Manufacturer Selects Halifax County For Expansion

Photo from Left to Right: Ronnie Locke, Chairman Halifax County Economic Development; NC Representative Michael H. Wray; David T. Hore, President PCB Piezotronics of NC, Inc.; Kenny Flowers, Assistant Secretary NC Department of Commerce; Vernon J. Bryant, Chairman Halifax County Board of Commissioners

PCB Piezotronics of North Carolina, Inc., a designer, manufacturer, and global supplier of accelerometers, microphones, force, torque, load, strain, and pressure sensors, will consolidate production operations currently located in China and California to its facility in Halifax County and create 120 new jobs, Governor Roy Cooper announced today.

“Rural North Carolina is a great fit for companies to build out their operations,” said Governor Cooper. “Our workers understand modern manufacturing, and along with their communities, they are ready to grow with companies like PCB Piezotronics in Halifax County.”

Assistant Secretary of Commerce Kenny Flowers headlined a celebration today with community and business leaders, elected officials, and PCB employees at the PCB Piezotronics production facility in Halifax County. 

“One of the best business decisions that I have ever made was the decision to begin operations in Halifax, North Carolina in 2004 when we had to decide between expanding in our original home of New York State or expanding elsewhere” said David T. Hore, President of PCB Piezotronics. “I have great confidence that our current Halifax workforce of 215 hardworking and dedicated employees will lead this integration in the same exceptional manner as they perform, day in and day out for PCB.”

PCB’s project in North Carolina will be facilitated, in part, by a Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) approved by the state’s Economic Investment Committee earlier today. Over the course of the 10-year term of this grant, the project is estimated to grow the state’s economy by nearly $151 million.

Vernon J. Bryant, Chairman of the Halifax County Board of Commissioners commented, Halifax County is committed to supporting the growth of established, successful businesses like PCB. The company’s expansion will spur new economic opportunities and create 120 good jobs for our citizens.”

PCB Piezotronics, a wholly owned subsidiary of MTS Systems Corporation (NASDAQ: MTSC), designs and builds test and measurement and industrial sensors that measure vibration, shock, pressure and other dynamic forces. PCB recently acquired the Endevco division of Meggitt PLC, which designs and manufactures similar products to those that PCB makes. Endevco currently produces these products in Xaimen, China and Irvine, California. The company’s new project expands its current facility in Halifax County in order to bring these production lines to North Carolina.

“It’s great to see North Carolina and Halifax County successfully compete with world-class manufacturing sites in places like China,” said N.C. Senator Milton Fitch. “We welcome these new jobs to our region.”

“PCB Piezotronics is a valued employer in our community,” said N.C. Representative Michael Wray. “I’m pleased to see the company expand and everyone in Halifax County stands ready to help them grow and succeed here.”

The North Carolina Department of Commerce, the Economic Development Partnership of N.C. (EDPNC), the North Carolina Community College System, and the Halifax County Economic Development Commission worked collaboratively to support the company’s location in North Carolina and Halifax County.

Wages will vary depending on position and the average salary for all the new positions will reach $33,760. PCB also provides world-class benefits, including 100% company paid premiums for health insurance. Halifax County’s average wage is $32,216.

PCB Piezotronics, Inc. was founded in 1967 and acquired by MTS Systems in 2016 as a wholly owned subsidiary. PCB and its parent company, MTS, currently employ 419 people in the state, with 215 of those positions located in its current PCB of North Carolina facility in Halifax. PCB’s products are used by design engineers and predictive maintenance professionals worldwide.