Metyx (Istanbul / Turkey; www.metyx.com) has finalised a deal with the Gaston County Economic Development Commission in North Carolina / USA to acquire a manufacturing facility for its new business, Metyx USA Technical Textiles Division. The company is buying a 120,000 m² site and existing buildings, which include about 12,000 m² of covered space, on a site in Ranlo, Gaston County. The plant will initially focus on producing a range of glass and carbon fibre fabrics and production is expected to start by the end of the third quarter.

The site will also house sales, customer service and warehousing facilities to serve the North American composites market. Additional capabilities for textile, core and vacuum consumable kit cutting will be added in a next phase.

Metyx said the significant support and incentive programmes at both county and state levels, combined with an ideal location, made the deal a “highly attractive package”. “Having been interested for several years, we believe now is the right time to invest and bring our portfolio of products and services to the North American market. The US is a very attractive market, being the biggest globally in several key industry sectors with good future growth prospects,” said Metyx group managing partner, Uğur Üstünel, who will head Metyx USA.

North Carolina is already home to leading multinationals, including BASF and DowDuPont. In addition, manufacturers in a number of Metyx’s target markets are in the region.

The company is primarily looking to establish business with US and Canadian OEMs and tier 1 converters in the wind energy generation, marine, road and rail transportation and industrial sectors. Metyx said that in recent years, North Carolina has seen significant growth in renewable energy companies, particularly those making wind turbine generators, as well as an increasing number of automotive, truck and heavy machinery manufacturers.