Posted May 22, 2014

 

STATESVILLE, N.C. – Technical fabrics producer Highland Industries plans to invest $8.25 million in a new plant that will create 29 jobs over the next three years.

 

Highland, based in Kernersville, N.C., will buy and complete a 63,000-square-foot shell building in the Statesville Business Park, according to The Charlotte Business Journal.

 

The new Iredell County division will manufacture parts and assemblies using carbon fiber, aramid, fiberglass and other composite materials. Customers will include manufacturers in aerospace, automotive, sporting goods and industrial.

 

“We are excited to create new business opportunities in cooperation with Iredell County," said David Jackson, president and COO of Highland Industries. "We look forward to training and developing a local workforce capable of manufacturing our highly technical composite structures produced right here in Statesville, N.C.”

 

Late last year, Highland announced it would invest $4 million in its Cheraw, S.C., plant, where it makes industrial fabrics for automotive, military, luggage and aerospace applications.

 

Highland is a member of the global Japan-based Takata family of companies. Takata is a manufacturer of automotive safety systems.

 

Salaries will vary by job function, but the average annual wage for the new jobs will be $60,714 plus benefits, according to a statement from the North Carolina governor’s office.

 

The Statesville project was made possible in part by a performance-based grant from the One North Carolina Fund of up to $70,000.