Made in New England: New Balance and Rhody Rug are staples in the northeast
New Balance is located in Methuen, Mass., and Rhody Rug resides in Lincoln, RI - favorites nationwide
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SMALL-SCALE BUT FOR OTHERS THEY PRODUCTS KNOWN THE WORLD OVER. >> WHAT NEW BALANCE DOES BETTER THAN ANYONE IN THE WORLD, WE HAVE THE PERFECT LEND OF TECHNOLOGY AND CRAFTSMANSHIP. NICOLE: IT TAKES A LOT OF PEOPLE TO CREATE A PAIR OF SHOES, AND BOSTON-BASED NEW BALANCE IS DOING THAT RIGHT HERE IN NEW ENGLAND, THEY GOT THEIR START IN BOSTON IN 1906 MAKING ARCH SUPPORT. IN 2022, THE COMPANY EXPANDED MANUFACTURING TO BRUIN, CHRONICLE GOT A LOOK INSIDE. HERE THEY ARE MAKING ONE OF THE BRANDS ICONIC SNEAKERS. 1990 IT WAS OUR FIRST ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS SHOE. THIS IS WHERE WE POLL AND IT’S SORT ARE PIGSKIN. >> THEY RELY BOTH ON ECHNOLOGY AND THE TOUCH TO TRANSFORM WET MATERIALS INTO SOMETHING YOU CAN WEAR. >> I’M GOING TO SHOW YOU OUR CAPABILITIES, WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO, IS REMOVE SOME OF THE ERGONOMIC ISSUES. >> SEWING AND STITCHING IS EXECUTED BY A TEAM OF WORKERS. >> WE NEED TO CREATE A THREE-DIMENSIONAL FORM, NO ROBOT HAS BEEN CREATED THAT CAN OUT CRAFTSMAN A INDIVIDUAL. WE HAVE A GREAT GROUP OF PEOPLE HERE. >> AT LEAST 70% OF THESE ISSUES AND THEIR COMPONENTS ARE MADE IN THE U.S., BUT SOME PIECES ARE IMPORTED LIKE THE SOLES. WHEN IT’S TIME TO ATTACH THE SOULS, NEW BALANCE TURNS TO THE SPRAY BOX. >> THE NOZZLE WILL SPRAY ADHESIVE ONLY ALONG THE AREAS WHERE WE WANT IT TO BE. >> THIS OWN UPPERS ARE PUT ONTO A FOOT SHEET FORM AND A PRESS ATTACHES THE SOUL. THIS IS WHAT WE WILL PACK AND SHIP TO OUR CONSUMERS. >> MORE THAN A CENTURY AFTERNOON BALANCE WAS FOUNDED IN BOSTON, THE COMPANY TAKES PRIDE IN MAKING SHOES IN NEW ENGLAND. >> THE REASON FOR OUR NEW ENGLAND EXPANSION, IS BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE THE 1970’S, CREATING A STRONG MANUFACTURING BASE AT HOME. BALANCE IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF THAT. >> YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW THEIR NAME, BUT YOU CERTAINLY KNOW WHAT THEY MAKE. ERODING RUG IN LINCOLN, RHODE ISLAND IS MANUFACTURING Braided Rugs AND ALL THE COLORS OF THE RAINBOW. >> THIS ONE IS A FULL RUG, OUR STORY OF BLUE DRAGON, IT’S ONE OF OUR MOST POPULAR RUGS. THIS ONE SURPRISES ME THE MOST, IT’S GOING LIKE WILDFIRE. THIS GREEN ONE, IT IS BEAUTIFUL. >> SCOTT WELDON HAS BEEN COMPANY PRESIDENT SINCE 2020, BUT OD RUG -- RHODY RUG GOES BACK DECADES. >> I HAVE SOME EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE BEEN HERE SIT -- 37 YEARS. >> IT IS WHAT IS INSIDE OF THE RUGS, THAT THE BUYER CAN’T SEE, MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE. >> ARE FILLER IS PROPRIETARY TO US, WE MAKE THE FILLER. >> THEY USE A YARN MADE FROM PROUT -- POLY PROPYLENE, TO CREATE THE FILLER. >> ARE FILLER ACTS AS A WATER REPELLENT, SO YOU CAN WASH OUR POLY RUGS WITH A GARDEN HOSE. >> A SECOND LAYER OF YARN IS WRAPPED AROUND THE SPINDLE. >> IT COMES FROM BEHIND AND INTO THE CHUTE. THE YARN IS THEN BRAIDED AROUND. THAT IS WHAT IS MAKING OUR BRAID. >> THIS IS ALSO WHERE ALL OF THE COLOR CHANGES HAPPEN FOR A RUG, THEY TRACK EACH RUGS PATTERN AND SWITCH OUT BOBBINS TO CREATE DIFFERENT COLORS IN THE FINAL PRODUCT. THEY THEN MOVE INTO BARRELS AND THEN SPECIAL TABLES HELP SO THEM INTO SPECIAL RUGS. >> WE HAVE AIR HOCKEY TABLES WHERE AIR BLOWS UP FROM UNDERNEATH AND THEY ARE ABLE TO MOVE IT WITH ONE HAND. >> THE RUGS ARE INSPECTED BEFORE THEY ARE SENT OUT. >> YOU NAME IT, WE SHIP RUGS THERE. IT IS FUN TO SEE THE NAMES THAT COME THROUGH. JIMMY KIMMEL, BARBRA STREISAND, IT -- WE SEE ALL KINDS OF CELEBRITIES, WE ARE PROUD TO MAKE IT RIGHT HERE IN RHODE ISLAND AND IT’S MY TEAM THAT MAKES THE MAGIC HAPPEN. WE MAKE IT LOOK EASY BUT IT IS NOT. BUT AMAZING. ANTHONY: THEY JUST ADDED COUNTERS AND LIGHTS TO LET THEM KNOW WHEN THEY ARE ABOUT TO RUN OUT OF MATERIAL FROM THE BOBBIN. SHAYNA: BAC
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Made in New England: New Balance and Rhody Rug are staples in the northeast
New Balance is located in Methuen, Mass., and Rhody Rug resides in Lincoln, RI - favorites nationwide
Share
New Balance is showing off its latest American manufacturing facility in Methuen. It opened in March 2022, and by November, additional teams had already been added to increase production. The workers at this facility make New Balance’s 990 shoes. The sneakers are sold as part of New Balance’s MADE in USA collection, meaning at least 70% of the shoes and its components are made domestically, but some pieces are imported.Rhody Rug in Lincoln, Rhode Island is manufacturing braided rugs in all the colors of the rainbow. The company was incorporated in 1987. Rhody Rug president Scott Weldon said the company’s rugs are different because of the filling. It’s made by Rhody Rug from yarn made from polypropylene, which is a type of resin. Weldon said it means Rhody Rugs can be rinsed off and cleaned more easily.
New Balance is showing off its latest American manufacturing facility in Methuen. It opened in March 2022, and by November, additional teams had already been added to increase production. The workers at this facility make New Balance’s 990 shoes. The sneakers are sold as part of New Balance’s MADE in USA collection, meaning at least 70% of the shoes and its components are made domestically, but some pieces are imported.
Rhody Rug in Lincoln, Rhode Island is manufacturing braided rugs in all the colors of the rainbow. The company was incorporated in 1987. Rhody Rug president Scott Weldon said the company’s rugs are different because of the filling. It’s made by Rhody Rug from yarn made from polypropylene, which is a type of resin. Weldon said it means Rhody Rugs can be rinsed off and cleaned more easily.
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