GoUpstate.com

This is a printer friendly version of an article from www.goupstate.com
To print this article open the file menu and choose Print.

Back
Article published Jun 9, 2004
Suminoe invests in S.C.

Lynne Powell
Cherokee County Bureau

Cherokee County embraced a new neighbor Tuesday morning. That's when Suminoe Textiles, a Japanese automotive furnishings maker, opened its manufacturing and finishing plant in the Meadowcreek Industrial Park.The 7-year-old building situated on 31 acres of land was formerly occupied by Paragon Trade Brands.Suminoe supplies automotive fabrics for Honda, Toyota and Nissan.The company that makes seat fabrics and floor coverings for automotives boasted $593 million in sales last year. Fifty-six percent of its sales last year were from automotive seat and door trim. Twenty-six percent of Suminoe's sales last year were in floor carpets and mats.Employment applications are available at Job Service in Gaffney.Gov. Mark Sanford was the speaker for the occasion, welcoming Suminoe to the state and to Cherokee County.Sanford said the announcement was great news to for the county, where the textile industry is slowly dying. Already in 2004, the state has already seen$1 billion in industrial investment in the state and the addition of 4,700 jobs. Sanford said those figures have almost surpassed figures from 2003.Suminoe Textiles will eventually employ 130 people and will invest about $30 million in the county.The plant runs a first-shift operation, but talks are under way to begin a second shift at the plant.Sanford said although the numbers seem to just represent figures, the new jobs mean a parent can buy a birthday present for their child or take their family out to eat on a Friday night.Sen. Harvey Peeler said with the addition of Suminoe Textiles, South Carolina is continuing to make its mark in the automotive world.Peeler cited BMW, Timken, Freightliner Custom Chassis, Michelin and Clemson's International Center for Automotive Research as other automotive and automotive parts makers who have made their home in the Upstate."We're becoming the Detroit of Dixie," Peeler told the crowd.County and state dignitaries toured the 214,000-square-foot plant that already employs about 30 people.The company has headquarters in Osaka, Japan, where the company employs 700.This year, the Gaffney plant will add 15 employees to its work force and an additional 15 in 2005.Lynne Powell may be reached at487-7146 or lynne.powell@shj.com.By LYNNE POWELLCherokee County BureauGAFFNEY
Cherokee County embraced a new neighbor Tuesday morning. That's when Suminoe Textiles, a Japanese automotive furnishings maker, opened its manufacturing and finishing plant in the Meadowcreek Industrial Park.The 7-year-old building situated on 31 acres of land was formerly occupied by Paragon Trade Brands.Suminoe supplies automotive fabrics for Honda, Toyota and Nissan.The company that makes seat fabrics and floor coverings for automotives boasted $593 million in sales last year. Fifty-six percent of its sales last year were from automotive seat and door trim. Twenty-six percent of Suminoe's sales last year were in floor carpets and mats.Employment applications are available at Job Service in Gaffney.Gov. Mark Sanford was the speaker for the occasion, welcoming Suminoe to the state and to Cherokee County.Sanford said the announcement was great news to for the county, where the textile industry is slowly dying. Already in 2004, the state has already seen$1 billion in industrial investment in the state and the addition of 4,700 jobs. Sanford said those figures have almost surpassed figures from 2003.Suminoe Textiles will eventually employ 130 people and will invest about $30 million in the county.The plant runs a first-shift operation, but talks are under way to begin a second shift at the plant.Sanford said although the numbers seem to just represent figures, the new jobs mean a parent can buy a birthday present for their child or take their family out to eat on a Friday night.Sen. Harvey Peeler said with the addition of Suminoe Textiles, South Carolina is continuing to make its mark in the automotive world.Peeler cited BMW, Timken, Freightliner Custom Chassis, Michelin and Clemson's International Center for Automotive Research as other automotive and automotive parts makers who have made their home in the Upstate."We're becoming the Detroit of Dixie," Peeler told the crowd.County and state dignitaries toured the 214,000-square-foot plant that already employs about 30 people.The company has headquarters in Osaka, Japan, where the company employs 700.This year, the Gaffney plant will add 15 employees to its work force and an additional 15 in 2005.Lynne Powell may be reached at487-7146 or lynne.powell@shj.com.