North Carolina’s Eastern Region has a large and highly developed base of sophisticated manufacturing companies that run the gamut, from aerospace to engine manufacturing, household goods to heating and air conditioning to precision instruments and equipment.

Supported by a pro-business environment, a large pool of skilled labor, an array of higher education institutions and attractive state incentives, the sector numbers some 48,000 workers and 780 manufacturing companies — including 14 from outside the United States.

Aerospace Takes Flight

The region has been particularly successful at nurturing the aerospace industry, which includes such major players as Honeywell and Kidde Aerospace.

The sector received a big lift in 2010 when Spirit AeroSystems, the world’s largest independent supplier of commercial airplane and components, opened a 500,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Kinston.

The high-tech facility designs and makes the composite center fuselage (upper and lower shells) and front wing spar for the Airbus A350 XWB aircraft. Employment at the facility is more than 200 and is expected to grow to 700 over the next few years. The company has an ultimate employment goal of 1,000, depending on potential future work projects in addition to the A350.

“The community here in the Eastern Region has lived up to every promise they have made to our company,” says Rick Davis, site manager for Spirit AeroSystems. “We have tried to honor that commitment and continue to grow. We are committed to the aerospace cluster in North Carolina and, specifically, the Eastern Region.”

Aerospace companies in the region have singled out local colleges and universities for their expertise in providing the technical training their workers require. Lenoir Community College, for example, assisted with specialized training for many workers at Spirit. At Craven Community College, the Institute of Aeronautical Technology trains students for technical careers in civilian and military aviation.

In Rocky Mount, Honeywell Inc. operates a center for assembly and testing of wetted fuel control products and provides both original equipment and repair and overhaul for commercial and military applications. The product portfolio there includes fuel controls, fueldraulic actuators and electro-mechanical interface devices.

Eastern Region Hosts Many Household Brands

More than 300 durable goods manufacturers have a presence in the region, including such household names as Moen, General Electric, Electrolux, Lennox and BSH.

Moen Inc., which has had a major facility in New Bern since 1981, makes a diverse selection of kitchen and bathroom faucets, showerheads and stainless-steel sinks for residential and commercial applications. It is the No. 1 faucet brand in North America and more than 352,000 of its faucets are made at the New Bern plant daily.

Moen received a great deal of attention in North Carolina recently when it led a “Made in America” campaign through the state, along with a number of other North Carolina manufacturers.

The Eastern Region has room for more manufacturing neighbors, with many large-building and land sites available.

Select Advanced Manufacturers in North Carolina’s Eastern Region

Air System Components
County: Edgecombe
Employment range: 250-499

BSH (Bosch) Home Appliances Corp.
County: Craven
Employment range: 500-599

Carolina System Technology
County: Edgecombe
Employment range: 250-499

Consolidated Diesel Co.
County: Nash
Employment range: 1,000+

Electrolux Home Products Inc.
County: Lenoir
Employment range: 500-599

Field Controls LLC
County: Lenoir
Employment range: 100-125

Honeywell Inc.
County: Nash
Employment range: 250-499

Kidde Technologies Inc.
County: Wilson
Employment range: 500-999

Moen Inc.
County: Craven
Employment range: 500-999

Spirit AeroSystems Holdings Inc.
County: Lenoir
Employment range: 250-499