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Chemicals

Generally speaking, chemical companies convert raw materials into thousands of different products. A few well-known examples include adhesives, cosmetics, detergents, herbicides, household cleaners, and perfumes. In South Carolina, roughly 23,500 people are employed in the chemical industry. The synthetic rubber, paint and coating, and petrochemical subsectors are expected to grow in SC in the next few years.  

Some of the chemical companies in York County include Wikoff Color CorporationNation Ford Chemical Company, and Elkem Silicones. While you may not recognize the names, many of the larger companies in the chemical industry also happen to be some of the largest corporations on the planet.

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

 

Industry Snapshot

York County Labor Shed U.S.
Average Wage $82,399 $92,531 $107,457
Employment 2,111 12,973 1,188,096
5 Year Average Annual Growth Rate 8.70% 37.20% 7.70%
Location Quotient 2.55 1.42 1

Source: Chmura Economics, JobsEQ; 3Q 2022

Training Programs and Other 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
York Technical College’s Science Department offers general education coursework to support numerous programs. The department also offers certificate programs with emphases in Biotechnology and Chemical Operations, and Environmental Sciences.  The following are degree and corporate training opportunities in the field of chemical manufacturing:

Degree/Credit Programs:

  • Biotechnical & Chemical Operator certificate
  • Medical Laboratory Technology degree
  • Environmental Science certificate
  • Health Science certificate 

Corporate & Continuing Education

  • MSSC Production Technician
  • MCCS Certified Logistics Associate
  • MCCS Certified Logistics Technician 


Clemson University Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering

As one of the state’s premier research universities, Clemson’s Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering offers M.S. and PhD degree programs.  Research programs exist in polymer processing, rheology, fiber and film formation, supercritical fluids, separation processes, energy, kinetics and catalysis, biosensors and biochips, and membrane applications.

USC Chemical Engineering has been named in the Top 50 Best Graduate Schools and a Top 30 Graduate Program by the National Research Council.  Annual enrollments in chemical engineering at USC have doubled since 2007.

Clemson University is 2.5 hours from York County. 

University of South Carolina Department of Chemical EngineeringThe University of South Carolina offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in chemical engineering with research focus on biomedical engineering, electrochemical engineering, materials and separations, catalyst design and evaluation, and computation modeling and molecular engineering.

USC is located in Columbia, SC, about 1 hour 15 minutes from York County. 


Midlands Technical College Chemical Technology Program
Midlands Tech offers a certificate in Chemical Technology to prepare students for jobs as technicians and chemical engineers’ assistants. This is a three semester program: one fall semester, one spring semester, and one summer session. Students receive their chemical technology education in classrooms and state-of-the-art labs on the Northeast Campus.

Midlands Tech is located in Columbia, SC, about 1 hour from York County. 

Who's Here

Company Name City Employees Website
Diversey Fort Mill 274 www.diversey.com
Elkem Silicones USA Corp York 186 www.elkem.com/
Wikoff Color Corporation Fort Mill 140 www.wikoff.com
Atotech Usa, Inc Rock Hill 106 www.atotech.com
Nation Ford Chemical Fort Mill 94 www.nationfordchem.com
SEM Products Rock Hill 80 www.semproducts.com
Oerlikon Balzers Coating USA - Automotive Rock Hill 64 www.oerlikon.com
PBI Products, Inc Rock Hill 60 www.pbiproducts.com
Pulcra Chemicals, LLC Rock Hill 57 www.pulcra-chemicals.com
Solvay Cytec Carbon Fibers Rock Hill 50 www.solvay.com
Inchem Corp. Rock Hill 43 www.inchemcorp.com
Oerlikon Balzers Coating USA - Tools Rock Hill 43 oerlikon.com/balzers/us
Huntsman Corporation Rock Hill 36 www.gabrielchem.com
Harrell Industries, Inc. Rock Hill 31 www.harrellindustries.com
Koppers Performance Chemicals Inc. Rock Hill 29 www.koppersperformancechemicals.com
Reynolds Industries, Inc. Fort Mill 25 www.reynoldsmixers.com
Aquasol Corporation Rock Hill 20 www.aquasolcorp.com
Auto Chlor Systems Inc Rock Hil 20 autochlor.com
Rudolf Venture Chemical Inc Rock Hill 19 www.rudolf-group.us
Munzing North America LP Clover 19 munzing.com
Isochem Colors, Inc. Clover 17 www.isochemcolors.com
Airgas Usa, LLC Rock Hill 16 www.airgas.com
Sunbelt Corporation Rock Hill 13 www.sunbeltcolors.com
Kuraray America, Inc. Fort Mill 13 www.kuraray.us.com
Red-Line, Inc. Rock Hill 10 www.redlinechemical.com
Fluid Sciences Inc Rock Hill 9 www.fluidsciencesinc.com
Sentury Reagents, Inc. Rock Hill 6 www.senturyreagents.com
General Chemical, LLC Catawba 3 www.chemtradelogistics.com/

Recent Announcements

  • Diversy announced that it is locating its corporate headquarters in York County in October 2017 bringing 400 new jobs and $6.1 million investment dollars. Read More.  

  • Gabriel Performance Products announced plans for a new facility in September 2016 that will lead to 26 new jobs and a $2.9 million capital investment. Read more.
     
  • Rudolf Venture Chemicals announced an expansion in September 2016 that will lead to 9 new jobs and a $3.5 million capital investment.
     
  • Harrell Industries announced an expansion in March 2016 that will lead to 9 new jobs and a $2.5 million capital investment.
      
  • Pulcra Chemicals announced an expansion in March 2014 that will lead to 17 new jobs and a $3.1 million capital investment. Read more.

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