ORANGEBURG, S.C. –Sigmatex, a world leader in the manufacturing of carbon fiber textiles, broke ground January 13th on their new 75,000 square-foot building. It will be the first facility to locate in the John W. Matthews, Jr. Industrial Park. Sigmatex announced in October that the company will invest $12 million and create 50 jobs over the next five years. The Orangeburg facility will be Sigmatex’s fifth location and will be one of the largest capital investment projects the company has undertaken. Construction on the new facility is scheduled to begin the last week of January.

Orangeburg County officials rolled out the red carpet Thursday afternoon for a Canadian maker of sealants for wood and other products.

Walker Emulsions Inc. officials praised the Southern hospitality they have received over the past 2-1/2 years since the company first made contact with Orangeburg County officials.

“It was at that time we as an organization recognized the need to get a position in the Southeast,” Walker Emulsions Executive Vice President Archie Reynolds told those gathered for the company’s grand opening and plant tour Thursday.

“We did our due diligence with the business metric. We really concluded that not only was this the place we needed to be, but Orangeburg was a place we wanted to be,” he said.

Walker Emulsions in February agreed to create a minimum of 11 new jobs and invest $4.5 million at the 53,000-square foot site it acquired in the Orangeburg County Industrial Park off U.S. 21. Valspar formerly occupied the building.

Currently, the company employs six and is in the process of preparing the plant for a full-scale ramp up of operations in the next two to three weeks.

The new jobs will pay more than the county’s average wage of $14 per hour.

Earlier this month, Orangeburg County Council approved a fee-in-lieu of taxes agreement between the county and the company. The incentive allows companies to pay a fee instead of property taxes based on a 6 percent assessment ratio, rather than the standard 10.5 percent.

Walker Emulsions manufactures and distributes the company’s liquid-based solutions used in building products such as insulation and tiling.

An example of Walker’s products is the moisture-resistant sealant placed on drywall used in bathrooms and kitchens.

The product is primarily transported by rail and interstate. The site’s location near Norfolk Southern and the interstates was among the most attractive reasons for choosing Orangeburg, Reynolds said.

“The rail network and the transport network is crucial,” Reynolds said. “It is really important to us is that Norfolk-Southern offers daily service to rail, which is unique. That is important to us. Getting our materials into products is important.”

The availability of wood products such as particle board and medium-density fiberboard also helped draw the company to Orangeburg, Reynolds said.

Walker Emulsions looked at several other states, including Florida, Georgia and Tennessee.

The plant will serve primarily the South Carolina, Georgia and Florida markets. It is the company’s first plant in the southeastern United States, and its second in the U.S.

Some of its customers include Georgia Pacific, Norbord Inc. and Weyerhaeuser Company. Its markets are in North America.

“It made so much more sense to be here from a serviceability standpoint,” Reynolds said.

Sen. Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg, said it is not the first time he has been involved in the recruitment of a Canadian job producer. He said he did so in 1981 when he asked the Canadian who would become his wife on their first date. Today, she employs over 20 people.

“You truly are our greatest neighbor and our greatest ally,” Hutto said. “Somebody that we have shared the history of our country with.”

Orangeburg County Council Chairman Johnnie Wright praised Walker Emulsions’ commitment to the environment, the safety of its employees and giving back to the community.

“We need those kind of commitments and those kind of companies,” Wright said. “Thank you for choosing Orangeburg County. I hope you have a good marriage here. If you have anybody giving you any problems, give me a call and we will make sure you don’t have any divorce because we want you to stay here.”

“This is a partnership with tremendous benefit for the city of Orangeburg,” Orangeburg Mayor Michael Butler said. “This partnership brings jobs and opportunities for the citizens of our great city. An increase in job opportunities remains a major priority on the Orangeburg City agenda.”

Walker Emulsions joins Quality Model Plastics, Innovative Composites International and Monteferro as Canadian manufacturers calling Orangeburg County home.

Walker Emulsions’ other U.S. plant is in Portland, Oregon.

