KP Components Inc. announces new facility in Pickens County
September 20, 2011
Investment expected to create more than 50 new jobs
EASLEY, SC – September 20, 2011 – KP Components Inc., a Denmark-basedprecision CNC machining supplier, today announced plans for a newfacility in Pickens County. The more than $10 million investment isexpected to generate more than 50 new jobs.
“We selected this location in the U.S. because of our company’sextensive competence in the manufacture of components for the globalhydraulics industry, as well as our strong relationships with existingU.S. customers,” said Stig Skov Laursen, CEO of KP Components Inc. “KPComponents Inc. sees great potential in the U.S. and has developedsignificant relationships with a number of U.S. customers who areawaiting the start-up of our Easley, South Carolina facility. Theestablishment of our U.S. presence is within our company’s growthstrategy, 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 producehydraulic components used in farm equipment, heavy equipment and windpower turbines. The new facility is the company’s first in NorthAmerica.
“South Carolina shows once again that it’s a globally competitive placefor investment. We celebrate KP Components Inc.’s decision to createdozens of new, well-paying jobs here and we welcome them to the SouthCarolina 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 thestate and have created more than 149,000 jobs over the years.
“Today’s announcement adds to South Carolina’s growing manufacturingsector. KP Components Inc.’s decision also shows that our state’sskilled talent and business-friendly environment continue to helpattract investment,” said Bobby Hitt, Secretary of Commerce.
Since January, Commerce has announced the recruitment of more than $1.5billion in capital investment and more than 5,000 new jobs fromcompanies in the manufacturing sector.
“Pickens County is pleased to welcome KP Components Inc. to ourcommunity. Our workforce, our primary, secondary, and technicaleducation components, and our business-friendly climate all will enableKP Components to develop a thriving business in Easley and theiradvanced manufacturing company will be a perfect fit and we look forward to watching their success for many years to come,” said Pickens CountyCouncil 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 ofTri-County Technical College. “Stig Laursen is a proven business leaderwho will bring his reputation for excellence to bear in this newoperation. Alliance Pickens and our College are committed to doing allthat we can to ensure a long-term relationship of mutual and communitybenefit.”
The state of South Carolina provided training funds and job developmentcredits, which will be available if hiring targets are met. The countyprovided 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 tiedtogether by 225 highly skilled employees, which keep production runningin 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. shouldcontact the Liberty SC Works Center at 317 Summit Drive in Liberty, S.C. 29657, telephone 864.843.9512 or at www.sconestop.org.
