A manufacturer of high-tech weaving machines and subsidiary of Belgium's Picanol Group, Picanol of America Inc., acquired 18,000-square-feet of space in Greenville County, South Carolina, for its new headquarters and to accommodate an expanded sales, machine repair and replacement parts operation.

Its new facility will be located at 65 Kitty Hawk Road in the South Carolina Technology and Aviation Center. Picanol said its new operation will require the complete demolition of an existing building to provide space for administrative and sales offices, a training center for customers and employees, an electronic and mechanical workshop for equipment repairs and customization, and a warehouse of spare parts for rapid-response customer support. According to local economic development officials, the company did not disclose its planned investment or potential future job additions at the local facility.

"Our goal with this initiative is to send a clear signal about Picanol's commitment to the North American marketplace and to our customers here in the United States, many of whom are concentrated in the Southeast and Texas, that we are here to support them and to help them grow and prosper as they emerge from the challenges that the textile industry has experienced over the last decade," said Cyril Guerin, president of Picanol of America.

"We are absolutely committed to providing outstanding customer service, exceptional Picanol quality, high value, and rapid delivery to meet the needs of customers. We are pleased to establish our new headquarters here in Greenville County," Guerin added.

"When we see existing businesses like the Picanol Group, a developer of high-tech weaving machines for customers throughout the southeast and the world, choose to expand in South Carolina, we know we're doing the right things to encourage economic development. We celebrate the company's decision to invest and create new jobs in Greenville," said Gov. Nikki Haley. While details of any incentive package were not immediately available, South Carolina offers incentive programs that provide business tax credits for relocation and expansion as well as job training.

"Picanol of America is a wonderful example of a company that combines world-class technology, lean processes and local talent to succeed here in the ever-changing arena of textile manufacturing," said Chris Riley, Chairman of the Greenville Area Development Corporation. "The company is an important member of our international business community and adds to the economic vitality to be found here in Greenville.