Investment expected to create more than 50 new jobs
COLUMBIA, S.C. – September 20, 2011 – KP Components Inc., a Denmark-based precision CNC machining supplier, today announced plans for a new facility in Pickens County. The more than $10 million investment is expected to generate more than 50 new jobs.“We selected this location in the U.S. because of our company’s extensive competence in the manufacture of components for the global hydraulics industry, as well as our strong relationships with existing U.S. customers,” said Stig Skov Laursen, CEO of KP Components Inc. “KP Components Inc. sees great potential in the U.S. and has developed significant relationships with a number of U.S. customers who are awaiting the start-up of our Easley, South Carolina facility. The establishment of our U.S. presence is within our company’s growth strategy, and quite to the contrary, will not cost jobs in Denmark.” KP Components will locate its new automated machining facility in Easley in an existing building on Pelzer Highway. The facility will produce hydraulic components used in farm equipment, heavy equipment and wind power turbines. The new facility is the company’s first in North America.“South Carolina shows once again that it’s a globally competitive place for investment. We celebrate KP Components Inc.’s decision to create dozens of new, well-paying jobs here and we welcome them to the South Carolina business community,” said Governor Nikki Haley.So far this year, Commerce has recruited more than $800 million and more than 1,400 jobs from foreign-affiliated companies. In all, foreign-affiliated companies have invested more than $37 billion in the state and have created more than 149,000 jobs over the years.“Today’s announcement adds to South Carolina’s growing manufacturing sector. KP Components Inc.’s decision also shows that our state’s skilled talent and business-friendly environment continue to help attract investment,” said Bobby Hitt, Secretary of Commerce.Since January, Commerce has announced the recruitment of more than $1.5 billion in capital investment and more than 5,000 new jobs from companies in the manufacturing sector.“Pickens County is pleased to welcome KP Components Inc. to our community. Our workforce, our primary, secondary, and technical education components, and our business-friendly climate all will enable KP Components to develop a thriving business in Easley and their advanced manufacturing company will be a perfect fit and we look forward to watching their success for many years to come,” said Pickens County Council Chairwoman Jennifer Willis.“I am extremely pleased to see KP Components, Inc. choose Pickens County as the site of their first North American manufacturing facility,” said Dr. Ronnie L. Booth, chairman of Alliance Pickens and president of Tri-County Technical College. “Stig Laursen is a proven business leader who will bring his reputation for excellence to bear in this new operation. Alliance Pickens and our College are committed to doing all that we can to ensure a long-term relationship of mutual and community benefit.”The state of South Carolina provided training funds and job development credits, which will be available if hiring targets are met. The county provided a fee-in-lieu-of-tax agreement for the new capital investment.KP Components will globally have 200,000 square feet of floor space, 125 advanced CNC machines and as many as 25 robots. All this is tied together by 225 highly skilled employees, which keep production running in shifts around the clock.The company will begin hiring for the new positions later this fall. Anyone interested in job opportunities with KP Components Inc. should contact the Liberty SC Works Center at 317 Summit Drive in Liberty, S.C. 29657, telephone 864.843.9512 or at www.sconestop.org. About KP Components in DenmarkThe company was founded in 1969 by Mr. Krogh Pedersen. KP Components was founded on the basic principle of offering customers the most efficient and competitive manufacturing, through the utilization and deployment of the modern technology and machinery these days. Today, KP Components is co-owned by Martin Krogh Pedersen, a capital fund and the management. Pedersen is the son of the founder and is CEO of KP Komponenter A/S in Denmark. KP Components offers its customers cost-effective manufacturing solutions through considerable investment in robots and leading edge technology. Its new factory in the United States emphasizes the company’s strategy of utilizing the best technology and automation, production to very high quality standards, and strategic geographic proximity.For more information about the company, please visit www.kpkomponenter.com. -###-