SAATI Americas Announces New Facility in Greenville County, SC

Aug. 18, 2010 - PRLog -- GREENVILLE, S.C. – The South Carolina Department of Commerce and Greenville Area Development Corporation announced that SAATI Americas Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Italy’s SAATI Group S.p.A., will establish its new US Composites and Protection division operations and certain distribution operations in Greenville County, SC.  SAATI’s investment is expected to generate more than 80 new jobs within the next few years.

The company has purchased and plans to immediately begin renovations to a formerly vacant 260,000 square foot facility, located at 201 Fairview Street Ext. in Fountain Inn, which was formerly owned by Kemet Electronics.  Renovations will include extensive facility modifications and installation of new production and R&D equipment.

“This expansion is a critical component of SAATI’s global corporate strategy and symbolizes our commitment to bring SAATI’s world-class engineered materials and technical support to structural composite and protective armor product manufacturers in the Americas,” said Alberto Novarese, President of SAATI Group S.p.A.  “Greenville County offers us a robust business environment and talented workforce to draw on, and Fountain Inn is a receptive community with a readily available building that is well suited to our needs.  We look forward to beginning operations in the Upstate, and thank Greenville County, the Greenville Area Development Corporation (GADC), the city of Fountain Inn, and the South Carolina Department of Commerce.  Their support helped make this important SAATI expansion in North America possible.”  

“SAATI Americas is a global leader in the advanced materials sector specializing in producing materials used in a wide range of applications from medical to ballistic protection.  This announcement strengthens our state’s reputation as a leader in attracting advanced manufacturing and serves as a testament that our skilled workforce and business-friendly climate are working to attract new investment and jobs for South Carolinians. Thanks to the team effort of state and local officials, Greenville County will benefit from this investment now and in the future,” said Joe Taylor, Secretary of Commerce.

"Greenville County is pleased to welcome SAATI Americas to our impressive family of technologically advanced companies," noted H.G. “Butch” Kirven, Jr., director for the Greenville Area Development Corporation and chairman of Greenville County Council. "As a leader in producing high quality textile and chemical products for the automotive, aviation, and advanced materials industries, they will provide good career opportunities for Greenville area citizens.  SAATI's decision to locate here is the result of a well coordinated effort locally and at the state level."

“We’re pleased that SAATI recognized the many advantages that Fountain Inn and Greenville County offer their company,” said Eddie Case, city manager for Fountain Inn. “As an innovative organization with global opportunities in numerous industries, we’re pleased to welcome SAATI as the newest member of the Fountain Inn business community.”

“SAATI is a global advanced textiles and engineered materials company that develops and manufactures materials for printing, micro-filtration, light-weight protective armor and structural advanced composite applications, and exactly the type of organization we want to attract to Greenville County,” said Jo Hackl, chairperson of the Greenville Area Development Corporation.  “This announcement strengthens our position as a destination of choice for advanced materials manufacturers, and we are pleased to welcome them to Greenville County.”

About SAATI
SAATI is a global advanced textiles and engineered materials company that develops and manufactures products for printing, micro-filtration, light-weight protective armor and structural composite applications. The Company is currently a leading provider of engineered materials to structural composite and protective armor product manufacturers in Europe.  Founded in 1935, in 2010 SAATI celebrates its 75th year worldwide and more than 20 years in the USA.  Additional information about the Company and its businesses and products is available at www.saati.com