Liberty, SC — Attorneys with Parker Poe Bernstein & Adams LLP have helped era-contact USA commit to building a high-speed railway couplings manufacturing facility in Pickens County. The $3.6 million investment at Pickens County Commerce Park off U.S. 123 near Liberty will create 45 jobs and serve as the German company’s North American headquarters. Family-owned era-contact makes automatic electrical couplings, including the only Ethernet solution between rail cars.
The company is moving its U.S. operations from New York to South Carolina and building a 38,000 square-foot facility that can be expanded. The facility is expected to be completed in early 2017.
“When we saw what was available here, including the strong education offerings such as that at the Pickens County Career & Technology Center, we knew this was the right spot for us. We already feel right at home and are looking forward to becoming a strong, valued member of the local and international business community,” said era-contact USA Managing Director Jochen Kurz.
“era-contact is truly a world leader in the space it has carved out for itself in advanced railway technologies. We were really excited to be able to help era-contact join the growing family of global transportation suppliers operating in the Carolinas,” said Al Guarnieri, a Partner with Parker Poe and Co-Chair of the firm’s Business Investment and Incentives Group.
“This company could have chosen to go anywhere in the U.S. for its new plant but it chose Pickens County and South Carolina. We’re pleased to have had a role in helping era-contact make this commitment here. We commend Ray Farley of Alliance Pickens, Pickens County Council and the State of South Carolina for their hard work to recruit this great family-owned German company,” said Sam Moses, a Partner with Parker Poe and Co-Chair of the firm’s Business Incentives & Investment Group.
About era-contact
era-contact GmbH is one of the world's leading manufacturers of electrical contact, contact systems, electrical couplings, cable assemblies and vehicle cabling with a focus on the rail industry.
About Parker Poe
Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP has approximately 200 lawyers in seven offices located in major markets across North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. The firm provides legal counsel to large commercial and public organizations on litigation, corporate and regulatory matters. For more information, please visit www.parkerpoe.com.