The Greenville Area Development Corporation announced that RMF will expand its current operations in Greenville County by building a custom facility in Greenville County’s Matrix Business & Technology Park. The $13 million investment is expected to generate at least 20 new jobs over the next three years at RMF, already one of the largest electroplating and electrocoating jobshops in the Southeast.
“We have discussed the new facility for 5 years and we are excited about the decision to expand RMF operations here in Greenville County and to locate at the Matrix Business & Technology Park,” said John Pazdan, president of RMF. “Ultimately combining all of our operations at The Matrix is an important part of the successful future we envision and this expansion will help to make us even more competitive. South Carolina has provided us with an excellent business climate and the skilled talent we require as we enter our second half-century of serving an expanding automotive, heavy truck and industrial equipment customer base.”
RMF currently operates two facilities in Greenville County, and may ultimately combine all operations at the new Matrix facility. The Matrix facility will initially be 85,000 square feet, and the site will have room to expand to over 200,000sf as demand warrants in the future, Pazdan noted. Some of the current associates will transition to the new facilities over time.
“While we work every day trying to bring new companies to South Carolina, it is always exciting to see one of our existing businesses grow in our state. We celebrate RMF’s decision to invest $13 million and create 20 new jobs in Piedmont. Announcements like this show we are doing the right things to help companies prosper,” said Gov. Nikki Haley.
RMF’s two current facilities serve many of the Interstate 85 corridor’s 200-plus automotive, heavy truck and industrial equipment suppliers and “many of the nearly-1000 related suppliers located within 400 miles of this region,” added RMF CEO Cliff Roy. “Manufacturing in the Southeast has rebounded recently with the US, German, Japanese and Korean automotive assembly plants all doing well. We also are seeing opportunities within the heavy truck and industrial equipment markets. This new facility will also allow us to increase our presence in the growing aerospace industry. Our strategy is to reach out into new arenas, and this expansion will certainly enable us to do so.”
Construction on the new Matrix facility, to be located at 1515 Old Grove Road in Piedmont, is under way and is expected to be operational in June, 2013.
“South Carolina continues to see its reputation in the automotive club grow. When companies like RMF expand, it strengthens our state’s manufacturing renaissance and helps create wealth in our communities. Every one of these new jobs will have impact in Greenville County,” said Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt.
Founded in 1961 as Roy Metal Finishing, RMF is the largest corrosion resistant coating jobshop in the Southeast providing zinc and zinc alloy electroplating, electrocoating, zinc phosphating and passivation. Since expanding their services to the automotive market, Pazdan and CEO Cliff Roy have focused on automating processes and chemical controls, introducing the latest in environmentally-friendly corrosion protection for metal parts and ductile iron castings and forgings, and delivering high-quality electroplating on a just-in-time basis to hundreds of organizations across the Southeast.
“We’re pleased that RMF will continue to enjoy the advantages that Greenville County offers their company for continued success,” said H.G. “Butch” Kirven, director of the Greenville Area Development Corporation and chairman of Greenville County Council. “Their decision to expand and consolidate operations at The Matrix Park is an important affirmation of this region’s focus on growing our automotive and aerospace clusters. As an innovation-driven organization with blue-chip clients, RMF is a prized member of the Upstate business community.”
Persons interested in being considered for hire should contact Kristen Beddingfield of Spartan Staffing at 864.553.7073 or via email at kbeddingfield@spartanstaffing.com.
Located in southern Greenville County, SC, the Matrix Park is a 1,100-acre, master-planned park with a special I-2 zoning classification and restrictive covenants that make it ideally suited for industry, warehouse/distribution operations, research and development and headquarters campus facilities. Current tenants include GE Aviation, JTEKT, Gordon Food Service and The Blood Connection. For further details, visit www.thematrixpark.com.
For additional information on RMF, visit them on the web at www.roymetal.com.