Pergo has announced that it will invest approximately $16 million in its U.S. operations. This investment will focus primarily on the expansion of Pergo's production plant in Garner, N.C., and will include the purchase of a direct pressure laminate (DPL) floor press for use in the plant.

With the addition of a DPL press in Garner, Pergo will be able to produce fully finished, direct pressure laminate flooring. Currently, Pergo acquires this technology from other sources, such as its sister company, Pergo AB, in Sweden.

This new production capability will ensure that Pergo is able to gain greater control of their product quantity and supply, as well to bring a larger capacity for manufacturing into their North American operation, Pergo says.

The DPL press is slated to be operational in the newly expanded Garner, N.C., plant as of January 2005.