GSA Technology Council

Friedrichshafen, Germany – July 22, 2010 – Gov. Mark Sanford today joined ZF Group in Friedrichshafen, Germany to announce the company’s decision to expand its operations in South Carolina. ZF Group plans to invest approximately $350 million in a new manufacturing facility in Laurens County to produce fuel-efficient automatic transmissions for the passenger car and light truck market.

The announcement was made following a meeting at ZF’s corporate headquarters in Friedrichshafen that included members of ZF’s Board of Management and officials from the South Carolina Department of Commerce.

“ZF’s decision to make a jobs and capital investment of this magnitude, indeed the largest single infusion of jobs in the history of Laurens County, is an incredible compliment to our state. This announcement represents not only enormously good news for our state’s economy, but also is a telling dividend from our continued efforts to better the business climate in South Carolina. Our meeting with ZF today was productive and offered a real glimpse of what is headed to our state with ZF’s new operations, and I’d join with South Carolinians in thanking ZF for their investment. We are proud to count ZF among a growing and distinguished list of companies that have chosen to call South Carolina home,” said Gov. Mark Sanford.

ZF already operates manufacturing facilities in South Carolina, and has been gradually growing its presence in the state, thanks to its proximity to major transportation hubs, competitive business environment and skilled workforce. The new transmission plant is expected to employ 900 workers by the year 2015.

“We are eager to build our fuel-efficient automatic transmissions in North America. We believe the increasing emphasis on fuel economy and our reputation for producing high-quality, fuel-efficient transmissions provide an unprecedented opportunity to grow our business. We believe this production facility could serve as a key driver of this growth,” says Dr. Gerhard Wagner, Group Executive of ZF’s Car Driveline Division.

ZF expects to begin construction of its new, Laurens County facility in January. Hiring is anticipated to begin in early 2012 for skilled positions that include CNC operators, assemblers, production and logistics. The state’s worker training program, readySC*, will assist in the hiring process, Information will be posted at www.sctechjobs.com as jobs become available.

ZF is a leading worldwide automotive supplier for Driveline and Chassis Technology, with 123 production locations in 27 countries. In 2009, the ZF Group achieved sales of approximately 9.4 billion € with 60,000 employees.

The South Carolina Department of Commerce and Greenville Area Development Corporation today announced that Eberspaecher North America will open its new automotive production facility in Greenville County. The $5 million investment is expected to generate 30 new jobs.

“We are pleased to be locating our new facility in the South Carolina Upstate. The location will put us very close to our customer, BMW, and provide us with an excellent business environment in which to operate. We look forward to starting operations there and appreciate all the support we have received from state and local officials,” said Dennis Berry, President and CEO of Eberspaecher North America.

The new facility, located at 65 Brookfield Oaks in the City of Mauldin, will be the first South Carolina location for the company, and production for the plant is planned to begin sometime in August 2010. The company currently has an operation in Alabama, Michigan, Ontario and is headquartered in Germany.

“We continue to see growth in the state’s automotive sector as more suppliers locate operations here, and Eberspaecher North America is the latest example. South Carolina affords exceptional access, not only to manufacturers like BMW, but to markets throughout the Southeast. Couple that with a skilled workforce and a world-class port in Charleston, and it is no wonder more companies are bringing their business to the Palmetto State. We appreciate Eberspaecher’s decision to locate in South Carolina and wish them much success in their endeavors here,” said Joe Taylor, Secretary of Commerce.

“Eberspaecher North America’s decision to locate its new production facility here in Greenville County is welcome news, and the product of a team effort involving participants at the local and state level,” noted H.G. “Butch” Kirven Jr., Greenville Area Development Corporation board member and chairman of Greenville County Council. “Their decision affirms that this area’s burgeoning automotive cluster continues to grow and thrive, and should serve as a magnet for more suppliers, more talented individuals, and more good paying jobs for our community.”

