COLUMBIA, S.C.—Steel cord and bead wire maker Kiswire Inc. is proceeding with an expansion at its plant in Newberry County, commencing work on the second phase of a $45 million, three-year project.
The second-phase expansion, budgeted at $30 million, will add a plating operation building to the Newberry County plant, a 170,000-sq.-ft. addition. The facility will convert high carbon steel rod through a process that involves drawing, heat treating and electro-plating to supply the facility's existing building.
Kiswire said the expansion will create 45 jobs, raising employment at its two Newberry locations to 200. The first-phase expansion, announced in January 2013, began operating last December.
When this expansion is completed, Kiswire said it expects to be able to supply all U.S. tire companies.
“This new steel cord plant positions Kiswire as a major supplier to this growing tire business,” said Jim Goodrich, plant manager, Steel Cord Division, without disclosing plant capacities.
In a prepared statement, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley said Kiswire's expansion “is further proof that companies in the tire industry continue to find success here.”
Newberry-based Kiswire is a subsidiary of Kiswire Co. Ltd. of Seoul, South Korea, a diversified wire products company with manufacturing in seven countries globally.
Kiswire also operates a steel-cord plant in Pine Bluff, Ark., 100-percent control of which it acquired earlier this year from steel company ArcelorMittal USA. It previously had owned 35 percent of the plant.