Ohio sign company moves to Graniteville

[Erik Sine]

Ohio sign company moves to Graniteville

By Stephanie Toone | South Carolina Bureau Chief

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

AIKEN ---An Ohio signage company that will employ almost 100 people is moving to Graniteville, its chief financial officer confirmed Tuesday.

Gil Greytak said MCA Industries, a graphics and signage company based in Massillon, Ohio, has already placed equipment at the Horsecreek Plant at Sage Mill Industrial Park off Bettis Academy Road. The company's IT director will begin working on the computer systems at the plant Jan. 1.

Ninety-five people would be employed by the company that will use more than 30 acres of land at the industrial park, he said. The company creates banners, flyers, posters and other advertisements for businesses.

"We will be bringing some of our people down from the Ohio and Atlanta plants, but we are still looking for creative specialists, graphic designers and press operators," Mr. Greytak said. "We'll hire some of those workers as general laborers that will be trained by the state."

The company is making a $93 million investment, which includes acquiring the building from Avondale Mills, $3 million in improvements and $4 million in equipment. The loan for the plant went through Nov. 23, and the company has been working to move the plant to Aiken County most of the month, he said.

Mr. Greytak said the plants in Atlanta and Ohio would close in three to four months, but eight graphic designers would telecommute from Ohio. The plant would finish hiring by the end of March.

The company employs about 100 people in Masillon, according to Manta.com, a small business directory. According to the Web site, the company brings in about $20 million in annual sales.