Advanced Manufacturing

Champion Aerospace

Since the dawn of powered flight, aviators and technicians alike have counted on the Champion® brand name for performance-proven aviation ignition components and systems.

The original Champion Spark Plug Company was formed in 1903 in Toledo, Ohio, and, within just a few years, it had become the undisputed leader in supplying quality spark plugs and ignition components to the aviation industry.

For decades, Champion products brought power to flight, incorporating breakthrough technology and innovative product developments. Throughout those years and now into the 21st century, the famous Champion “bow tie” stands as a worldwide symbol for superiority in product ingenuity and service integrity.

Today, seventy-five percent (75%) of aircraft worldwide are flying with Champion components produced in Pickens County.South Carolina.USA.

Champion Aerospace currently employs approximately 250 employees in Pickens County.South Carolina.USA.

Yokohama Industries America

Yokohama’s vision is to be recognized as the preferred supplier of fluid conveying products and adhesives for the automotive industry by providing unmatched customer service and engineering support.

In 2011, Yokohama announced the company’s expansion in Pickens County with a $5.14 million investment. “Demand for our products continues to grow and we’re excited the new business is giving us an opportunity to expand in Pickens County, South Carolina offers us a great business climate and top talent to meet our needs. We appreciate all the support we’ve received from state and local officials,” said Christopher Estock, plant manager for Yokohama. Yokohama manufactures automotive fluid handling components for the light vehicle industry in North America. The expansion allowed the company to increase capacity and improve efficiency at the Pickens County plant.

Yokohama currently employs approximately 470 employees in Pickens County.South Carolina.USA.

TaylorMade

TaylorMade established a 120,000-square-foot golf ball production plant in Pickens County South Carolina in 2014. The manufacturing facility is located in the Pickens County Commerce Park and continues to serve as TaylorMade’s North American golf ball production headquarters. TaylorMade is the world’s #2 golf ball manufacturer. Every major PGA Tournament has been won with Pickens CountyMade, TaylorMade golf balls.

TaylorMade currently employs approximately 245 employees in Pickens County.South Carolina.USA.

JR Automation, LLC

JR Automation Technologies, LLC designs and builds solutions – machines that have lean thinking hardwired into them at the point of conception. They have built thousands of machines in their 35-year history and are always looking forward to the next challenging project.

JR Automation Technologies, LLC serves multiple industries, including: automotive, aerospace, construction, consumer products, food processing, furniture, green initiatives, medical and pharmaceutical.

JR Automation Technologies, LLC currently employs approximately 120 employees in Pickens County.South Carolina.USA.

Sulzer Pumps Solutions, Inc

Founded in 1834, Sulzer is a global leader in fluid engineering. Sulzer specializes in pumping, agitation, mixing, separation and application technologies for fluids of all types. The divisions include pumps equipment, rotating equipment services, chemtech, and applicator systems. The Swiss engineering firm has a network of 50 world-class manufacturing facilities and 100 service centers across the globe. The Easley plant manufactures hydraulic pumps.

Sulzer currently employs approximately 101 employees in Pickens County.South Carolina.USA.

Danfoss

Headquartered in Denmark, Danfoss is the most responsive source for Cartridge Valves and Hydraulic Integrated Circuit (HIC) solution needs. Danfoss works with customers and suppliers around the world to manufacture high performance machine control solutions for mobile, on-highway, energy, and industrial equipment markets.

Danfoss represents a long history of experience and an established position within the fluid controls industry. Since 1980, they have built upon the knowledge and expertise within the design, application and manufacturing of cartridge valves and HICs to become the preferred component provider for over 1800 companies and distributors throughout the world.

Danfoss currently employs approximately 260 employees in Pickens County.South Carolina.USA.

KP Components, Inc.

Denmark-based precision components manufacturer, KP Components is a market leader within the complex automated processing and contractor work.

In 2021, KP Components completed a new, 40,000 square foot manufacturing plant in Easley, SC. The new facility will house their CNC production facility.

KP Components currently employs approximately 68 employees in Pickens County.South Carolina.USA.

JMMS

JMMS delivers total program management for thermoplastic injection molding, thermoset injection & compression/transfer, and die casting tooling. Their work supports the quality benchmarks and production schedules of the world’s leading OEMs and Tier vendors.

JMMS engineering helps improve part quality, use less material and lower cycle times for better manufacturability.

JMMS currently employs approximately 27 employees in Pickens County.South Carolina.USA.

IPSUM Technologies, LLC

IPSUM Technologies is an advanced manufacturing company focused on high-technology sectors, including aerospace, space, defense, pharmaceuticals and composites. With industry-leading customers, IPSUM Technologies is committed to being on the cutting edge of manufacturing in a sustainable and responsible manner.

In 2019, IPSUM Technologies located in the Pickens County Commerce Park.

IPSUM Technologies currently employs approximately 30 employees in Pickens County.South Carolina.USA.

