Unifor Aluminum Forgings Announces New Facility; Create 8 New Jobs; Invest $4M

Unifor Aluminum Forgings Announces New Facility in Laurens County Investment expected to generate eight new jobs The South Carolina Department of Commerce and Laurens County Development Corporation announced that Unifor Aluminum Forgings LLC will locate its new facility in Laurens County. The $4 million investment is expected to create eight new jobs. “We are pleased to locate our new facility in Laurens County, which provides us with a positive business environment and excellent market access. We appreciate all the support we’ve received from state and local officials,” said David Overbaugh, general manager of Unifor Aluminum Forgings. Unifor Aluminum Forgings plans to begin retrofitting an existing building for its new operations this month, and expects the plant to begin operations in the third quarter. The company will locate its new facility in the former Sofa Express building in Hunter Industrial Park in Laurens. “Unifor Aluminum Forgings will provide specialized components to the automotive and recreational vehicle sectors. Brawo Brassworkings’ decision to locate its new venture in Laurens County is a strong testament that our business-friendly climate and skilled workforce are working to attract new investment and job opportunities while encouraging growth among existing industries. Thanks to the team effort of state and local officials, Laurens County will benefit from this investment,” said Joe Taylor, Secretary of Commerce. “We are very pleased to see one of our existing industry create a new company and locate it in the Laurens County,” said Laurens County Council Chairman Jim Coleman. “The City of Laurens is thrilled to have Unifor expand in Hunter Industrial Park. This demonstrates that the City of Laurens and Laurens County is a great place to conduct business,” said City of Laurens Mayor Sharon Brownlee. Unifor Aluminum Forgings LLC is a joint venture by Brawo Brassworkings S.p.A. and Fonderia Fratelli Maspero SRL. Brawo Brassworkings is also the parent company of Unifor Brass Forgings, which is located in Laurens County. For more information, please visit www.brawo.it/en/. About S.C. Department of Commerce As South Carolina’s leading economic development agent, the Department of Commerce works closely with economic development professionals throughout the state to recruit new businesses and jobs and help existing businesses grow. In 2008 Commerce recruited a record 18,993 new jobs and $4.17 billion in capital investment. Many well-known names and world-class companies chose to invest in South Carolina during 2008, some of which include: Target Corp., Home Depot, Heinz, Monster, American Titanium Works, BMW, Michelin and URS Corp. Commerce also assists companies in locating buildings and sites in which to operate, offers grants for community development and infrastructure improvements and provides tools to enhance workforce skills. For more information, visit www.SCcommerce.com.