Walker Emulsions is a subsidiary of the Walker Industries Group, a family-owned, private business. Walker Industries purchased Associated Chemists’ assets about two years ago. Associated Chemists operated its forest division plant in Orangeburg before Valspar Corporation purchased it in 2004.

Resumes and job inquiries can be sent to careers@walkerind.com, attention Pam Barton.

Contact the writer: gzaleski@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-533-5551. Check out Zaleski on Twitter at @ZaleskiTD.

A British-based carbon fiber textile manufacturer announced Thursday it will invest $12 million in a facility at the John W. Matthews Jr. Industrial Park.

Sigmatex plans to create 50 new jobs at the Orangeburg County facility over the next five years. It is one of the largest projects the company has undertaken in its 28-year history.

“We believe this facility will enable us to meet any foreseeable future market requirements and ensure we are prepared to continue to support the supply chain in delivering the growth requirements in the aerospace and automotive sectors,” Sigmatex CEO Scott Tolson said in a prepared statement.

“We look forward to continuing our excellent cooperation with the state and local officials and to further supporting our expanding customer base with carbon textile solutions,” he said.

The company says it develops and makes carbon fiber textiles for composite materials, converting “millions of pounds of carbon fiber each year for major projects that require high levels of quality and reliability.”

Ground will be broken on the new $6 million, 75,000-square-foot facility by the end of the year. Operations could begin in mid-2015.

The facility will be located near the entrance of the Matthews Industrial Park on about 20 acres. It will be constructed to allow for expansion up to 150,000 square feet and eventually up to 450,000 square feet to accommodate the potential growth in the aerospace industry.

“We are looking forward to a good marriage,” Orangeburg County Council Chairman Johnnie Wright said. “Orangeburg County is user friendly. We recognize we are here to improve the quality of life for those in Orangeburg County with good-paying, solid jobs.”

The company will pay above Orangeburg County’s average wage of $14 an hour.

The facility will be funded by a low-interest loan from the state-owned utility Santee Cooper. The terms of the loan and an incentive package for the company are still being worked on.

Other states considered for the plant include Virginia, Georgia and North Carolina.

Orangeburg County Development Commission Chairman Ken Middleton said the last two weeks have shown Orangeburg County is on the move. Last week, the county broke ground for the new Interstate 95-U.S. Highway 301 interchange.

“Orangeburg has landed another aerospace leader in Sigmatex and the positive momentum continues,” he said.

Other Orangeburg County companies serving the aerospace industry are GKN Aerospace, Zeus and Triumph Tube Inc.

Sen. John Matthews, D-Bowman, said Sigmatex has a very bright future. The park is named after the senator.

“We have a good location and we have people who will give you a day’s work for a day’s pay,” Matthews said.

Orangeburg County is on the “cutting edge of the future in terms of job creation and job opportunities,” he said. He eventually would like to see five class A industrial parks in the Global Logistics Triangle, which Orangeburg County defines as the area around Interstate 95, Interstate 26 and U.S. Highway 301.

“Thank you very much for coming to our county. You are making a lot of dreams come true,” Matthews said.

It took about a year to finalize the project, Orangeburg County Development Commission Executive Director Gregg Robinson said.

The company will be the first to locate in the 556-acre John W. Matthews Jr. Industrial Park, which is located at the corner of U.S. Highway 301 and U.S. 176. Orangeburg County is also planning to build a separate speculative building at the site, which will also be funded through Santee Cooper.

The project received praise as it announced its arrival in the county with the second-highest unemployment rate in the state in August at 13.2 percent.

“We couldn’t be more excited that a company like Sigmatex has chosen Orangeburg as the location of their fifth manufacturing facility,” Gov. Nikki Haley said. “It’s great news for the local community and hardworking people who live there. Sigmatex will further strengthen our reputation as a place where manufacturers of carbon fiber not only want to be but can grow and succeed for many years to come.”

State Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt highlighted the importance of foreign investment.

“Foreign direct investment continues to be a critical piece of South Carolina’s economic development strategy,” Hitt said. “We are thrilled to welcome Sigmatex to the Palmetto State. I congratulate them on this terrific announcement and look forward to all of their future growth and success in our state.”