Palmetto Plating

Palmetto Plating Co., Inc. has been providing unique metal finishing services to industry since 1964. The company prides itself on working with customers to improve their products by enhancing appearance, corrosion resistance, ease of cleaning, and wear resistance. Their facilities provide specialized treatments to extremely large stainless steel fabrications. Palmetto Plating Co., Inc. is registered to meet the requirements of ISO 9001: 2008.

Palmetto Plating Co. currently employs approximately 32 employees in Pickens County.South Carolina.USA.

Foothills Machining

Foothills Machining is a modern CNC and manual machine shop in Pickens, SC. The company provides quality hardware and dependable service, in whatever capacity customers may require. From prototyping, to small runs, to full production capabilities, Foothills Machining is available for CNC turning, milling and gun drilling, as well as manual machining and wire EDM work.

Foothills Machining currently employs approximately 28 employees in Pickens County.South Carolina.USA.

Imperial Die Casting Company, an RCM Industries Company

RCM uses advanced computer technology in robotic die casting manufacturing automation systems to build custom aluminum die castings, offering optimization with top quality, precision parts. Imperial Die Casting accommodates strict specifications for manufacturing die casting parts and follows aluminum die casting best practices.

Imperial Die Casting employs approximately 160 employees in Pickens County.South Carolina.USA.

Ortec Inc.

Founded in 1980, Ortec is a custom chemical manufacturing and research company that helps clients reach their market goals through Technical Expertise, Quality Systems, Regulatory Compliance, Confidentiality, and Personalized Service.

Ortec currently employs approximately 190 employees in Pickens County.South Carolina.USA.

Kentwool

Kentwool has become universally regarded as the World’s Best Sock. In terms of comfort and performance, no other sock compares. Kentwool socks are worn by dozens of PGA and LPGA Tour professionals, who trust Kentwool socks to perform over a long and grueling season.

Kentwool socks are the only socks that carry a Blister-Free Guarantee. And like all of Kentwool’s products, they are manufactured in the U.S.A.

Kentwool currently employs approximately 50 employees in Pickens County.South Carolina.USA.

Central Textiles/Cotswold Industries

Central Textiles is an integrated textile producer that has been in operation in Central, SC since 1984 when the current owners purchased an old, existing textile mill and began a complete modernization to make it a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility able to compete in today’s global marketplace. The upgrades have been a continuing, ongoing process with the installation of the latest generation in weaving technology. The company has survived decades of turmoil in the textile industry due to a combination of modernization, diversity of product and customer mix, targeted marketing and the willingness of our associates to adapt to changing conditions.

Central Textiles currently employs approximately 120 employees in Pickens County.South Carolina.USA.

Thomaston Mills

Thomaston Mills was founded in 1899 by R.E. Hightower and is the oldest domestic sheet mill in the USA. The company was owned by the Hightower family until 2001, and has since been owned by the Zaslow family since that time. Combined, the two families have over 200 years of textile industry experience. Thomaston Mills continues to operate as a family business that puts the customer first.

Thomaston Mills specializes in manufacturing and distribution of the highest quality bed and bath linens to the hospitality, healthcare and institutional markets.

Thomaston Mills currently employs approximately 13 employees in Pickens County.South Carolina.USA.

Read More

Milliken & Company

Founded in 1865, Milliken is a global company with expertise in research, design, and manufacturing. Milliken strives to deliver innovation across multiple markets including floor covering, performance and protective textiles, specialty chemicals, healthcare, and operational excellence consulting for industrial manufacturers.

Milliken currently employs approximately 258 employees in Pickens County.South Carolina.USA.

BASF Corporation

BASF Corporation is the North American affiliate of BASF SE in Germany. BASF SE was founded in 1865. BASF creates chemistry for a sustainable future. They combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Through science and innovation, BASF enables their customers in nearly every industry to meet the current and future needs of society. The plant in Central (Clemson) manufactures nylon fibers for carpets and urethane resins used to make rigid and flexible foams. These foams provide excellent insulating materials for use in refrigerators and freezers and are also found in furniture and bedding applications as well as automotive seating.

BASF currently employs approximately 55 employees in Pickens County.South Carolina.USA.

Read More

Plastics & Composites

United Tool & Mold, Inc.

Established in 1995, United Tool & Mold is a leading provider of new tools, engineering changes, and repair services for the plastics industry with the ability to handle up to 125,000 lbs. Founded on the principles of keeping the industry running, UTM strives to be a one-stop-shop for all mold-servicing needs. Complete with engineering support and in house trucking capabilities (14 trucks), UTM can provide timely service for all the needs of the plastics industry. With three locations serving the southeast, it is easy to see how UTM stands by its motto of “Keeping the Plastics Industry Running!”

In 2018, United Tool and Mold moved into its new state-of-the-art 60,000 square foot manufacturing and headquarter facility in the Pickens County Commerce Park.

United Tool & Mold currently employs approximately 75 employees in Pickens County.South Carolina.USA.

