GKN Sinter Metals to Expand in Catawba County

Governor Pat McCrory, N.C. Commerce Secretary John E. Skvarla, III and the Economic Development Partnership of N.C. announced today that GKN Sinter Metals, LLC will expand in Catawba County.  The company plans to create 55 new manufacturing jobs in the next five years and invest $19.8 million in the city of Conover to expand its state-of-the art aluminum manufacturing facility.



“Nothing compares to North Carolina and the opportunities it provides to grow a business,” said Governor McCrory. “We’re pleased GKN Sinter Metals has once again selected North Carolina as the place where they can achieve more.”



GKN Sinter Metals is part of the GKN Powder Metallurgy division of GKN PLC. GKN PLC is a global engineering group with four operating divisions: GKN Aerospace, GKN Driveline, GKN Powder Metallurgy and GKN Land Systems. GKN employs more than 55,000 people globally and operates in more than 30 countries. 



GKN Sinter Metals is the world’s leading supplier of powder metal precision automotive and industrial components.  The GKN Driveline division also operates multiple manufacturing facilities in NC. Together, the GKN family of companies employs more than 2,500 people in North Carolina, GKN’s largest workforce in any U.S. state. 



 “GKN Sinter Metals and its culture of innovation is a perfect fit with North Carolina,” said Secretary Skvarla. “High-tech manufacturing is alive and well in our state.”



 Salaries for the new jobs vary by position, but the average annual salary of the new jobs will be $46,078. The average wage in Catawba County is $36,770.



Abdul Butt, President of GKN Sinter Metals, Americas, said, “At GKN Sinter Metals, we continue to grow our presence in North Carolina where we are delighted to be working in partnership with Governor McCrory and his team. In particular, we would like to thank the Catawba County Economic Development Corporation for their support in making this project work.”



“The expanded Conover facility will build on GKN’s aluminum and lightweight technology capabilities that deliver lightweight and more energy-efficient designs and products to our customers right from our plant in North Carolina,” said Alan Taylor, Vice President of Aluminum Technologies for Sinter Metals. “Unique GKN developed Powder Metal Aluminum materials open up fascinating application opportunities for multiple industries, not just automotive; this investment ensures GKN and North Carolina lead in aluminum powder metallurgy technology.”  



The project was made possible in part by a performance-based grant from the One North Carolina Fund of up to $109,500. The One NC Fund provides financial assistance through local governments to attract business projects that will stimulate economic activity and create new jobs in the state. Companies receive no money up front and must meet job creation and investment performance standards to qualify for grant funds. One NC grants also require and are contingent upon financial matches from local governments. 



In addition, the North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority has awarded the City of Conover a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) in the amount of $600,000 to support the building of an industrial access road and extension of public water and sewer lines to support this project.   In addition to N.C. Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of N.C., other partners that helped with this project include the North Carolina Community College System, the Golden Leaf Foundation, the Rural Infrastructure Authority, the N.C. Department of Transportation, Duke Energy, Catawba County Economic Development Corporation, Catawba County, and the City of Conover.