Catawba County has a rich history in manufacturing with over 425 manufacturers employing 28% of the workforce.

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 Language Resources
Über die Catawba EDC A Proposito di Catawba EDC Sobre Catawba EDC
German Language Page
German Language Flyer
Italian Language Page
Italian Language Flyer
Spanish Language Page
Spanish Language Flyer

Klingspor Abrasives, headquartered in Haiger, Germany, established their US headquarters and manufacturing facility in Hickory in 1979.

 

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