T&D Region industries honored for S.C. impact; Zeus, GKN, Phoenix recognized by state

Each year, the Department of Commerce thanks local businesses for their contributions to South Carolina’s economy.

“The fact that Orangeburg County has two industry impact award winners is a testament to the industries’ significance and the fact that our county consistently is fighting above its weight class against other counties and states,” Orangeburg County Development Commission Executive Director Gregg Robinson said.

Nominees for this year’s Industry Impact Awards were judged on a number of factors, including capital investment, job creation, community engagement and environmental stewardship.

The local companies won in the Tier 4 group, which includes more rural counties.

“We are honored to have two of our leading Orangeburg County manufacturers recognized by the South Carolina Department of Commerce for their impact on our county and our state,” Orangeburg County Council Chairman Johnnie Wright Sr. said.

“Congratulations GKN-South Carolina and Zeus Industrial Products. We are grateful you call Orangeburg County home and we are proud to call you ours,” he said.

Orangeburg County Development Commission Chairman Kenneth Middleton praised the companies.

“The opportunities they provide and products they produce help make a name for Orangeburg as we look to future growth and improvement to our community,” he said.

“The fact that Orangeburg County has two leading industries shows the impact of our workforce and their ability to make things well in our community,” Orangeburg County Economic Development Partnership Chairman Bob Jennings said.

Zeus Industrial Products

“Zeus Industrial Products, Inc. is extremely proud to receive the 2018 Industry Impact Award,” Zeus CEO John Winarchick said. “Zeus follows a long-standing philosophy of investment in our employees and investment in our communities. Receiving this award is an acknowledgment that we’re on the right track and that our efforts are appreciated.”

Earlier this year, Zeus announced several expansions.

In January, Zeus announced was building a new, 148,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Calhoun County as part of a $76 million expansion.

The facility will result in the creation of 350 new jobs over the next several years.

Zeus also purchased an existing, 84,000-square-foot warehouse in St. Matthews at 2759 Old Belleville Road. An additional 10 to 20 jobs will be added for the facility.

In February, Zeus announced it was investing $15.9 million and creating 20 new jobs in Orangeburg County.

The expansion includes the addition of 64,000 square feet to its Industrial Road operations. The addition will allow Zeus to house its engineering, equipment design, tooling production and machine assembly operations in one centralized engineering center.

It also announced it will invest $15.7 million in Aiken County, creating 51 new jobs at its plant there. Zeus intends to convert its warehousing operations and floor space there into manufacturing space.

Founded in 1966, Zeus develops and manufactures polymer tubing for a variety of industries, including the medical, fluid handling and electrical markets.

The company employs between 300 and 400 in Orangeburg County, according to the Orangeburg County Development Commission’s website.

GKN Aerospace

British-based GKN has invested about $58 million in its Orangeburg facilities since it began operations in 2011. The plant is located in the Orangeburg County-City Industrial Park.

“We are honored to be recognized by the S.C. Department of Commerce and Governor Henry McMaster,” Orangeburg GKN General Manager Tomas Lindsta said. “Our achievements and contributions would not be possible without our dedicated, world-class workforce contributing each day toward advancing GKN Aerospace and South Carolina’s aerospace industry.

“We are very proud of our people, and we are very thankful to work in such a great state,” Lindsta said.

GKN opened in August 2012 with a 150,000-square-foot building on 21 acres.

Increasing work and demand led the company to expand its building, requiring about a $2.3 million investment over the past few years.

GKN makes lip skins for Boeing’s 777X and 737 MAX commercial airplanes. It also makes floor grids for the 787 Dreamliner that’s assembled at Boeing’s North Charleston campus.

Earlier this month, GKN was purchased by London Investment Group Melrose Industries for $11.4 billion. The sale includes the company’s Orangeburg plant, which employs more than 300 workers.

Phoenix Specialty

Phoenix is a supplier of custom specialty parts such as washers, shims and precision stampings to original equipment manufacturers. The company supplies small precision parts to the aerospace, medical, industrial equipment and automotive markets.

“SouthernCarolina Alliance congratulates the Phoenix team on winning the S.C. Community Impact Award,” SouthernCarolina Alliance Vice President of Marketing Kay Maxwell said. “For more than 50 years, Phoenix has been a leader in the Bamberg community and the regional industrial sector, providing the jobs and investment that have benefited our families for generations.”

The company has manufactured parts for the space shuttle, the Mars Rover and the Apollo moon landing, as well as the U.S. Olympics bobsled team and NASCAR racing teams.

Last year, the company celebrated its 110th year anniversary and its 50th anniversary in Bamberg County. It also received the state Department of Commerce’s South Carolina Export Achievement Award for seeing exports increase by 300 percent in the last three years.

In 2016, the S.C. Department of Commerce presented the company with the Rural Manufacturer Award during the state’s rural summit.

The company employs 96, according to the Southern Carolina Regional Economic Development Alliance.