Tarkett Commercial said it has started work on a $3.6 million overhaul of its Houston manufacturing facility that will help contain costs and increase product output. The addition of new "lean manufacturing" equipment will help make the existing production lines "even faster and more economical," the company said.

Tarkett Commercial president Gilles de Beaumont, said the project will help the company hold the line on pricing. "This investment in our manufacturing processes will help Tarkett as a company maintain competitive pricing," he said. "With the rising costs of raw materials and production, many companies are forced to increase costs to their customers. Our production overhaul is designed to help us stabilize our pricing, while better serving our customers and providing them with Tarkett products in a more timely and efficient manner."

The project is scheduled for completion in mid-2006.