Target Industries
Bioscience
Oconee County is home to bioscience excellence due to its’ proximity to Clemson University that boasts cutting-edge research and innovation. This community and the overall region is home to some of the world’s most forward thinking companies, including world leaders in the development and application of cutting-edge technologies that continue to push the growth of the area. This blossoming healthcare sector is an important component of the community and the regional economic base. Like many areas of the country, the demand for medical services will increase as the aging population elect to remain in the community as they grow older. Within these niche areas, there are many other viable opportunities for Oconee County to further their excellence in Bioscience.
Top Bioscience employers:
To learn more, click here: Oconee Memorial Hospital (affiliated with the Greenville Health System)
Oconee Memorial Hospital is the heart of healthcare in Oconee County, serving patients in every age and stage of life.
To learn more, click here: Ulbrich
Ulbrich has a manufacturing facility in Westminster, S.C. that produces alloys that are on the front line in the fight to stay healthy. Their specialty metals, such as many flavors of titanium, 304 modified strip, 301, 316L, 17-7 PH® and 455 strip goes into everything from pacemaker and defibrillator cans to orthopedic implants to surgical instruments and hypodermic needles.
Strengths in the Bioscience Workforce:
South Carolina boasts significant business activity within the medical device sector and a particularly robust medical device manufacturing supply chain. From 2007-2010, companies in medical devices and equipment added 15% more jobs and 13% more companies in South Carolina.
Innovative Partnerships
Due to the forward-thinking of the Oconee Medical Center, Clemson University and many other for-profit organizations, there is a lot of partnerships taking place to carve out a new niche in the area that will have lasting results moving forward. From a “best-in-class” joint center at Oconee Medical to clinical research through Clemson, this area is ripe for further developments that will define the Bioscience arena.
Experience in Medical Advanced Manufacturing
Oconee County is blessed to have a diverse industrial manufacturing base and a deep labor pool to provide lasting results on the manufacturing front. One area that Oconee County does well in is the medical arena thanks to companies like Ulbrich. When it comes to manufacturing, Oconee County is the “sweet spot” in the Upstate of South Carolina.
Energy
Oconee County and the Energy sector go hand-in-hand due to strong relationships with Duke Energy, Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative and energy–related manufacturers that call our community home. Oconee County desires to strengthen the energy cluster by focusing on mechanical and electrical components for renewable energy technologies, components for the nuclear energy industry as well as the electrical distribution system, and the development of new technologies to support the energy sector as a whole.
Top Energy Employers:
To learn more, click here: Duke Energy
Duke Energy makes life better for millions of people by providing electric and gas services in a sustainable way. They are the largest electric power holding company in the United States, supplying and delivering energy to approximately 7.2 million U.S. customers. Duke Energy has approximately 57,500 megawatts of electric generating capacity in the Carolinas, Midwest and Florida – and natural gas distribution services in Ohio and Kentucky.
To learn more, click here: Blue Ridge Electric
Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative is a customer owned, not-for-profit electric distribution utility that serves 55,000 customers in the upstate of South Carolina. Headquartered in Pickens, South Carolina, the co-op provides electric service to portions of Anderson, Greenville, Oconee, Pickens, and Spartanburg counties. Itron- Electronic metering Itron Inc. is a world-leading technology and services company dedicated to the resourceful use of energy and water. Itron provides comprehensive solutions that measure, manage and analyze energy and water. This firm employs over 500 people in their West Union facility.
To learn more, click here: Schneider Electric
Schneider Electric has two manufacturing facilities in Oconee County and employs over 500 people. One facility manufactures custom motor control switches and control centers; while the second, manufacturers electric vehicle charging stations.
Strengths in the Energy Workforce:
Manufacturing Energy Products
Companies like Itron, Schneider Electric, Ulbrich, ITT and many others know that Oconee County has the workforce, infrastructure and proximity to the market to be successful in manufacturing energy-related products. Oconee County stands ready to assist the growth of this industry.
Data Center
Oconee County has a proven track record in data center recruitment as evidenced by Armor Rack locating a Tier III data center in the community. This area has the necessary infrastructure and capabilities for successful data center projects.
Biomass
Oconee County has a deep wood basket for companies engaged in biomass and a solid infrastructure to support those type operations.
Advanced Manufacturing
Advanced manufacturing is the backbone of the Oconee County economy, from handicraft to high tech, this manufacturing sector is flourishing in Oconee County. It is no wonder given the presence of Clemson University and having this manufacturing sector closely connected with engineering and industrial design. From bottling water to airplanes, Oconee County has the expertise and workforce to take raw materials and transform them into finished goods on a large scale.
Top Advanced Manufacturing Employers:
To learn more, click here: BASF
The world’s leading chemical company has a solid foundation in Oconee County with their facility here that employs over 300 people that are engaged in the manufacturing of specialty chemical catalysts and precious metal refining.
To learn more, click here: Greenfield Industries
This established leader in the industrial cutting tool industry has their regional headquarters in Oconee County and manufactures drills, taps, end mills, and other cutting tools for a variety of industrial, maintenance, commercial, and construction applications.
