On the Factory Floor: Part 5
While we toured the factory, we were first introduced to each office staff employee by name. They worked in offices upstairs and downstairs. They have departments for graphics, IT, finances, logistics and human resources, just to name a few. What I liked the most about this experience was to listen to David Peeters introduce each staff member – by name, one after another. He knew how long they had worked for Norwex and gave informative details about what each department did. It was obvious he had a heart for his employees.
Prior to entering the factory floor, we were all provided hats. Yup, they looked really good, as you can see.
Our tour started in the inventory warehouse.
Then we were taken on a tour of the factory floor. This was so exciting to see first hand. My was so impressed how bright and clean the factory was! I’m dutch, what can I say. These are two attributes I look for in all areas of my life. As we walked in, we saw the newest Norwex machine used for laying out the microfiber. The machine meters out the fabric, while two employees ensure it is smooth with two smoothing rods. Here they are making Blue Enviro Cloths.
The enormous blots of fabric ready to be rolled out. David is explaining the new machine and its capability. As the microfiber is rolled out, two men ensure it is totally flat. They smooth any fine ripples with two rods.
Once the multiple layers of microfiber are laying flat, they are cut with a laser for precision as well as to maximize the material and reduce waste.
This is the laser cutting machine. Once the fabric is all piled, the laser accurately shapes the clothes. The stacks are then removed and transferred for inspection. Above is a plethora of dusting mitts, cut and ready to be sewn.
After the cloths are cut, each and every cloth is handled and inspected on both sides for fiber or colour dye defects. Any slight imperfection and the cloth is immediately rejected. The quality control is so high, one of the employees had to show me why she decided to reject a cloth. Her reason was a very slight variation in the colouring in one corner, something I would not have noticed. Wow, I was impressed. This is a picture of the table the employees stand by to inspect stack after stack of microfiber.
The inspection table.
Once the clothes are rigorously inspected, they are moved onto the sewing machines. Now these ladies can sew! They zip along, up one side and down the other. They sit on nice comfortable pillows, covered in Window Cloth material and they have lots of work space.
Zipping along on their sewing machine!
After each cloth is perfectly sewn, they are passed onto the hot tip station. Each and every cloth is fused with a hot-tipped iron to seal and secure each corner.
Each corner is touched with a hot-tipped iron…. A perfect finished product. One cloth at a time.
Any product that has excess fluff on it, like the Dusting Mit, Bathroom Scrub Mit, Enviro Wand or Car Washing Mitt, is then passed through a vacuum to remove any excessive debris.
Dusting off the dusting mitts.
It is time for a trim! Each and every cloth is handled again for the sole purpose to find any loose strings. With a keen eye and sharp little scissors, each cloth is examined in fine detail for anything that needs to be trimmed.
Trimming up any stray strings.
Each cloth is now given one more inspection by hand. Each piece of microfiber is investigated on each side for approval.
Final hand inspection. This is vigorous. They carefully search for any missed stitch or flaw in the sewing process. To my eye it would look perfect, but their eye is trained to spot the slightest defect.
The final test is that every piece of microfiber is then sent through an x-ray machine. As sewing machines are used for the assembly of each item, the needles can occasionally break, or a tip may chip off without the seamstress knowing. This last step ensures a perfect product for you and I!
WOW!! What a tremendous effort to deliver an amazing product. I don’t know if you were counting, but that is NINE individuals who have touched each microfiber product prior to it leaving the Cut & Sew Factory. Remarkable!!
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Delores VandenBoogaard is an Independent Norwex Sales Consultant from Edmonton, Alberta Canada with customers and consultants throughout Canada and the United States including; New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island, North West Territories and Ontario. She also has customers and team members in; Michigan, Texas, California, Massachusetts, Florida, Arizona, Missouri, Colorado, North Carolina, South Carolina, Idaho, Washington, New Hampshire, Iowa and Maine.
