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Advanced Materials

The Advanced Materials sector includes companies that use a broad range of technologies to produce components used in an even broader range of products. The five groups within this industry are metals, polymers, ceramics, glasses, and composites. In recent years, South Carolina companies in the Advanced Materials sector have generated $1.5 billion in capital investment and created over 7,900 jobs. In York County, areas of particular concentration include wood products, plastics, and rubber. 

 

Advanced Materials companies of all shapes and sizes benefit from York County’s rich heritage of manufacturing. Companies such as Atotech USA, Inc., an automated plating equipment, centrifugal dryer and environmental test chamber manufacturer; Composite Resources, which works with carbon fiber, Kevlar, fiberglass, and a host of other advanced materials; and Fomas, Inc., a forging and seamless rolled ring manufacturer; enjoy the location, excellent transportation network, and focused training programs offered through York Technical College
Industry Snapshot


To download an Industry Report for Advanced Materials in the York County labor shed click here.

Industry Snapshot

York County Labor Shed U.S.
Average Wage $67,883 $67,416 $77,474
Employment 2,663 25,784 3,236,078
5 Year Average Annual Growth Rate -3.70% 20.00% 1.10%
Location Quotient 1.18 1.04 1

Source: Chmura Economics, JobsEQ; 3Q 2022

Training Programs and Other Industry Resources

Home to two research institutions and 16 technical colleges, the Charlotte region and South Carolina offer a wealth of training programs and industry resources.

York Technical College Center for Advanced Manufacturing
York Technical College degree programs and corporate and continuing education in various fields that support the advanced manufacturing and transportation equipment industry including Industrial Maintenance, Machine Tool, Engineering, and Information Technology. 

UNC Charlotte Center of Precision Metrology
The University of North Carolina Charlotte Center of Precision Metrology is an interdisciplinary association of UNC Charlotte faculty and student researchers, allied with industrial partners in the research, development and integration of precision metrology as applied to manufacturing. The center is charged with breaking new ground in precision metrology through addressing real-world industrial concerns in a collaborative setting.  Specific research is funded through contracts with industrial partners to address proprietary application and development projects. Government funding is solicited for sponsoring fundamental and large-scale metrology projects.

UNC Charlotte is 35 minutes from York County.

University of South Carolina - McNair Center of Aerospace Research
Aerospace is the second largest industry in South Carolina, and supporting this cluster is the University of South Carolina’s McNair Center of Aerospace Research.  The McNair Center’s mission is to grow South Carolina's knowledge-based economy and support industry through aerospace education, research leadership and industry advancement.

Focus areas of the McNair Center's research include:

  • Steered fiber nonconventional laminate design
  • Automated novel structural composite part production
  • Multi-disciplinary design optimization of composite (aircraft) structures
  • Automated, fusion based assembly 

The McNair Center is 1 hour and 15 minutes from York County.


Clemson University Advanced Materials Research Laboratory

As one of the state’s premier research universities, Clemson is home to the Advanced Materials Research Laboratory at its Innovation Campus and Technology Park in Anderson, SC.  This state-of-the-art facility houses internationally recognized research programs in optoelectronics, chemistry and materials science. It also houses one of the nation's most outstanding electron microscopy facilities and a professional staff that provides services to private industry and academic clients.

Clemson University is a leader in advanced materials research, which accounts for almost 30 percent of the University's total research funding. Clemson has a significant track record as a resource for the advanced materials industry, with 14 startup companies and landing parties based on Clemson advanced materials expertise and more than 70 advanced-materials-based technologies available for licensing.

Clemson University is 2.5 hours from York County. 


SC Aerospace Cluster
SC Aerospace works to market and grow South Carolina’s aerospace industry cluster. It expands education and training to increase the aerospace sector’s workforce. Training programs include ReadySC and Apprenticeship Carolina. Aerospace educational opportunities exist in several institutions across South Carolina, including USC’s McNair Center, Clemson University’s Computational Center for Mobility Systems and International Center for Automotive Research, the Composites Manufacturing Technology Center of Excellence, South Carolina Technical College System (including York Technical College), and Richland County School District One’s Challenger Learning Center. SC Aerospace builds a competitive business environment. This cluster employs more than 57,000 people in South Carolina, with an average annual employee growth rate of 13%, and an average wage of $78,526. Leading SC Aerospace companies in York County include Cytec and Winbro Group Technologies. 

