Area Development
YH America South Carolina LLC, a manufacturer of automotive components, has announced it will expand its operation in Easley, South Carolina. The $5.14 million investment is expected to create 93 jobs, and be completed sometime next year. Currently the facility employs 480 workers.

The expansion at the Pickens County plant will allow the company to increase capacity and improve efficiency as well as support planned sales growth of 30 percent in 2012. Hiring for the new positions began last month and is continuing.

YH America South Carolina manufactures automotive fluid handling components for the light vehicle industry in North America. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd., which operates globally in eight countries, employs 15,000 and posted $3.5 billion in total annual sales.

"Demand for our products continues to grow and we're excited the new business is giving us an opportunity to expand in Pickens County," said Christopher Estock, plant manager. "South Carolina offers us a great business climate and top talent to meet our needs."

"YH America has long been a good community member and has weathered the difficulties of the automotive industry of the past several years by sticking to what they do well," added Ronnie Booth, Ph.D., president of Tri-County Technical College and chairman of Alliance Pickens. "Some companies retreat in the face of adversity but we have seen YH America grow stronger and position themselves corporately and locally to take advantage of new opportunities."