North Carolina based Advanced Ceramic Coatings (ACC), a joint venture between Ohio-based GE Aviation and Turbocoating Corp. of Italy, announced that it will invest $15 million to build a new 62,500-square-foot facility at Hillside Enterprise Park in Duncan and create 50 jobs.The facility will be constructed on a piece of property at 1191 Howell Road within the 84.5-acre park owned by Indianapolis-based developer Scannell Properties. ACC’s site is near a 77,000-square-foot facility that will soon be occupied by German automotive supplier Brose North America Inc.
ACC said the plant, which is expected to be open by the third quarter of 2017, will produce advanced coatings for GE’s high-temperature ceramic matrix composite (CMC) components in its jet engines.
“Duncan and Spartanburg County offered the right mix of skilled employees and resources to help ACC expand its production capabilities over the next few years,” said Scott Hayes, general manager of ACC, in a statement. “GE and Turbocoating will invest more than $15 million in equipment and the new facility will employ around 50 people by 2022.”
The company said it anticipates it will begin hiring for the new positions during the second quarter of 2017. It encouraged job applicants to email ACCcareers [at] advanced-ceramic-coatings.com.
“That’s a great team they’ve put together,” said Spartanburg County Councilman David Britt. “We welcome them with open arms… [Hillside Enterprise Park] is a great asset. We are very fortunate to have a developer like Scannell interested in Spartanburg.”
ACC was formed two years ago. GE said the joint venture was part of its push to create a supply chain that would allow it to produce more CMCs. In October 2014, the company opened a new CMC factory in Asheville, N.C.
According to GE, CMCs are made of silicon carbide ceramic fibers and ceramic matrix, and enhanced with proprietary coatings. They are lighter and more heat resistant than metal alloys, the company said.
ACC is the latest specialty chemical company to find a home in Spartanburg. In October, Italian manufacturer Ritrama announced its plan to invest $85 million to build a 350,000-square-foot plant at Tyger River Industrial Park and create 150 jobs.
“We’re very pleased to welcome Advanced Ceramic Coatings to the park,” said Joel Scannell, managing director of Scannell. “They are a great fit and an example of the kinds of companies we hope to attract to the park.”
The S.C. Department of Commerce said the state’s Coordinating Council for Economic Development has approved job development credits and a $250,000 Set Aside grant to Spartanburg County to assist with real property improvements for the project.
