Intrinsics had much to celebrate at this year’s BBSI. The line, formerly known as Carolina Cotton Beauti-Products, recently marked the first-year anniversary of its name change and revamped look. But there was more to celebrate than that. Intrinsics’ parent company, Charlotte, N.C.- based Barnhardi Manufacturing Company, recently celebrated its 100th year in business. “The 100th anniversary is a very significant event, and we want to recognize our ancestors and all of our employees who made our company worthy enough to last for 100 years,” says Thomas Barnhardt, president and CEO.

During its 100-year history, Barnhardt Manufacturing has created diverse products ranging from cotton batting for seats in Packard automobiles, surgical dressings for World War I and II, and foam insulation for space shuttles. “My great grandfather was an entrepreneur. He started with someone else’s trash, cotton waste, and made it into a product,” says Barnhardt about the elder Thomas, who founded the company on July 10, 1900 in Charlotte.

Thomas started the company with an investment of $24,400 and began reprocessing cotton waste from mills in the region to produce layered cotton batting for furniture, horse collars, and buggy seats, among other products.

Today, the company has 550 employees and more than $100 million in annual sales. And the company now has seven divisions, including the Intrinsics line.

Company headquarters are still located on the original tract of land, but there are plans to expand: The company plans to construct a 35,000-square-foot plant addition that will house an expanded cotton bleaching operation.

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