To learn more, click here: Lift Technologies
With their North American headquarters and two facilities, this firm supplies masts, carriages, integral sideshifters, fork positioners, reach carriages and related components for a wide variety of mobile material handling equipment. These products are used on industrial trucks, automatically guided vehicles (AGVs), telehandlers, truck mounted and rough terrain forklifts and a broad range of other material handling applications.
To learn more, click here: Sandvik
This international firm with its’ high-technology engineering group produces tools and tooling systems for metal cutting is a testament to the strength Oconee County has as a manufacturing center of excellence. This firm manufactures components in cemented carbide and other hard materials, equipment and tools for the mining and construction industries, and products in advanced stainless steels, special alloys and titanium as well as metallic and ceramic resistance materials.
Strengths in the Advanced Manufacturing Workforce:
Infrastructure
From being on the Interstate 85 corridor to close proximity to the South Carolina Inland Port, a manufacturing facility has the assets in place in Oconee County to be successful.
Clemson University
Having a top-ranked University with close proximity is a blessing for Oconee County as the talent is there and the research partnerships like the International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) and the Advanced Manufacturing Research Lab (AMRL) are ready to assist any company.
Automotive
Automotive manufacturing is the pulse of the Upstate South Carolina economy and has a strong presence in Oconee County. Thanks to companies like BMW, Michelin, and ZF, the automotive industry in our area continues to hold potential for future business and employment growth in progressive niche markets that are emerging within the industry.
Top Automotive Employers:
To learn more, click here: BorgWarner
BorgWarner is a global product leader in powertrain solutions that focuses on developing leading powertrain technologies that improve fuel economy, emissions and performance. This firm employs nearly 700 people in Oconee County.
To learn more, click here: JTEKT/Koyo
Koyo is the JTEKT Corporation brand for Bearings. JTEKT engineering and manufacturing capabilities range from super large bearings with outer diameters of seven meters to miniature bearings with inner diameters as small as one millimeter. Their Walhalla facility employs over 600 people.
To learn more, click here: Parkway Products
Parkway, with its’ 100 employees in Oconee County, is one of the few automotive suppliers with an established track record of supplying both cosmetic and functional/mechanical components. From painted and laser etched interior switches to high-temperature, wear resistant powertrain seals to high impact suspension components, Parkway components have been in, on and attached to the vehicles of leading OEMs for three decades.
To learn more, click here: U.S Engine Valve
USEV has 640 employees in Oconee County and supplies the global automotive industry with high engineered valves that help to increase fuel economy well as improve a vehicle’s overall efficiency and performance.
Strengths in the Automotive Workforce:
Specialized Automotive Training for the Workforce
Thanks to Tri-County Technical College (TCTC), which offers engineering programs that cover virtually all aspects of engineering and design for automotive components, the workforce for the automotive industry is here. ReadySC is also an asset on the economic development front that provides customized pre-employment training at no cost to new and expanding industries in the state via technical colleges such as Tri-County Tech.
Proximity to Clemson University
Having the presence of this major University in the backdoor of Oconee County has been a blessing and also an “opportunity driver.” The Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) is located on a 250-acre campus along I-85 in our region. CU-ICAR is home to the Clemson University Graduate Engineering Center that offers our region advanced degrees in automotive engineering and motorsport technology.
Location in Upstate SC Automotive Hub
With the decision to locate in Upstate South Carolina in 1992, BMW Manufacturing Co. has created momentum for overall growth in the Southeastern automotive region. With BMW’s decision to locate in the Southeast, forty of its suppliers are now located within a few hours of the Spartanburg County plant.
Available Industrial Real Estate
Oconee County has three new industrial parks that are certified by the South Carolina department of Commerce and ripe for business. Both offer easy access to the interstate and to the major markets in the U.S.
Distribution
Oconee County is well-suited to meet the needs of businesses in the logistics industry thanks to an extensive transportation infrastructure, a convenient location, favorable labor costs, and a number of additional advantages unique to the area. Being on the Interstate 85 corridor and half-way between Atlanta, GA and Charlotte, NC provides a key feature for Oconee County when it comes to logistics. Given Upstate South Carolina’s strong demand for warehousing and distribution operations, Oconee County is primed for expansion of this cluster above existing levels.
Top Distribution Employers:
To learn more, click here: Jantzen Seneca
Division of Perry Ellis international, Distribution center of a brand of swimwear that was established in 1916.
To learn more, click here: International Kitchen Supply
Distribution center of high quality all wood cabinets to large distributors throughout the US.
To learn more, click here: Johnson Controls
Johnson Controls is a global diversified technology and industrial leader with two locations in Oconee County. One is their warehouse and distribution center that supports their plastic injection molding business.
Strengths in the Distribution Workforce:
Location
Oconee County is located on the Interstate 85 corridor and offers close proximity to the South Carolina Inland Port making it a target area for Warehousing and Distribution. Oconee County is the closet South Carolina community to metro Atlanta and within one hour to the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport.
Product
Oconee County has two new industrial parks off the Interstate 85 corridor that boasts over 700 developable acres. Each of these parks could be great locations for new logistic operations.