$1 million investment by composites manufacturer to add 23 jobs
COLUMBIA, S.C. – November 26, 2013 – Materials Sciences Corporation (MSC), a designer and manufacturer of composite materials and structures for government and industry, will establish a new manufacturing operation in Greenville County, investing $1 million and creating 23 new jobs.
Based in Horsham, Pa., MSC was established in 1970 as an engineering services organization providing research, design, analysis, testing and prototyping of composite materials. The company has nearly 40 employees, including 30 engineers, in existing operations in Pennsylvania and Mississippi, and is globally recognized for its development of specialty algorithms that simulate and predict composite performance. The company’s proprietary technologies allow MSC to develop custom composite materials for clients in the defense, commercial, energy and recreation sectors.
“Our mission is to continuously develop, test, improve and manufacture advanced materials that can be transferred into military and industrial applications of high value,” said MSC’s president and CEO Tom Cassin. “After an extensive site search, we are pleased to expand our engineering, research and manufacturing operations to Greenville County, and appreciate the support and leadership of the Greenville Area Development Corporation, the South Carolina Department of Commerce and all who assisted in making this advancement a reality.”
MSC has purchased and will renovate and upfit approximately 13,000 square feet of space in a former textile manufacturing facility located near to SC-TAC at 102 Augusta Arbor Way to accommodate the company’s requirements.
“South Carolina has established itself as a leader in advanced materials manufacturing and announcements like this one show that our state is ideal for research and engineering-driven investment,” said Gov. Nikki Haley. “We celebrate Materials Sciences Corporation selecting Greenville County for their new facility and creating 23 new jobs.”
“Our state is primed to support further innovation in the area of composites,” said Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt, referring to the 111,000-square-foot Advanced Materials Research Laboratory at Clemson and the Heterogeneous, Multi-scale and Multi-functional Composites Lab (HMMCL) at the University of South Carolina. “South Carolina today is home to more than 20 companies that are leading the advancement of materials used by a variety of industries, whether defense, automotive or aerospace. We welcome Materials Sciences Corporation to the Palmetto State.”
MSC’s interest in the Upstate grew partially from its long-standing working relationship with Clemson University through involvement in the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program, which provides federal funding for innovative research. STTR requires participating business to formally collaborate with a research institution, helping to bridge the gap between science and commercialization of resulting innovations. MSC also has developed a close working relationship with the South Carolina Research Authority’s Composites Consortium.
Since January 2011, South Carolina has recruited more than $10 billion in capital investment and more than 28,000 jobs in the manufacturing sector.
Hiring information for the company will be released shortly, according to Cassin. Positions to be filled include experienced loom technicians, advanced materials engineers, project managers, CNC and computer-controlled cutter operators, quality assurance personnel, plus sales, marketing and administrative support roles. Interested candidates may email their resumes in confidence to [email protected].
“Materials Sciences Corp. is an outstanding example of a company that is using world-class technology, performance-based processes and a mix of local and national talent to grow and succeed,” said Dr. Bob Taylor, board member of the Greenville Area Development Corporation and chairman of Greenville County Council. “This is a technology-driven business with an entrepreneurial energy, and will be a great addition to the business community here in Greenville County.”
Taylor also acknowledged key contributions of officials at readySC and Greenville County Council, including councilmember Lottie Gibson, in making the announcement a reality.
For additional information on MSC, visit www.materials-sciences.com.
About Materials Sciences Corporation
Materials Sciences Corporation has provided engineering services to the composites industry since 1970. During this time, we have participated in numerous programs that demonstrate our ability to: perform advanced composite design, analysis and testing; provide overall program management; work in a team environment; and transition new product development to the military and commercial sectors. MSC's corporate mission has expanded beyond basic research and development now to include transitioning its proprietary technologies from the research lab into innovative new products. This commitment is demonstrated through increased staffing and a more than threefold expansion of facilities to allow in-house manufacturing and testing of advanced composite materials and structures.