King Machine announces new facility in Sumter

February 27, 2014

King Machine announces new facility in Sumter image

COLUMBIA, S.C. - King Machine, a Charlotte-based molds manufacturing and service company with expertise in the tire industry, has selected Sumter County as the site of its new facility. The $3 million investment will result in the creation of more than 20 jobs. The new facility will inspect, service and repair equipment used in the production of millions of tires per year.

King Machine President, Michael Wells, said employees of the company are already working within the Continental Tire plant in Sumter, and the company has leased a vacant building on East Liberty Street to serve as a temporary facility. The company is currently in the early stages of planning for the construction of a new building in Sumter.

The Sumter location will be King Machine's fifth location in the United States. The company currently operates four facilities in Ohio and North Carolina.

QUOTES

"This is the first time in our company's growth that we have really worked with a local community. Previously, we just had to do it all on our own, but we've found Sumter to be a warm and welcoming community." -King Machine President Michael Wells

"With the continued support of our local city and county leaders as well as the state, we at Continental Tire the Americas Sumter Plant are able to forge lasting business relationships in South Carolina, including our partners at King Machine." -Craig Baartman, Continental Tire the Americas Sumter plant manager

"We are excited to see what the future has in store for Sumter County as suppliers like King Machine continue to invest and grow there. We applaud King Machine's decision to invest $3 million and bring 20 new jobs to our state. -Gov. Nikki Haley

"In the past three years, South Carolina has recruited more than $5 billion in capital investment and created nearly 9,000 new jobs in the automotive-related sector. With Continental's move to Sumter and the expansion of King Machine, South Carolinians are seeing quality jobs headed their way and a bright economic future ahead." -Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt

"Council welcomes new jobs to our community because our people need the opportunities. We welcome King Machine to Sumter County and pledge to do what we can to make the company successful." -Sumter County Council Chairman Larry Blanding

"Our win of Continental led to the win of King Machine which leads to even more wins for our county. And all along the way, our community's per capita income rises and our quality of life rises." -Sumter Development Board Chairman Greg A. Thompson

 

FIVE FAST FACTS

  • $3 million investment and more than 20 jobs.
  • King Machine will inspect, service and repair equipment used in the production of millions of Continental tires per year.
  • King Machine employees are already working within the Continental Tire plant in Sumter, and the company has leased a building on East Liberty Street to serve as a temporary facility.
  • King Machine is in the early stages of planning for the construction of a new building in Sumter.
  • In the past three years, South Carolina has recruited more than $5 billion in capital investment and created nearly 9,000 new jobs in the automotive-related sector.

About King Machine

Based in Charlotte, N.C., King Machine is the global leader in tire mold technologies. The company has three other facilities, in Wilson, N.C., Fayetteville, N.C. and Akron, OH. For more information, visit www.kingmachinemolds.com .

About S.C. Department of Commerce

 As South Carolina's leading economic development agency, the Department of Commerce works to recruit new businesses and help existing businesses grow. Commerce has recruited world-class companies to South Carolina such as Boeing, Bridgestone, Continental, Monster.com, ZF Group, BMW and Google Inc. and also supports small and existing business, rural development initiatives and community development. Commerce partners with the S.C. Technical College System via readySC to support workforce training and recruiting, and with the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce, which provides worker training and employment opportunities within the state. South Carolina ranked first in the national for attracting jobs through foreign investment, according to IBM-Plant Location International reports in both 2012 and 2013. The state won the Gold Shovel Award and the Project of Year Award from Area Development magazine in 2012. For more information, visit www.SCcommerce.com.