Bamberg aerospace company manufactures parts in White House, Mars

There are a number of small parts made of high-tech materials that have gone to the moon, to Mars, in Olympic bobsleds and NASCAR race cars, across the sky in commercial jets and in a White House Christmas ornament, that have one thing in common.

They were made right here in South Carolina by Phoenix Specialty Manufacturing.

On March 23, Phoenix celebrated its 110th year in business and 50th year in Bamberg, S.C. Started in New York in 1907, Phoenix moved its operations to South Carolina in 1967 to fulfill a promise made by founder Robert Hurst, Sr., to help boost his friend Franklin Rizer “Ziggy” Hartzog’s political credentials. Since then, the plant has grown from its original 14,000-square-foot building to a 120,000-square-foot facility on Highway 301.

The company has remained in the family – a remarkable feat acknowledged by S.C. Commerce Secretary Bobby Hitt at the March 23 celebration – and is now run by Robert Hurst, Jr.

Phoenix makes 10,000 unique parts for 2,000 global customers and its 100 employees turn out between 500,000 to 600,000 parts per day. Its parts are found in many commercial and military jet engines around the world.

This post contains excerpts from an article published by The State.  Read the full article here>>