to its website. Its products include pipe and manhole lining systems; sewer robotics; mortars; epoxies and resin materials; liners and wet-out services, installation equipment; contracting services, training, and field support.
“Our dedication to our customers is embodied in United Felts, as we strive to deliver BIG with every liner we produce,” Mike Vellano, CEO of Vortex Companies, said in a release. “With United Felts, customers can expect unmatched quality, impeccable lead times, and exceptional service, reaffirming our commitment to exceeding expectations.”