Wilbert Plastic Services

Wilbert Plastic Services specializes in top-quality custom plastic injection molding and custom thermoforming. The injection molding company has some of the best engineers in the industry, with many innovative ideas we are eager to share.

Wilbert Plastic Services has a proven track record of providing superior products and services to the largest companies with the strictest quality standards. They have assisted companies ranging from BMW and Daimler to GE Healthcare, Yamaha, and many others.

Wilbert Plastic Services currently employs approximately 215 employees in Pickens County.South Carolina.USA.

Safeplast USA

Safeplast USA, LLC produces and distributes hose protectors and hose binding products for the hydraulics industry and various other purposes. HD polyethylene spirals and textile sleeves provide economical protection for people as well as for hydraulic and pneumatic hoses. Safeplast’s main product lines are plastic spirals, textile sleeves and hose bundling products.

In 2017, Safeplast moved into its new North American manufacturing headquarter in the Pickens County Commerce Park.

Safeplast currently employs approximately 17 employees in Pickens County.South Carolina.USA.

Peabody Engineering

Peabody Engineering, founded in 1952, is a manufacturer and distributor of tanks, telecommunication disguising equipment, and other various plastic products that meet the demand of a wide range of markets.

In 2020, Peabody Engineering announced plans to establish operations in the Pickens County Commerce Park. The new facility is expected to be completed by midsummer 2021.

Peabody Engineering will create 35 new jobs over the next five years.

Abbott

Abbott is a market leader in heart pumps (LVADs) and chronic pain devices. Abbott is one of Fortune’s Most Admired Companies, and is ranked #1 in Medical Products from 2014-2020.

Abbott currently employs approximately 330 employees in Pickens County.South Carolina.USA.

Cornell Dubilier

From fighter jets to radar systems, welders to wind turbines, Cornel Dubilier delivers the highest quality capacitors. As the largest power capacitor company in North America, the company offers one of the world’s broadest selection of aluminum electrolytic capacitors, mica capacitors, AC film capacitors, and DC film capacitors. Cornel Dubilier is also the only U.S. manufacturer of high-quality mica capacitors.

Cornell Dubilier currently employs approximately 220 employees in Pickens County.South Carolina.USA.

era-contact

era-contact, based in Bretten Germany and a member of the aichele GROUP, is an internationally active, owner-managed company that has 90 years of experience and operates successfully in the railway, automotive, commercial vehicle and construction machinery sectors as well as in the fields of measuring and medical technology, mechanical engineering and plant construction.

As the world market leader for electrical railway couplings and as an innovative system supplier for high-tech products and solutions in the field of cable assembly, UIC connector systems and contact systems, they project locally by local and supply their cross-industry partners worldwide. Whether Europe, Asia, America or Africa – era-contact is on site.

In 2017, era-contact moved into its new North American manufacturing headquarter in the Pickens County Commerce Park.

era-contact currently employs approximately 27 employees in Pickens County.South Carolina.USA.

Reach More

Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co.

Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co., Inc. is a global manufacturer and distributor of fire protection products. Reliable manufactures the highest quality and most innovative fire sprinklers, valves and special systems on the market; distributes a full line of best in class system components; and backs it up with premier customer service. Reliable’s corporate headquarters is located in Elmsford, NY; manufacturing plant in Liberty, SC, and regional sales and distribution centers throughout the US and across the world.

In 2019, Reliable completed its 150,000 square foot expansion. This expansion brought the total square footage to 450,000 square feet in its manufacturing headquarter in the Pickens County Commerce Park.

Reliable currently employs approximately 720 employees in Pickens County.South Carolina.USA.

Sealevel Systems, Inc.

In 1984, Tom O’Hanlan designed the first RS-422/485 communication adapter for the IBM PC. From that moment of inspiration, Tom and his wife Susan saw an ever-growing industry-wide need – and began work to fulfill it. In 1986, they formed Sealevel Systems, Inc. committed to providing reliable, well-designed communication adapters for the IBM PC and compatibles.

Sealevel Systems, Inc. currently employs approximately 66 employees in Pickens County.South Carolina.USA.

KeyMark Inc.

KeyMark was founded in 1996 and is owned and operated by founding partner and CEO Jim Wanner. For more than two decades, KeyMark has been a leading intelligent automation provider delivering capture (OCR), workflow (ECM), case management (DCM), and robotic process automation (RPA) solutions.

KeyMark helps clients leverage technology, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, to maximize productivity and decrease manual labor in industries such as: financial services; healthcare; insurance; manufacturing, distribution and logistics; and the public sector.

As a value-added reseller of OnBase by Hyland, Blue Prism, and Kofax software, KeyMark is one of a select few organizations worldwide to represent such a comprehensive list of automation capabilities with years of proven experience and our award-winning KeyMark Extended Support.

In 2018, KeyMark moved into its new headquarter office building in the Pickens County Commerce Park.

KeyMark currently employs approximately 71 employees in Pickens County.South Carolina.USA.