JV Opens $13M Manufacturing Plant in NC

by Laura Calugar

Hornwood Industries in Lilesville, N.C.

Charlotte, N.C.—King Charles Industries, a joint venture between Taiwan’s Kingwhale Corp. and Lilesville’s Hornwood Inc., opened its $12.5 million manufacturing site in Anson County, N.C. The new company will hire 100 workers by 2019, and is expected to have an annual payroll of $2.8 million.

Founded in 1992, Kingwhale Corp. is a provider of performance fabric and garments for the global apparel industry. In 2002, Kingwhale was the official clothing supplier for the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Hornwood Inc. is a 70-year-old textile company based in Lilesville, N.C., that makes an extensive line of products for clients in the automotive, apparel, medical and other industries. Currently, Hornwood Inc. is located in a 265,000-square-foot facility and has 350 employees. The two companies created King Charles Industries, a company that will make some type of performance apparel, but the specifics weren’t disclosed.

“We are excited about the opportunity to build a new business with the latest in technology in Anson County,” said Chuck Horne, King Charles Industries’ chairman, in a prepared statement.

King Charles gets up to $300,000 in funding from the One N.C. Fund. Joining the Economic Development Partnership of N.C. and N.C. Department of Commerce in supporting King Charles Industries’ new location are the N.C. General Assembly, the N.C. Community College System, Anson County, the Anson Economic Development Partnership and N.C.’s Southeast Regional Partnership.

Image via Google Street View