Global manufacturer of fasteners for industry connects with CU-ICAR; invests $1.5 million
COLUMBIA, S.C. – TIGGES USA LLC, a subsidiary of Wuppertal, Germany-based TIGGES GmbH, will establish its first North American facility at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) in Greenville County. The $1.5 million investment is expected to generate at least five new jobs.
“We are pleased to establish our first American facility in South Carolina’s Upstate, and are particularly excited to be locating here in Greenville County at CU-ICAR,” said John Ferrell Jr., general manager of TIGGES USA. “This strategic expansion will help us meet accelerating demand for fasteners and connecting elements needed by our core automotive, aerospace and marine industry customers, and Greenville County provides us with an excellent business environment, a top-notch workforce and exceptional market access. We look forward to becoming a part of the Palmetto State’s business community.”
The company’s new Greenville location at CU-ICAR will be a technical sales office to drive supply chain efficiency and improve customer service to North American customers, and complements the company’s current international portfolio locations in Germany, Malaysia, Japan and Taiwan.
“From our German roots, we have tremendous experience and technological know-how, and a strong brand reputation, serving major customers like BMW and Bosch across the European continent,” said Ferrell. “This physical expansion into North America is a vital first step in our global growth and customer service plans.”
Founded in 1925 and privately owned, TIGGES is a leading international manufacturer of fasteners and connecting elements required by the automotive, industrial, marine, energy and aerospace industries. TIGGES offers four production technologies in-house – cold forming, hot forging, machining, and grinding – to provide customers with a strategic and solution-based approach to the development, production of connection-based elements.
“It’s exciting to see another international company choose to put down roots in South Carolina. We celebrate TIGGES USA’s decision to invest $1.5 million and create new jobs in Greenville. Today’s announcement is another indication that more and more companies from around the globe are seeing South Carolina as the right place to do business,” said Gov. Nikki Haley.
Since January 2011, South Carolina has recruited more than $5 billion in capital investment and more than 8,000 jobs in the automotive-related sector.
“The automotive industry continues to thrive and grow in South Carolina. It also continues to serve as a wealth and job creator all across the state. TIGGES’ decision to locate new operations here once again shows that we are a leader in the nation’s automotive club,” said Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt.
“The decision of TIGGES to establish North American operations in Greenville County is great news,” added Chris Riley, Chairman of the Greenville Area Development Corporation. “They are a globally respected manufacturer with expertise in applying advanced technology to manufacturing fasteners and connecting elements for multiple industries. This announcement affirms that Greenville County continues as a center for specialty manufacturing.”
With the addition of TIGGES USA Inc., CU-ICAR now boasts 18 corporate campus partners from around the world. Together, the partners make the CU-ICAR campus a growing automotive ecosystem where industry meets academia.
“We are exceptionally pleased to welcome TIGGES USA to the CU-ICAR campus. TIGGES USA’s decision to bring its outstanding international reputation to CU-ICAR is an exciting complement to the growing eco-system of successful automotive companies in the Upstate of South Carolina. We look forward to a long and successful partnership with TIGGES USA,” said Suzanne Dickerson, director of Business Development at CU-ICAR.
The company will announce details on hiring in early summer.
About CU-ICAR
Clemson University’s International Center for Automotive Research is a 250-acre advanced-technology research campus where university, industry and government organizations collaborate. Clemson's College of Engineering and Science offers master's and Ph.D. programs in automotive engineering at CU-ICAR and is conducting leading-edge applied research in critical areas, such as advanced product-development strategies, sustainable mobility, intelligent manufacturing systems and advanced materials. CU-ICAR has industrial-scale laboratories and testing equipment in world-class facilities available for commercial use, as well as a comprehensive computational center dedicated to solving clients' industrial problems and backed by a high-performance computing infrastructure.