“We’re pleased that Eberspaecher North America recognizes the many advantages that Mauldin and Greenville County offer their company,” said Mayor Don Godbey of the City of Mauldin. “As an innovative organization with global opportunities in the automotive industry, we are pleased to welcome the company as our newest corporate citizen and a member of our South Carolina business community.”

via: GADC

InnoVenture Southeast 2010 will be held May 11 and 12, 2010, at the Carolina First Center in Greenville, SC. The theme of this year’s conference is “Creating the Future”.

“InnoVenture Southeast is all about making connections with people in our region who are among the world’s best at what they do. The conference is a unique opportunity to connect with people in and around each of the major anchors led by our keynote speakers,” said John Warner, founder and principal of InnoVenture LLC. “Understanding where these major drivers of our economy are heading creates business opportunities for all of us to help them and the organizations around them be successful.”

InnoVenture Southeast announces that seven senior leaders of major organizations will be keynote speakers this year.

– Harris Pastides, President of the University of South Carolina

– Don Herriott, Director of Innovista Partnerships, University of South Carolina

– John Kelly , VP for Public Service and Economic Development of Clemson University

– David Stafford, COO of the Michelin Americas Research Company

– Chris Desoiza, VP of the Milliken Research Corporation

– Ed Sellers, CEO of BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina

– Bill Mahoney, CEO of SCRA

In addition to the keynote speakers, InnoVenture Southeast will also have 60 champions from across academic, industry and entrepreneurs making eight minute elevator pitch presentations of the future they are creating and the expertise and resources they need to get there. Like the senior leaders presenting, these champions are also among the world’s best at what they do. A sample of champions presenting include:

Academic Leaders:

– John Ballato – Clemson University Advanced Materials Center

– Tom Vogt – NanoCenter at the University of South Carolina

– Hildy Teegen – Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina

– Paul Venhovens – Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research

Industry Leaders:

– Philip Wilson – Milliken & Company

– Bill Roberts – Sealed Air Corporation

– Jeff Archie – South Carolina Electric and Gas Nuclear Division

– Lonnie Emard – Consortium for Enterprise Systems Management

Entrepreneurial Leaders:

– Ralph Heredia – Zipit Wireless

– Jeff Granato – Proterra

– Michael Bolick – Lab21

– Chad Sands – NextGenEn

About InnoVenture Southeast

InnoVenture Southeast 2010 will be held May 11 and 12, 2010, at the Carolina First Center in Greenville, SC. The theme of this year’s conference is “Creating the Future”. In its seventh year, the conference is a show case of innovation, which connects innovation champions with the customers, capital, talent and technology they need to succeed.

Registration details and more information can be found at InnoVentureSoutheast.com

via: Innoventure Southeast

Sage Automotive Interiors and the Greenville Area Development Corporation today announced the company’s investment and expansion plans for its Gayley manufacturing facility in Greenville County, S.C. The plan includes portions of Sage’s initial business and operating plan to grow with the automotive industry and includes an estimated $10 million investment by the company, including the addition of about 80 new positions, over the next five years.

Sage Automotive Interiors is one of the world’s leading providers of automotive bodycloth—seating, door panel surfaces, and headliners—to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). Global offices and manufacturing locations include the U.S., Japan, China, Brazil, Korea and Europe. The company is a portfolio company of Azalea Capital, a South Carolina based investment company, and recently announced plans to move its international headquarters into a newly-constructed facility on Clemson University’s International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) campus in Greenville.

“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.”

The Gayley plant is among Sage’s most modern and technologically advanced manufacturing facilities, producing highly innovative products including its YES Essentials line of performance branded automotive fabrics which are used by such automotive manufacturers as Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Hyundai. The products provide durability, stain resistance and odor elimination that manufacturers demand and consumers crave, noted Pieper.

