Staff Report
Published Aug. 2, 2012

A.I.D. Co., a maker of aerospace components, today announced plans to locate its new facilities in Oconee County.

A.I.D. Co., a business of RBC Bearings Inc., plans to invest $7 million and create 75 jobs over the next five years, the S.C. Department of Commerce and Oconee County Economic Development Commission announced.

A.I.D. Co. manufactures control rods used in both fixed-wing and rotary aircraft. The company will relocate from its Rabun County, Ga., facility to 123 Commerce Way in Westminster, expanding its manufacturing space from 35,000 square feet to 63,000 square feet.

The company plans to begin operations in the new facility in the first quarter of 2013.

“We are excited about growing A.I.D. Company and pleased to locate our operations in Oconee County. South Carolina has created an excellent business environment and a skilled workforce that will help us succeed,” RBC Bearings President and CEO Michael Hartnett said in a news release.

The company will begin hiring for the new positions in October and will work with readySC on employment screening.

The Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits, which will be available when hiring targets are met.

“This is a testament to the confidence companies have in Oconee’s workforce and our pro-business climate,” Oconee County Council Chairman Joel Thrift said. “We look forward to working with A.I.D. Company for many years to come in fostering their success here.”

RBC Bearings is an international manufacturer and marketer of highly engineered precision plain, roller and ball bearings. The company currently has 25 facilities in four countries, according to its website.

Since January 2011, South Carolina has recruited more than $6.8 billion in capital investment and more than 16,000 jobs in the manufacturing sector.

Since 2006, more than $1.2 billion in capital investment and more than 8,000 jobs in the aerospace sector have been recruited to South Carolina.