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. 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 |