“We congratulate Orangeburg County for their vision and delivery of quality sites and infrastructure in support of future growth and economic development,” CentralSC Alliance Chairman Mike Brenan said. “Today’s announcement is a classic example of being ready to meet the needs of industry. Speed to market is critical as the automotive and aerospace sectors in South Carolina continue to flourish.”

“Santee Cooper has supported the development of the Matthews Industrial Park because it offers so much potential for Orangeburg County,” said Lonnie Carter, Santee Cooper president and CEO. “Sigmatex is an excellent fit for Orangeburg County and a solid cornerstone for the Matthews Industrial Park.”

Hiring is expected to begin in May 2015. Visit www.sigmatex.com to learn more.

Contact the writer: gzaleski@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-533-5551. Check out Zaleski on Twitter at @ZaleskiTD.

THE ISSUE: New industry for Orangeburg County; OUR OPINION: Supplier puts focus on ideal location near aerospace hub

Thursday’s economic development announcement won’t immediately change the economic situation in Orangeburg County, but it is a very positive sign for the future and the county’s economic development goals.

Sigmatex, a British-based carbon fiber textile manufacturer, announced Thursday it will invest $12 million in a facility at the John W. Matthews Jr. Industrial Park, a 556-acre site at U.S. Highway 301 and U.S. 176.

While the total of new jobs is projected at 50, the company already has expansion in its plans.

Ground will be broken on the $6 million, 75,000-square-foot facility by the end of the year. Operations could begin in mid-2015. The facility will be the 28-year-old company’s fifth and largest manufacturing operation.

Sigmatex will be located near the entrance of the Matthews Industrial Park on about 20 acres, becoming the flagship industry for the park named in honor of veteran Orangeburg County Sen. John Matthews. It will be constructed to allow for expansion up to 150,000 square feet and eventually up to 450,000 square feet.

Growth seems a real possibility with the company as a supplier for the aerospace industry and the nearby Boeing-inspired hub in Charleston.

Sigmatex, which supplies both the aerospace and automotive industries, will join GKN Aerospace, Zeus and Triumph Tube Inc. as Orangeburg County industries supplying the aerospace industry.

Importantly, the decision to build at the Matthews Park will bring that site to life. Orangeburg County is planning a spec building for the park, which could mean announcement of a neighbor for Sigmatex by the time the new industry is ready for operations.

The industry will also bring emphasis to Orangeburg County’s Global Logistics Triangle (I-26, U.S. 301 and I-95) and its position as an ideal site in proximity to Charleston and major highway routes. Just a week ago, the county broke ground for a new Interstate 95-U.S. 301 interchange that will represent a major infrastructure improvement.

“We are looking forward to a good marriage,” Orangeburg County Council Chairman Johnnie Wright said Thursday. “Orangeburg County is user-friendly. We recognize we are here to improve the quality of life for those in Orangeburg County with good-paying, solid jobs.”

The company will pay above Orangeburg County’s average wage of $14 an hour.

Additional good news comes in the partnership the county has with Santee Cooper, the state-owned utility, in Sigmatex’s decision and the spec building. The new industry’s building will be funded by a low-interest Santee Cooper loan, as is the spec building.

“Santee Cooper has supported the development of the Matthews Industrial Park because it offers so much potential for Orangeburg County,” said Lonnie Carter, Santee Cooper president and CEO. “Sigmatex is an excellent fit for Orangeburg County and a solid cornerstone for the Matthews Industrial Park.”

With the county landing Sigmatex while in competition with Virginia, Georgia and North Carolina, the hope now is the county can maintain the momentum and get itself increasingly on the industrial development map, particularly with aerospace-related industries that are certain to gravitate toward the Charleston hub.

To quote Orangeburg County Development Commission Chairman Ken Middleton: “Orangeburg has landed another aerospace leader in Sigmatex and the positive momentum continues.”

SANTEE — Congressman James Clyburn says he and then-South Carolina Secretary of Commerce Bob Royall had great ideas for Santee 22 years ago.

