Target Sector - Advanced Manufacturing

Our advanced manufacturing sector is quite diverse, but each company in the sector makes extensive use of computers, high precision production, and information technology with a workforce that is high performance and highly productive. These common traits allow for the efficiency of mass production but also the flexibility of custom manufacturing in response to market and customer demands.

Existing Industries:

Penco –

The largest producer of storage products and material handling solutions in North America.

Weyerhaeuser –

Wood products such as dimension lumber and OSB products

Syfan –

Manufactures quality over-wrap films for the US market

Domtar –

International manufacturer of market fluff pulp for personal care products

Weitron –

worldwide distributor of refrigerants for automotive, residential, commercial, and industrial air conditioning, and cold storage refrigeration applications

Other significant companies in the region:

Bridgestone – tires
Cummins – diesel engines
DSM Dyneema – high performance fibers
Dopaco – foodservice packaging
Electrolux – household appliances
Flanders – air filtration products
Hospira – injectable drugs and infusion technologies
Honeywell (Bendix/King) – aircraft fuel controls
Kidde Aerospace – fire protection and safety systems for aircraft Merck – pharmaceutical preparations
Metrics – pharmaceuticals
Moen – faucets
Nucor – steel plate
Patheon – contract pharmaceutical preparations
PCS Phosphate – phosphate mining and processing
Sara Lee – bakery products
Spirit Aerospace – airbus fuselage
West Pharmaceuticals – syringe plungers, IV system components Yale – forklifts

The Martin County Region Has Resources To Support High Technology Companies

Over 150 companies are in the region to support advanced manufacturing, including:

  • 30+ metal fabrication /die makers /machine shops
  • 45 mechanical / electrical construction
  • 40+ national and regional trucking companies
  • 11 motor rewinding / electrical controls
  • Several testing labs
NC Center for Automotive Research (NCCAR) located in Northeastern NC less than one hour from Martin County. NCCAR includes a test driving course, vehicle dynamics area, advanced chassis dynamics laboratory, two-axle chassis dynamometer with climatic air handling and emissions as well as plenty of garage space. The services of the Center include propulsion technology, vehicle engineering, applied research, durability/accumulation and compliance validation.
NC State – Industrial Extension Service Northeast Regional office located in Martin County. It provides assistance with University resources to businesses with the latest technologies and best practices in both engineering and business management. The extension’s Manufactured in NC program provides marketing support for products made in NC.
East Carolina University – located in adjacent Pitt County. Its College of Engineering and Technology offers a Bachelor of Science in Engineering with six possible areas of concentration:

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Bioprocess Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Environmental
  • Industrial and Systems Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
Nearby military assets contribute significantly to the pool of potential workers and also provide an important market for high technology products and services.
Seymour Johnson AFB, Goldsboro – home of the 4th Fighter Wing, flying the F-15E Strike Eagle. Over 14,000 active and civilian workforce.

MCB Camp Lejeune, Jacksonville – home of the Marine Special Operations Command, including the Marine Expeditionary Forces and Marine Engineering School. Over 42,000 active and civilian workforce.

MCAS Cherry Point, Havelock – home of the Marine Transport Squadron 1, as well as Combat Logistics and Naval Aviation Training whose duties include combat support and search and rescue. Cherry Point is one of the best all weather jet bases in the world. Equipment based here includes the Harrier, Prowler and KC-130.

USCG Aviation Technical Training Center, Elizabeth City – the center’s mission is the safe and effective maintenance of the Coast Guard’s aviation fleet. Over 500 active and civilian workforce.

Nearby Hampton Roads, VA is the east coast epicenter of military activity; home to over 150,000 active and civilian work-force and six major military installations including:

  • Coast Guard Sector Hampton Roads
  • Joint Base Langley-Eustis
  • Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek
  • Naval Base Norfolk
  • Naval Air Station Oceana
  • Naval Medical Center Portsmouth

The State of NC Has Significant Resources To Support Advanced Manufacturing

  • NC workers are 36% more productive than the average US worker.
  • NC has the lowest rate of unionization of any state.
  • NC ranks #1 in the Southeast and #9 in the US for manufacturing employment.
  • NC’s 58 campus community college system provides customized training for companies that locate or expand in the state.
  • Leading high tech sectors in NC – aerospace, automotive, biotech and life sciences, composites.
  • 260 research institutes and centers are supported within the 17 institutions of the NC University System.

Martin County Economic Development Corporation
415 East Blvd #130, Williamston, NC 27892