Sage currently employs about 1,000 associates around the world, including more than 400 in Greenville County and over 200 at the Gayley facility. While the enhancements and expansion will also better position the plant for potential future growth, the Sage team began the investments in the first few months of operations and will continue to make physical improvements as well as adding new equipment to the Gayley facility, added Pieper. Sage may begin hiring for the new positions by year-end 2010. When hiring begins, persons interested in job opportunities can visit their local employment office for more information.

“Sage would like to thank Greenville County and the Greenville Area Development Corporation (GADC) for their support in helping plan and execute this initiative,” Pieper added. “The GADC was particularly instrumental in helping us realize the value of investing and growing within the county.”

Sage officials also cited the Upstate’s strong technology and innovation resources as a contributing factor in deciding to locate the expansion and new positions in Greenville County. “From CU-ICAR and Clemson University to the Upstate’s robust advanced manufacturing community and deep talent pool, Greenville County is precisely the right location for Sage to expand,” says Pieper. “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.”

“Sage Automotive Interiors is a world leader in the automotive industry, and had no shortage of options as to where they would place this investment and create these new positions, so we’re delighted that they have selected Greenville County,” said Mike Buiter, Chairman of the Greenville Area Development Corporation Board. “As a global manufacturer with innovative processes, blue-chip customers and a history of success, the company is a valued member of our business community, and a reaffirmation that specialty manufacturing companies can thrive and succeed in South Carolina.”

via: Sage Automotive Interiors

Our March 2010 Learning lunch featured Bob Geolas of CU-ICAR. Bob shared to a pack crowd the vision and realities coming forth at CU-ICAR. Enjoy the video from our most recent GSATC Luncheon.

Video by: View Digital Media

Build an off-road Baja car from scratch; design it so it can go through mud and up steep hills; and do it within a budget.

That is the challenge facing the nearly 100 collegiate engineering teams from across the United States, Canada, Mexico and Brazil, that will compete in the 2010 Baja SAE Carolina, which will be held at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) campus in Greenville, S.C., April 8 -11, 2010.

This unique SAE International engineering competition provides real-world, hands-on learning for students. Competitors design and build an off-road vehicle that can survive the punishment of rough terrain. All vehicles are powered by a 10-horsepower Intek Model 20 engine donated by Briggs & Stratton Corporation.

Opportunity best defines this event, not only for the participating students, but also in a very big way for the individuals and businesses who provide support in the way of donations, sponsorships and materials.

Employers who may be looking for future engineers will have the opportunity to meet highly motivated engineering students from the top engineering programs in the nation and abroad.

Businesses also have a chance to display their company and products.

SAE International has many types of sponsorship opportunities that can be tailored to fit the needs of an organization. Further information can be found at the Baja SAE Carolina website, www.bajasaecarolina.com.

via: Baja SAE Carolina

Sage Automotive Interiors announced today that it has signed a letter of intent to move into a newly-constructed facility on Clemson University’s International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) campus. The building will become the international headquarters for Sage.

The new construction is part of a $3 million government grant. Construction on the facility will begin in April 2010. Sage plans to move into its new facility by June 2011.

“Sage is thrilled to have the opportunity to be headquartered on the CU-ICAR campus,” said Brian McSharry, COO of Sage Automotive Interiors. “Being on an automotive research campus just makes sense for us. The proximity to the outstanding academic research is a great strategic fit for Sage’s international operation, plus our partnerships with Clemson and the Greenville Area Development Corporation (GADC) make it an added bonus.”

“We’re pleased that Sage Automotive recognizes the many advantages that Greenville County and the CU-ICAR campus offers their company,” said Mike Buiter, Chairman of the Greenville Area Development Corporation Board. “As an innovative organization with global opportunities in the automotive industry, they had no shortage of location options in which to place their international headquarters. As a prized member of the local and South Carolina business communities, we’re delighted that they have selected Greenville County.”

