Upholstered furniture designer Richter Designs is to open a 335,000 square foot manufacturing facility in San Luis Rio Colorado, Mexico.

Expected to become operational in July 2006, the factory is located near the company's new 120,000-square-foot cutting facility and distribution centre in Somerton, Arizona. Combined, the new facilities will employ approximately 300 people.

The San Luis Rio plant will double the manufacturing capacity of Richter's current factory in Los Angeles and, together with the nearby Somerton facility, will triple the company's overall distribution capacity.

Among the new equipment being purchased for the facility are computerised cutting machines and ergonomically designed sewing machine workstations.

There will be separate areas for the production of fabric and leather furniture.