DALTON, Ga. — The consolidation in the floorcovering industry continues.

On Tuesday, Dalton-based Shaw Industries announced it is buying USFloors, which is also based in Dalton. The deal is expected to close later this year.

“We are excited to welcome (CEO) Piet Dossche and the USFloors team to Shaw Industries,” stated Vance Bell, chairman and CEO of Shaw industries, in a press release. “Our companies share similar values and focus on innovation, style and design and sustainability leadership. Combining USFloors, the fastest growing company in the fastest growing segment of the flooring business, with Shaw’s LVT (luxury vinyl tile) position creates a significant opportunity for the combined companies.”

Founded in 2001 by Dossche, USFloors is a leader in wood-plastic composite (WPC) flooring in the LVT category, as well as cork, bamboo and other hardwood products.

“We are proud and enthusiastic to become part of Shaw Industries and join this team of high quality and dedicated people,” said Dossche. “Backed by Shaw’s superior service and operational excellence we will be able to expand our leadership position in the WPC segment even faster and solidify our COREtec brand as the global benchmark for this new flooring category.”

Dave Foster, with The Floor Report and talkfloor.com, said the deal shows the growing importance of hardwood flooring and LVT products in particular.

“Several companies as we speak have either put up LVT facilities in the United States or are planning them or expanding them,” he said. “It’s a hot property. And that’s one of the prime products that USFloors makes. They have done very well with COREtec.”

USFloors’ manufacturing and corporate facilities are based in Dalton. It has distribution facilities in Dalton, Augusta and Anaheim, Calif. It also has facilities in Belgium and China. It has approximately 300 employees and no change in staffing is anticipated, Bell said.

Shaw Industries is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. It employs some 20,000 people.