“Sage is a perfect complement to our growing CU-ICAR community,” said Bob Geolas, CU-ICAR executive director. “They are at the front end of customer trends in automotive interiors. The staff experience and global reach of this company makes them a recognized market leader. We could not be more excited about having such a dynamic and creative company join the CU-ICAR campus.”

“We are pleased about Sage Automotive Interiors location to CU-ICAR,” said Greenville Mayor Knox White. “This continues to confirm that our partnership with CU-ICAR and the community’s commitment is paying dividends with new jobs and exciting companies like Sage.”

via: Sage Automotive Interiors

U.S. Rep. Bob Inglis (R-SC) said Thursday the announcement of the electric bus manufacturer Proterra and its expected 1,300 jobs could be a fire starter for new energy jobs throughout the Upstate tied to CU-ICAR.

“Proterra’s commitment shows the way ICAR is fulfilling its promise to create jobs and help South Carolina lead nationally in reinventing the car,” Inglis said. “Proterra is both a vehicle company and a technology company and their innovation will bring others to the Upstate.”

Inglis said suppliers and other manufacturers have already begun to investigate the Upstate and can be expected to locate here.

“As Proterra becomes successful, we can expect a job-generating effect like BMW has spurred.”

The Golden, CO-based company manufactures hybrid- and all-electric, all-composite body transit vehicles built from the ground up to improve fuel efficiency while generating very low or no emissions.

“I drove the company’s demonstration bus when they visited the office in Washington, DC,” Inglis said. “It is an amazing vehicle. It is lighter and cheaper to operate than a diesel bus that can recharge during its rounds.” Inglis said.

In addition to all battery and battery-dominant vehicles, the company can offer auxiliary power units that include bio-diesel, gasoline, compressed natural gas and hydrogen fuel cells.

The six-year-old company will manufacture hybrid electric and all-electric vehicles and eventually need to hire assembler, electricians, mechanics, welders and composite workers.

“This goes to show what we have been saying since 2005, that the road to energy security and economic recovery runs through the Upstate of South Carolina.”

Inglis said ICAR is one of the four pieces of the energy puzzle that South Carolina has to offer along with the Savannah River National Lab, the USC Fuel Cell Center and the Clyburn Transportation Center at S.C. State in Orangeburg.

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc, today announced it will conduct a voluntary safety recall on approximately 133,000 2010 Model Year Prius vehicles and 14,500 Lexus Division 2010 HS 250h vehicles to update software in the vehicle’s anti-lock brake system (ABS). No other Toyota, Lexus, or Scion vehicles are involved in this recall.

The ABS, in normal operation, engages and disengages rapidly (many times per second) as the control system senses and reacts to tire slippage. Some 2010 model year Prius and 2010 HS 250h owners have reported experiencing inconsistent brake feel during slow and steady application of brakes on rough or slick road surfaces when the ABS is activated in an effort to maintain tire traction.

Toyota has responded to owner concerns with a running production change for 2010 Prius that was introduced last month, improving the ABS system’s response time, as well as the system’s overall sensitivity to tire slippage. The production change for the HS 250h is planned for later this month.

via: Toyota

“We’re committed to doing everything we can – as fast as we can – to restore consumer trust in Toyota, and these recalls are part of this effort,” said Jim Lentz, President and Chief Operating Officer, Toyota Motor Sales. “We regret the inconvenience this recall will cause to Prius and HS 250h owners, and will do our best with the support of our dealers to make sure that it is conducted in the most trouble-free manner possible.”

Mr. Lentz continued: “As part of the quality improvement program announced by Toyota President Akio Toyoda last week, our company is undertaking a top to bottom review to ensure that our vehicles meet our own high standards of safety and reliability, now and for the future. We are taking steps to implement more stringent quality control across the company, to investigate customer complaints more aggressively and to respond more quickly to any safety issues we identify.”

