Existing Clusters - Inactive
Advanced Manufacturing
Manufacturing has a long and rich history in Catawba County. Even today, 31% of Catawba County’s working population is engaged in manufacturing. That’s more than three times the national average of 10%. There are over 425 manufacturers in Catawba County employing more than 23,000 workers.
It’s true that the face of the manufacturing sector in Catawba County has seen a lot of change. Though the textile mills that once lined the region’s rivers are gone, in their place are advanced manufacturing facilities producing high value products like automotive components, fiber optic cable, and custom handcrafted furniture.
Catawba Valley Community College's Manufacturing Solutions Center is a non-profit organization located in Conover, North Carolina. The center strives to improve quality and efficiency, develop new products and create/retain jobs. The multi-faceted center offers several different services including standardized testing, product development, training (hosiery, software, industrial, etc), engineering, and many more.
View our Advanced Manufacturing Brochure to learn more about Catawba County's manufacturing specialization.
Telecommunications
Two of Catawba County's largest employers also happen to be two of the world's largest producers of fiber optic cables. Supporting these industry giants—CommScope and Corning Optical Communications, along with Prysmian—are a number of smaller suppliers that combine to create one of the most impressive clusters of fiber companies in the world.
Advanced Textiles
Textiles have a long history in Catawba County. Like many areas, Catawba's early industrial economy was largely made up of textile mills. The Catawba River provided a readily available, abundant water supply and many textile products were manufactured in Catawba County beginning with yarn and including sock, hosiery, and bedding. In the early part of the century, many of these textile factories moved their operations out of the country. With companies producing both wovens and nonwovens for a variety of applications, the textile industry still thrives in Catawba County. Read this case study about textile manufacturing in Catawba County. Also, please view our Advanced Textiles Fact Sheet to learn more.
Data Centers
With such an impressive collection of fiber companies, it should be no surprise that Catawba County and the surrounding area is also home to some of the world's largest and most sophisticated data centers. A targeted recruitment effort started by the Catawba EDC to establish the NC Data Center Corridor has brought jaw-dropping investments by companies like Apple and Bed Bath & Beyond to Catawba County and companies like Google and Facebook to other counties in the Corridor. These companies are able take advantage of the reliable, low-cost energy and abundant water found in the region.
With their understanding of the industry's needed and wants, the Catawba County EDC and area partners have worked to prepare a number of sites and buildings, suitable for additional data centers. To learn more, visit datacentersites.com
International Firms
While not technically an industry cluster, the significant presence of international firms in Catawba County makes it worth highlighting. International firms remain a fitting target for Catawba County and the EDC works closely with representatives in Europe to uncover companies who may be seeking, or could benefit from, a new US location. At last count there were over 40 internationally owned firms in the area, the vast majority of which are engaged in manufacturing. These companies employe over 4,000 workers and represent 18% of our manufacturing workforce. Some of these companies include Klingspor Abrasives (Germany), Lincotek Surface Solutions (Italy), Sarstedt (Germany), Technibilt-Wanzl (Germany), ZF (Germany), American Fuji Seal (Japan), Cataler NA (Japan), Smart Electric (Taiwan), GKN (United Kingdom), CertainTeed (France), Prysmian (Italy), Minelli USA (Italy), Pasta Piccinini (Italy), Poppelman Plastics (Germany) and Taiji Group USA (China).
Foreign Owned Firms in Catawba County - 2022 | ||
Company | Parent Company | Product |
Germany | ||
Benz, Inc. | Benz GmbH | Metal & wood tooling |
Heico Fasteners | Heimann Corp. | Fasteners for furniture |
Hager Worldwide | ---------- | Specialty dental products |
ITM Medical Isotopes | Isotopen Technologies München | Radiopharmaceuticals |
Klingspor Abrasives | Klingspor GmbH | Coated & bonded abrasives |
Poppelmann Plastics | Poppelmann GmbH | Plastic containers/auto parts |
Sarstedt, Inc. | Sarstedt AG & Co | Plastic Medical Devices |
Wanzl North America | Wanzl | Shopping & grocery Carts |
Tigra USA | Tigra GmbH | Tungsten carbide tools |
ZF Chassis Components | ZF Friedrichschafen AG | Auto. chassis components |
United Kingdom | ||
Canteen Vending | Compass Group | Onsite food/bev. vending |
GKN ePowerTrain | GKN | Automotive gears |
GKN Sinter Metals | GKN | Automotive parts |
Sandler Seating, Inc. | Sandler Seating Ltd. | Furniture warehousing |
Unigel USA LLC | Unigel, Ltd. | Fiber optic cable components |
Unitape USA LLC | Unitape, Ltd. | Specialty fiber optic cables |
Volex Interconnect Systems | Volex Group | Electrical equipment |
Italy | ||
Friulmac Inc. | Friulma SpA | Woodworking machinery |
IdeaItalia | Ideaitalia | Furniture |
Lincotek Surface Solutions | Lincotek Rubbiano SpA | Coatings for turbine blades |
Minelli, USA | Minelli Group, SpA | Specialty wood products |
Pasta Piccinini | Gastronomia Piccinini Srl | Dough, Fresh & Dried Pasta |
Prysmian Group/Draka | Prysmian SpA | Fiber optic cable |
Japan | ||
American Fuji Seal | Fuji Seal International, Inc. | Shrink wrap sleeves |
Cataler, NA | Cataler Corporation | Automotive catalysts |
Ricoh USA | Ricoh Co Ltd | Office equipment |
US Conec Ltd | Corning/NTT/Fujikura | Fiber optic mfg equipment |
Sweden | ||
Axjo America, Inc. | Axjo Plastic AB | Plastic cable spools |
Camfil Farr Inc. | Camfil AB | Air filters |
Essity | Essity Aktiebolag | Wound & orthopedic devices |
Windak, Inc. | Windak AB | Assemble spool systems |
Canada | ||
Deetag USA, Inc. | Fluid power connectors | |
RMC Advanced Technologies | NanoXplore | Heavy-duty truck components |
Special Metals Welding | Special Metals Welding | Welding Equipment |
France | ||
Certainteed | Saint-Gobain, SA | Plastic/vinyl siding |
Joulin North America | Joulin | Industrial machinery |
Legrand | Legrand Group | Cable connectors & assemblies |
Others | ||
Aqua Plastics | Aquaplastica (Dominican Republic) |
Plastics recycling |
Cemex | Cemex (Mexico) |
Concrete blocks |
Mosdorfer NA | Mosdorfer GmbH (Austria) |
Electrical equipment |
Rosendahl Nextrom USA | Rosendahl Nextrom GmbH (Austria) |
Sales & service |
Smart Electric, NA | Smart Electric Works (Taiwan) |
Distributes lighting & electrical |
Universal Furniture | Lacquer Craft Mfg Co (China) |
Upholstered furniture |
Wuxi Taiji Paper Industry | The Taiji Group (China) |
Spiral-wound cardboard cores |