 

Who's Here

Company Name City Employees Primary Product or Service Website
Stanley Black & Decker - Manufacturing Fort Mill 453 Manufacturer of Power Tools www.stanleyblackanddecker.com/
Qure Medical Rock Hill 163 Manufacturer of Rubber Products for Medical Industry www.qco.net
C-A-T Resources, LLC Rock Hill 135 Tourniquets www.combattourniquet.com
C.M. Steel, Inc. York 125 Structural & Miscellaneous Fabricator www.cm-steel.com
Fomas USA, Inc. York 109 Manufacturer of Rolled Seamless Steel Rings www.fomasgroup.com
Atotech Usa, Inc Rock Hill 106 Electrochemical Applications, Plating & Surface Finishing www.atotech.com
Oxco, Corp. Fort Mill 85 Manufacturer and Wholesale Nonwoven Materials www.oxco.com
Composite Resources, Inc. Rock Hill 70 Design, Prototype, and Manufacture Custom Composite Materials, Products and Machinery www.composite-resources.com
ADC Finishing, Inc. York 65 Liquid Painting and Powder Coating www.adcfinishing.com
Possehl Connector Services S.C., Inc. Rock Hill 65 Metal Plating and Polishing www.possehlelectronics.de
Oerlikon Balzers Coating USA - Automotive Rock Hill 64 Manufacturer of Alloy Coating of Automotive Parts www.oerlikon.com
Superior Washer & Gasket Corp Rock Hill 62 Washers and Gaskets www.superiorwasher.com
Schuff Steel Rock Hill 60 Structural Steel Fabrication and Erection www.schuff.com
Edgeboard, Inc. York 56 Manufacturer of of Paper Edging for Shipping www.edgeboardnow.com
Solvay Cytec Carbon Fibers Rock Hill 50 Manufacturer of Chemicals, Polymers, and Additives www.solvay.com
Oerlikon Balzers Coating USA - Tools Rock Hill 43 Manufacturer of Alloy Coating of Tools and Automotive Parts oerlikon.com/balzers/us
Composites One, LLC Rock Hill 40 Distribution of Composite Materials www.compositesone.com
Polymer Processing Inc Rock Hill 36 Rubber and Plastic Toll Processor www.polymer-processing.com
CM Tucker Lumber Rock Hill 27 Manufacturer of Pressured Treated Wood Products www.cmtuckerlumber.com/
Plastics Advanced Research Technology, Inc. Clover 27 Manufacturer of Plastic Products www.partinc.com
C. R. Laurence Rock Hill 26 Distribution of Architectural Aluminum Products www.crlaurence.com
American Roller Company, LLC Rock Hill 24 Rollers and Specialty Roller Coverings www.americanroller.com
American Fiberglass Corporation Rock Hill 14 Fiberglass Stock Car Racing and Kart Bodies www.americanfiberglass.com
Kuraray America, Inc. Fort Mill 13 Vectran Fibers www.kuraray.us.com
HG Global Services, Inc. Rock Hill 12 Engineer, Design and Manufacturing Custom Metal Products www.hgglobalinc.com
Banker Steel Co LLC Rock Hill 12 Structural Steel Fabrication & Erection bankersteel.com/
Venture Industries, Inc Rock Hill 11 Fabricated Rubber Products www.ventureind.com
IMT York LLC York 10 Engage in Metal Heat Treating, Brazing and Zinc Phosphating www.imtllc.com
Laminex, Inc. Fort Mill 10 Manufacturer of Custom Card and ID Badges www.laminex.com
State Seal Co Fort Mill 10 Manufacturer of Standard and Custom Designed Seals, Gaskets and Converted Products www.stateseal.com
Progressive Plastics Inc Clover 7 Plastic Injection Molding www.progressiveplastics.net
Nucom Inc. Rock Hill 6 Manufacturing Cutting Tools
Harrison Machine & Plastic Corporation Clover 5 Plastic Fabrication, Duct Pipes and Fittings www.harrisonplastic.com
Robtech Metal Products LLC Smyrna 5 Sheet Metal Fabricators
Minuteman Press of Rock Hill Inc Rock Hill 3 Commercial Printing www.minutemanpress.com
Corson Rubber Products, Inc. Clover 3 Manufacturer of Extruded and Molded Rubber Products www.corsonrubber.com
Toray Ultrasuede Fort Mill 2 Fiber and Textile Products www.toray-intl.com/
DIRTT Environmental Solutions, Inc. Rock Hill Manufacturer of Personalized Modular Interior Building Systems www.dirtt.com
Harris Rebar Catawba Fabricator of Concrete Reinforcing Steel harrisrebar.com
Knot Yet Cabinets Works ROCK HILL Manufacture Cabinets www.knotyetcabinetworks.com
Team Industrial Services, Inc. Rock Hill Heat-Treating Services www.teaminc.com

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