The recall will allow Toyota dealers to perform the software update on 2010 Prius vehicles sold prior to this running production change. Only Prius vehicles produced since May 2009 and all HS 250h vehicles are subject to this recall. First- and second-generation Prius vehicles use a different ABS system and are not involved in this campaign.

The ABS system on the Lexus HS 250h is similar in design to the Prius. The software adjustment planned for HS 250h production and dealer modification is being finalized and will be announced very soon.

Toyota will begin mailing letters to Prius owners included in this recall next week and HS 250h owners within the next few weeks, to let them know when to bring their vehicles into a dealership. Owners will only receive a letter if their vehicle is involved in the recall.

Separately, Toyota will conduct a voluntary safety recall on approximately 7,300 early production – 2010 model year Camry vehicles equipped with the 4 cylinder engine to inspect for a power steering hose that may be in contact with a front brake tube. This contact could lead to a hole in the brake tube and cause a brake fluid leak, increased brake pedal stroke and greater vehicle stopping distance.

Owners of the involved 2010 Camry vehicles will be notified by mail starting in the middle of February.

Proterra Inc., which develops and assembles drive and energy storage systems for heavy-duty vehicles, including their ground-breaking BE-35 fast-charge battery-electric transit bus, today announced that it will locate a facility in Greenville County at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) for research and development as well as assembly of its products. Gov. Mark Sanford, Sen. Lindsey Graham, Sen. Jim DeMint, Rep. Bob Inglis, Mayor Knox White, Greenville County Council Chairman H. G. “Butch” Kirven Jr., Clemson University President James Barker, the South Carolina Department of Commerce, the Greenville Area Development Corporation and the South Carolina Research Authority joined Proterra in making the announcement today.

“We are very excited to pursue the next stage of Proterra’s manufacturing and development in Greenville. This new facility will be our first full-scale, state-of-the-art research and development and manufacturing facility for our groundbreaking clean transportation solutions. Several months ago, Proterra retained the help of eRealty Companies Inc. and NPB Capital to assist in the site selection process. After a nation-wide search involving some 30 states, we selected Greenville, South Carolina as a result of the state’s numerous benefits in terms of workforce capabilities and research and development support. Additionally, we were impressed by the efforts of the Governor, the federal delegation, the local officials and economic development entities which far exceeded our expectations. We look forward to continuing a long and fruitful level of collaboration with the state of South Carolina and City of Greenville,” said Jeff Granato, CEO of Proterra Inc.

Proterra and its partners design, develop and assemble all electric and battery dominant hybrid drive solutions and complete vehicles for commercial applications including transit, school and commercial buses, parcel delivery vehicles and other class 4-8 trucks. Its revolutionary BE-35 fast charge battery electric transit bus has been tested at the Federal Transit Administration’s Altoona Center as achieving between 17 and 21 miles per gallon (diesel equivalent), a roughly 500 percent improvement over conventional diesel buses. Proterra’s very first vehicle, a battery dominant fuel cell hybrid transit bus funded by the FTA, is in service in Columbia, South Carolina. Proterra is headquartered in Golden, Colorado at the Coors Technology Center.

“Proterra’s decision to put down roots in South Carolina represents not only a significant investment and new job opportunities, but also another step toward expanding our state’s role in the growing market of next generation clean technologies,” said Gov. Sanford. “I’d offer the state’s appreciation to Sec. Taylor and his team at Commerce along with all our economic development partners at the state and local levels for their combined efforts to make our state that much more competitive in this global economy. With that said, we look forward to welcoming the Proterra team to South Carolina.”

Proterra anticipates that it will invest $68 million and create more than 1,300 new jobs over the next seven years in Greenville County. The company will hire a variety of skilled workers to support functions ranging from mechanical assembly, warehouse, logistics, managerial, engineering and quality assurance.

