$6.5 million investment expected to create 50 new jobs
COLUMBIA, S.C. – September 28, 2011 – Carbures LLC, a maker of carbon fiber composite structures, today announced plans to establish its first American facility at the South Carolina Technology & Aviation Center (SCTAC) in Greenville County. The $6.5 million investment is expected to generate at least 50 new jobs in the next five years.
“We are pleased to establish our first U.S. facility in South Carolina’s Upstate, and are particularly excited to be locating here in Greenville County at the South Carolina Technology & Aviation Center,” said Angel Vallejo, vice president of Carbures Europe-USA. “This new facility will help us meet significantly accelerating demand for carbon fiber structures, 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 will locate its new design and manufacturing facility in Greenville County on Perimeter Road, located within the South Carolina Technology and Aviation Center (SCTAC). Construction on the 40,000-square-foot facility will begin shortly, and Carbures plans to have the facility online in the second quarter of 2012.
“Companies from across the globe continue to choose to set up shop in South Carolina. We’re excited Carbures has decided to put its first North American presence in the Palmetto State and create 50 new jobs,” said Gov. Nikki Haley.
The new company, the first U.S.-based spinoff from Spain-based Carbures, will design, engineer and manufacture carbon fiber structures for the defense, aerospace and automotive industries, as well as for civil infrastructure providers.
“This announcement brings yet another manufacturing company and builds on South Carolina’s international ties. Foreign-affiliated companies play an important role in our state’s economy, and we look forward to Carbures’ contribution,” said Bobby Hitt, South Carolina Secretary of Commerce.
So far this year, Commerce has recruited more than $800 million in new capital investment and more than 1,400 jobs from foreign-affiliated companies.
“The Carbures selection of SCTAC for their first U.S. facility demonstrates our competitive edge on an international level,” said Jody Bryson, SCTAC President and CEO. “Carbures is the fourth company to expand to SCTAC in the last year. The new jobs and capital investment will add to our $1.4 billion state-wide economic impact, and is further evidence that our new economic development strategy is positioning us to win in today’s global economy.”
“Carbures’ decision to establish operations in Greenville County is great news,” said H. G. “Butch” Kirven, chairman of Greenville County Council and director of the Greenville Area Development Corporation. “Together with our economic development partners, GADC assisted the company in making this announcement possible. This venture will create good paying jobs and offer good opportunities for local citizens, and also affirms that Greenville County is a great area for specialty manufacturing. We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with this fine company in the years ahead.”
“We offer congratulations to Carbures, GADC and our other partners on this great announcement,” said SCRA CEO Bill Mahoney. “Carbures is a client company of our commercialization and development program, SC Launch. The program, in conjunction with SCRA’s Advanced Materials group, has provided introductions, business support and investment to support Carbures’ location in South Carolina.”
“This physical expansion into North America is a vital first step in our global growth and expansion plans. We are now prepared to begin design and calculation services in composite structures at our temporary office. We have both the knowledge and the work force to service large OEMs, such as Boeing,” said Ivan Contreras, CEO of Carbures USA.
The new operations will have the ability to design and engineer custom products in carbon fibers, utilizing such advanced technologies as hand layup, resin transfer molding (RTM) and automated tape layup (ATL), Contreras added. The location at SCTAC was critical to the organization’s decision to establish operations here in South Carolina, in part due to its proximity to Lockheed, Boeing, Proterra, BMW and others.
“The reputation of Upstate South Carolina as a hub for manufacturing excellence makes it an ideal home for Carbures. We literally considered locations for our first operations from other states to the Carolinas,” stated Contreras. “We found the right blend of talented workforce, business opportunity, proximity to customers and quality of life right here in South Carolina.”
“We’re happy to be here, and grateful to the state of South Carolina, Greenville Area Development Corporation and others for helping us in this process,” concluded Vallejo.
The state of South Carolina agreed to provide pre-employment training for new employees and the company was approved for job development credits, which will be available when hiring targets are met.
The company is currently recruiting to fill several key management and engineering positions, and will announce further hiring for intentions in early Fall. Anyone interested in job opportunities with the company is encouraged to contact Hannah Chapman at (864) 593-3934 or to visit the new Carbures website at www.carbures.com.
About Carbures USA
CARBURES is an international technology company established in Spain and the United States with a clear vision emerging from the fusion of its predecessors, Easy Industrial Solutions and Atlantica Composites. The company’s highly qualified technicians and engineers manage and implement R & D in sectors including aeronautics, automotive, railway, healthcare, construction and shipbuilding. CARBURES designs and develops products, materials, composites and provides comprehensive related services to meet the demands of industry through a proprietary process technology utilizing carbon fiber to create structures that are lighter, stronger and more durable. Visit them on the web at www.carbures.com.
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