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AIKEN COUNTY, S.C. — Aiken’s manufacturing landscape is set to receive a significant boost as AGY announces plans for a substantial expansion aimed at enhancing its production capabilities in the realm of artificial intelligence.
The company has earmarked $12.5 million for this expansion on Wagener Road, a move designed to meet the escalating global demand for specialty glass fibers. These fibers play a crucial role in the fields of AI, defense, and high-speed electronics.
Gary Bunker, Chairman of the Aiken County Council, emphasized the importance of this industrial growth, noting, “The industrial growth has good paying jobs, which is very important to us. You know, we don’t just select any company to partner with on these type things.”
The specialty glass fibers produced by AGY are integral to numerous products that, while often unseen, are indispensable in daily life. These fibers are used in everything from aircraft and military systems to high-speed circuit boards and electronics critical for AI applications.
Bunker highlighted the facility’s unique capabilities, stating, “So, they’re one of the last major facilities in the country that can do that.”
County leaders approved a property tax incentive to support the expansion. It’s expected to bring 80 to 100 new jobs. They say the decision to grow here shows AGY sees value in the local workforce and the industrial base already in Aiken County.
“When you have a plant that has been here for over six decades and they choose to expand, that’s a vote of confidence,” Bunker shared.
A state grant will also help with building renovations as the plant upgrades its equipment and prepares to increase production. County leaders say the AGY corridor still has room to grow, even as most major industrial projects are shifting toward Sage Mill and a new industrial park near I-20.
It’s expected to come online in early 2026.