“He said to me, ‘The place in South Carolina that bears your attention is Santee,’” Clyburn said. “He foresaw this area as a significant part of this state’s future.”

On Wednesday morning, nearly 200 county and state leaders witnessed another step toward fulfilling the vision for Santee as ground was broken for the much-anticipated Interstate 95 and U.S. Highway 301 interchange upgrade.

The $41 million project, called one of the largest in recent S.C. Department of Transportation history, has been described by leaders as a key to boosting economic development within the Global Logistics Triangle. The Global Logistics Triangle is the name the county uses to market the area bordered by I-26, I-95 and U.S. 301.

“We saw a vision for this part of South Carolina,” Clyburn said during the ceremony held at the Santee Conference Center. “Santee is beginning to flourish because its local leadership demonstrates great vision.”

The new interchange is expected to benefit plans for a logistics, manufacturing and distribution park in Santee. The Jafza South Carolina project was announced in 2007 by Dubai-based Jafza, but has faced delays and changes since the worldwide recession.

Jafza donated 43 acres to the interchange project to show its commitment to the region.

The project includes the development of a full-access interchange where I-95 and U.S. 301 meet.

Currently, the interchange only allows partial access because it was built at a time when I-95 terminated at Santee.

The plan also calls for U.S. 301, which currently ends when it merges onto I-95 northbound, to be extended to connect with Old Number Six Highway outside the Santee town limits. The S.C. Highway 6 connector will connect to S.C. 6 between Intercoastal Lane and Milligan Road.

The project will require the construction of a bridge over I-95 and a bridge over the CSX Railroad.

S.C. 6 will be improved to provide turn lanes at the newly created intersection with the new connector road.

Construction will begin Oct. 13 and is estimated to take a year.

The interchange upgrade is being funded by the Lower Savannah Council of Governments, $17.2 million; a federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery Grant, $12.1 million; federal earmarks, $11.2 million; and $500,000 in local funding from the Orangeburg County Transportation Committee.

Orangeburg County Administrator Harold Young said, “This is a generational investment for the county.

“The impact on eastern Orangeburg County will create a foundation for future jobs and families for years to come.”

Orangeburg County Councilman Johnny Ravenell, who represents Council District 2 and the Santee area, predicts within the next two years Santee will begin to see significant impact from the interchange project.

“Industries are coming,” he said. “We are right on time.”

S.C. Department of Transportation Secretary Janet Oakley said the new interchange will put Orangeburg County and the state on the global map.

“We have to have a 21st century transportation system if we are going to compete in that global marketplace,” Oakley said. Orangeburg and the region, “are poised today for unlimited economic success that will further contribute to the economic growth of the entire state of South Carolina.”

SCDOT Commissioner Sam Glover described the groundbreaking as a “giant step forward full of opportunity and promise.”

“Orangeburg is the largest rural county in South Carolina with a history of high unemployment and poverty that spans generations,” Glover said. “We have long worn the label, the hat, as one 12 counties in South Carolina that are nationally designated as a persistent poverty county. Change is going to happen as a result of this.”

Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg, said projects like the interchange could help the county get rid of the “persistent poverty” label.

“All of us have to focus on removing that designation,” she said. “It will happen over time but it will take all of us working together.”

S.C. Ports Authority Board Secretary Willie Jeffries said the Santee area and Port of Charleston are tied together.

“The most important thing for a port is cargo. This will help us move that cargo all over the state,” Jeffries said. He’s the former head football coach at S.C. State University.

During construction, the existing I-95 and U.S. 301 interchange will be closed, with traffic detoured around the interchange beginning Oct. 13.

The southbound I-95 exit ramp to U.S. 301 will be detoured along southbound I-95 to U.S. 15, then along northbound U.S. 15 to U.S. 301. The northbound on-ramp from U.S. 301 to I-95 will be detoured using southbound U.S. 15 to I-95.

Directional message boards and detour signs will be placed along the routes to indicate the detoured traffic pattern.

Contact the writer: gzaleski@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-533-5551. Check out Zaleski on Twitter at @ZaleskiTD.