The Economy

Automotive Bodycloth Maker Expanding in South Carolina

April 13, 2010

Company will invest $10 million and add 80 new jobs.

Sage Automotive Interiors, a Spartanburg, S.C.-based maker of automotive bodycloth, recently announced plans to expand its manufacturing facility in Marietta, S.C.

As part of the expansion, the company will invest an estimated $10 million and add 80 new positions over the next five years, according to the Greenville Area Development Corp.

This initiative, already partially implemented, will markedly improve and expand our manufacturing capabilities in Greenville County, said Dirk Pieper, Sage chief executive officer. It will extend our capacity to serve OEMs the world over as both the domestic and international markets improve during the next several years.

Products made at the plant include the YES Essentials line of automotive fabrics, which are used in Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Hyundai vehicles.

Sage Automotive Interiors, a portfolio company of Azalea Capital, also recently announced plans to move its international headquarters into a newly constructed facility on Clemson Universitys International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) campus in Greenville.

Sage officials cited the regions strong technology and innovation resources as a contributing factor in deciding to expand in Greenville County.

From CU-ICAR and Clemson University to the Upstates robust advanced manufacturing community and deep talent pool, Greenville County is precisely the right location for Sage to expand, Pieper said. Here, we are on the front end of evolving trends in automotive interiors, and the global reach and opportunities of this company make us excited about our future in the Upstate. We will now be able to grow as our markets do.

About the Author

Josh Cable | Former Senior Editor

Former Senior Editor Josh Cable covered innovation issues -- including trends and best practices in R&D, process improvement and product development. He also reported on the best practices of the most successful companies and executives in the world of transportation manufacturing, which encompasses the aerospace, automotive, rail and shipbuilding sectors.

Josh also led the IndustryWeek Manufacturing Hall of Fame, IW’s annual tribute to the most influential executives and thought leaders in U.S. manufacturing history.

Before joining IndustryWeek, Josh was the editor-in-chief of Penton Media’s Government Product News and Government Procurement. He also was an award-winning beat reporter for several small newspapers in Northeast Ohio.

Josh received his BFA in creative writing from Bowling Green University, and continued his professional development through course-work at Ohio University and Cuyahoga Community College.

A lifelong resident of the Buckeye State, Josh currently lives in the Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland. When the weather cooperates, you’ll find him riding his bike to work, exercising his green thumb in the backyard or playing ultimate Frisbee.