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Engineering Materials in Upstate South Carolina

Advanced manufacturing relies on engineered materials, and Upstate South Carolina is increasingly becoming a key global supplier of these essential components. From composites and plastics to technical textiles, optics, metals, chemicals, and ceramics, the region is a hub for advanced materials.

With a foundation built on world-class research facilities, highly skilled graduates, and a specialized workforce, Upstate South Carolina supports the development of next-generation manufacturing technologies.

A Global Hub for in Engineered Materials

Upstate South Carolina’s reputation for engineered materials research and manufacturing is built on a rich history and a thriving industry cluster. The region is home to over 1,158 businesses and 45,300 employees in this sector—90% higher than the national average.

Companies in the Upstate are solving industry challenges by producing materials for cutting-edge applications, including Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner and BMW’s X models. From surfboards to circuit boards, advanced materials from South Carolina are shaping innovations across industries.

Plastics

The Upstate is home to the largest concentration of plastics companies in South Carolina, with over 157 businesses employing more than 9,980 people. With easy access to materials and markets, the region has become a prime location for plastics manufacturing.

Logos for plastics producers in Upstate SC: Mistubishi Polyester Film, Sealed Air, Sterilite, Synensqo & VPet Plastics

Optics & Photonics

More than 99 optics and photonics facilities are located within the Upstate, with applications spanning automotive, telecommunications, biosciences, defense, and consumer products.

Clemson’s Center for Optical Materials Science and Engineering Technologies (COMSET), provides support for developing advanced materials, devices and systems that generate, transmit, manipulate and utilize light.

COMSET conducts an important blend of “what-if” basic science and more applied research with immediate deliverables in wide-ranging areas including organic LEDs, specialty optical fiber, light-emitting plastics, glasses and crystals. COMSET operates an Optical Fiber Laboratory, which is the only academic facility in the United States with industry-grade capabilities for fabricating optical fiber.

Logos for Optics & Phototonics companies in Upstate SC: AFL, FiberSource, CeramTec, and OpTek Systems

Advanced Textiles

The Upstate’s engineered textiles sector builds on its rich textile heritage, transitioning to advanced fibers and carbon composites for aerospace and automotive supply chains.

The carbon fiber industry cluster continues to grow in the Upstate, as companies like Upstate veteran Syensqo (formerly Solvay) and newer companies such as Teijin and Toray, bring their materials to the Southeast automotive and aerospace supply chains. Upstate-headquartered Milliken & Company is a leader in private sector research in the textile industry, holding more than 3,200 patents and home to the largest textile research center in the world.

Logos for Advanced Textile companies in Upstate SC: Milliken, Toray, Teijin, Fitesa, Sage Automotive Interiors, Standard Textile and MycoWorks

Logos for Advanced Textile companies in Upstate SC: Milliken, Toray, Teijin, Fitesa, Sage Automotive Interiors, Standard Textile and MycoWorks

Logos for Advanced Textile companies in Upstate SC: Milliken, Toray, Teijin, Fitesa, Sage Automotive Interiors, Standard Textile and MycoWorks

Logos for Advanced Textile companies in Upstate SC: Milliken, Toray, Teijin, Fitesa, Sage Automotive Interiors, Standard Textile and MycoWorks

Metalworking & Fabrication

The large presence of Upstate companies in transportation equipment and industrial machinery create a strong manufacturing base for companies interested in metalworking and fabrication. These industries are both large users of finished metal products in their supply chain process.

Logos for metalworking and fabrication companies in Upstate SC: Aalberts, Renfrow Industrial, Spartanburg Steel and Flexible Technologies

Research Support and Engineered Materials Assets

Advanced Materials Research Laboratory

Inside Clemson University’s 111,000 square foot Advanced Materials Research Laboratory are some of the world’s brightest researchers, using state-of-the-art equipment, driving innovation alongside industry leaders.

Available resources:

  • Electron Microscopy Laboratories
  • Optical fiber drawing capabilities
  • Laser & chemical laboratories
  • Class 100 clean rooms & instrumentation facilities.

The Clemson Composites Center

Logo-Clemson-Composites-CenterCompanies can test, refine and commercialize cost-effective technologies related to all aspects of composites and lightweight materials design, process, manufacturing, characterization and testing at the Clemson Composites Center, an investigative research and educational hub. Manufacturing equipment includes manual and automated injection molding, compression, forming and continuous processes. Facility Includes:

  • Composite Production Lab
  • Compounding / Lab Scale Injection Molding Lab
  • Pre- and Post-Composite Fabrication Lab
  • Industry Scale 1,000-ton High-Pressure Resin Transfer Molding Press

The McNair Center for Aerospace Innovation and Research

Logo-University-of-South-Carolina-grayThe University of South Carolina McNair Center for Aerospace Innovation and Research’s mission is to support the aerospace industry through education, research and economic engagement, with $30 million in annual research grants and 100 graduates each year.

Core research areas:

  • Advanced Composites
  • Advanced Air Mobility
  • Combustion
  • Automation