We Make that Here

GVLtoday explores products manufactured in Upstate region

“We make that here.” That’s a slogan that Upstate media outlet GVLtoday proposed this week for Greenville, South Carolina, to showcase the volume of products made in the Upstate.

We agree – and would add that “We don’t just make things, we engineer them.”

The 10-county Upstate region is home to more than 1,800 engineering and manufacturing companies, with 505 international companies representing 38 countries.

It’s a point of pride for our region, and driver of much of the Upstate’s growth and opportunity.

From recognized names like BMW and Michelin to family favorites like Duke’s Mayonnaise to less familiar components that are essential to operating modern products we know and love – think: ball bearings, drive chassis, power tools, custom-embroidered apparel, Stouffer’s Lasagna, our region is a production powerhouse.

They also discuss the role that small-to-medium size businesses and existing industries play within the Upstate. Don’t just take our word for it, though – see how GVLtoday explores the issue:

I’d like to officially propose a new slogan for Greenville, S.C. – “We make that here.” Why? Because from gas turbines to pimento cheese, tires to candles, we have a lot of locally made products.

We wanted to know more about what brings businesses to the Upstate and what they’re making. Here’s what we found.

See more from GVLtoday here. 

And there’s a lot more where these come from.

Our Research Department presents a small representation of the many products you may not know were made in the Upstate:

Items you might find in your home, hotel or workplace:

• Standard Textile Co. – Union: Terry towels, partnership with Marriott
• Allied Industries – Union: Manufactures slip resistant safety flooring, uses recycled PVC pipes/green technology
• Fujifilm – Greenwood: Photographic equipment and supplies
• VELUX – Greenwood: Designs and manufactures skylights
• Stoll Industries – Abbeville: Manufactures custom metal fireplace doors, screens, countertops, and trailers
• Global Refrigeration – Abbeville: Manufactures commercial ice cream dipping cabinets, glass door merchandisers, glass door refrigerators
• Colgate/Palmolive – Greenwood: Liquid hand soap and deodorant
• Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Company – Pickens: Manufactures fire sprinklers and sprinkler systems
• Electrolux – Anderson: Manufactures refrigerators
• TTI – Anderson: Design and manufacturing of power tools and outdoor power equipment
• Bericap – Cherokee: Plastic caps and closures for beverage, food, and non-foods
• Bic – Cherokee: BIC® Mark-It™ Permanent Marker offerings, BIC® Brite-Liner® Highlighters, and BIC® Great Erase® Dry Erase Markers: team in Gaffney produces approximately 650,000 markers and highlighters per day!
• Sterilite Corp – Laurens: Plastic household products (food, wastebaskets, storage, office, garage products)
• Itron – Oconee: Electricity meters, smart meters
• TaylorMade – Pickens: Golf balls

Components or materials used by industries:

• Caterpillar – Greenwood: Specialty castings for engines and transmissions in Caterpillar products
• JPS Composite Materials – Anderson: High strength fiberglass, astroquartz, aramid, UHMWPE, and specialty fabrics
• Fukoku – Laurens: Seal products & CVJ boots for automotive industry
• Flame Spray North America – Laurens: Thermal spray coasting for gas turbine & aircraft components
• BorgWarner – Oconee: Manufacturer of powertrain components and transfer cases

Products used for military, public safety or transportation:

• North American Rescue – Greer: Medical products for military, federal agencies, law enforcement, and EMS
• Oppermann Webbing – Anderson: Tie-downs and webbing for air cargo transportation

Products used in healthcare and life sciences:

• Haemonetics Corp. – Union: Medical devices/instruments required for plasmapheresis, during which the raw material in life saving plasma therapies is collected. These therapies treat a variety of disease states including immune deficiencies, hemophilia, and other blood disorders.
• Cardinal Health – Greenwood: Manufactures medical sharps disposal units, monitoring devices, and surgical technology products.
• Allegro Industries – Anderson: Engineers and manufactures respirators, air sources, ventilation equipment, ergonomics, respiratory accessories, eyewear maintenance, and confined space equipment.

Want more information on companies with an Upstate presence? Check out our Information & Downloads page, or contact us for more information.