The South Carolina Department of Commerce has approved Proterra for the Job Development Credits program, which is a performance-based incentive directly related to new job creation and new capital investment. Additionally, Commerce will make two grants to Greenville County totaling $3 million to assist with site preparation and infrastructure improvements for the project.
Upstate South Carolina will be home to one of the nation’s most innovative transportation companies with today’s announcement that Proterra has chosen CU-ICAR as home for its assembly and research and development facilities.

“This is a red letter day, not just for Greenville, but for the Upstate and for South Carolina. Proterra opens the door to a whole new range of innovative enterprises to come. We are very proud of our team who worked very hard to make this happen, and we are very proud of our newest corporate citizen – Proterra,” said H. G. “Butch” Kirven Jr., GADC director and chairman of Greenville County Council.
“This is exciting news for Clemson University, for Greenville and for South Carolina,” Clemson University President James F. Barker said. “Proterra is an innovative, dynamic company that brings a new dimension to the CU-ICAR campus. Its product and processes fit the CU-ICAR curriculum and our program-driven campus perfectly. We look forward to a great partnership.”

“In addition to Clemson University, many others have worked tirelessly over the past several months to convince Proterra that CU-ICAR is the right place to realize their goals for the future,” Barker added.

“Not unlike the recent Boeing 787 announcement, this is another example of South Carolina leading in the green economy. The bus that Proterra is going to build in Greenville will not only be good for the environment, but it will help this nation break our dependency on foreign oil,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham. “I applaud local and state leaders for helping make the case that South Carolina is a great place to do business.”

“This exciting news reaffirms South Carolina as one of the best places in the world to do business,” said Sen. Jim DeMint. “We can all be proud of the strategic partnership between economic development professionals, education and research leaders and elected officials at every level that helped attract these much-needed jobs. Proterra’s decision to locate in Greenville is one more step towards the fulfillment of the long-term vision of the Upstate as a world-class automotive cluster. I’m confident this investment will pay dividends for both Proterra and our community for years to come.”

Proterra’s decision to invest in Greenville was the result of a coordinated team effort from the federal delegation to the local level.

“We’re excited to welcome Proterra to the Upstate and CU-ICAR. This commitment on the part of Proterra continues to show the way CU-ICAR is fulfilling its promise to create jobs and help South Carolina lead nationally in reinventing the car,” Inglis said. “Proterra exemplifies the can-do spirit of Americans by creating new jobs through innovation and in the process helping break our dependence on the Middle East for oil. This goes to show that the road to energy security and economic recovery runs through the Upstate of South Carolina.”
“Proterra’s landing in South Carolina is the result of both team effort and growing alignment among business, academic, governmental and economic development partners,” said Bill Mahoney, SCRA Chief Executive Officer. “While SCRA’s SC Launch program has been primarily focused on support of start-up companies, in concert with our partners across the state, we’ll see more and more landing parties like Proterra arrive in South Carolina to further strengthen the knowledge economy here. These important high-tech businesses are closely aligning with the vertical markets that our research universities and their economic development partners have targeted.”
The City of Greenville will not only add an innovative transportation company to its business community, but Greenville will also purchase buses from Proterra for the City’s public transit use.

“Proterra’s location in Greenville is another piece in the CU-ICAR puzzle that establishes it as one of the premier locations for leading edge transportation and technology companies,” said Greenville Mayor Knox White.

In addition to state and local officials, Proterra thanked the following parties for their efforts: Greenville Area Development Corporation, the South Carolina Energy Office, readySC™, the Clemson University Real Estate Foundation and many others.

Proterra will lease 25 acres in Technology Neighborhood Three on the CU-ICAR campus to construct a 240,000-square-foot building, with the potential to expand into the entire 50-acre site. Construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2010. A ground-breaking ceremony will be held at a future date.

Proterra will work with readySC™ on workforce training and job placement. Please note that hiring will begin at a future date that has yet to be determined. Information regarding Proterra may be obtained by visiting www.proterra.com, and for interest in the new facility, please contact: Greenville@Proterra.com.

via: Proterra