Process Technician - Injection Molding

US Connec investing $150 million, adding 224 jobs to Hickory operations. 10/22/2026 US Connec will invest $149.7 million to add 224 jobs in Catawba County to expand its operations of manufacturing high-density optical interconnects for telecommunications and military markets. US Connec currently employs about 300 workers locally. The company, which started in Hickory in 1992, is currently building a 221,000-square-foot industrial building at the Catawba Commerce Center in Hickory's Fairgrove Business Park. The expansion and hiring are expected to be completed by the end of 2030. The building will be used for manufacturing, research and development, administrative operations and distribution. Its products go into circuit boards, computing infrastructure, telecommunications and enterprise networks. "The expansion will create highly skilled jobs, enhance US Conec's manufacturing capabilities in Catawba County and help meet growing demand driven by deployments of advanced computing infrastructure. We appreciate the attractive environment North Carolina has created for advanced manufacturing and look forward to continuing to invest in our team, our operations, and the communities where we work," said Tracey Horton, president of US Conec, in a release from the state. In addition to the Fairgrove facility, US Conec is moving forward with a separate 40,000-square-foot building in Fairgrove Business Park and a new company headquarters in downtown Hickory, according to a release from Catawba County Economic Development. New positions will include engineers, operators, technicians and support staff. Average annual wages for the new jobs will be $56,982, similar to Catawba County's current average annual wage of $56,937. "Today's announcement further strengthens Catawba County's standing as the nation's leader in communications technology," said Randy Isenhower, chair of the Catawba County Board of Commissioners, in a release. "The fiber, cable and connectivity products made here are the backbone of the digital infrastructure and networks this country runs on, and US Conec's precision components are a critical part of that story." A performance-based grant of $500,000 from the One North Carolina Fund will help the company expand in North Carolina. That grant requires matching grants from local governments and US Connec must meet job creation and investment targets before getting paid.

US Conec to invest $149 million and add 224 jobs in Catawba County expansion. Governor Josh Stein announced that US Conec Ltd. will invest nearly $150 million into expanding its operations with a new facility in Hickory while creating over 200 jobs. The project includes public incentives tied to job creation targets. 2 days ago Thursday, Oct 22 By H. D. Thompson Governor Josh Stein announced on Oct. 22 that US Conec Ltd., a global company specializing in high-density optical interconnects, will expand its operations in Catawba County by adding 224 new jobs. The company plans to invest more than $149.7 million to construct a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Hickory. "North Carolina companies appreciate the advantages of operating in our state," said Governor Josh Stein. "US Conec's decision to expand here validates the strength of our manufacturing base, our skilled talent, and our stable business climate." Founded and headquartered in Hickory since 1992, US Conec supplies components for advanced computing infrastructure, enterprise networks, telecommunications networks, circuit board interconnects, as well as industrial and military markets worldwide. The planned expansion includes a new 200,000-square-foot building dedicated to advanced manufacturing, research and development, administrative functions, and distribution. "The support of our state leaders for US Conec's expansion is great news for North Carolina, for Catawba County, and for our industry," said Tracey Horton, president of US Conec. "The expansion will create highly skilled jobs, enhance US Conec's manufacturing capabilities in Catawba County and help meet growing demand driven by deployments of advanced computing infrastructure. We appreciate the attractive environment North Carolina has created for advanced manufacturing and look forward to continuing to invest in our team, our operations, and the communities where we work." N.C. Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley said, "This expansion is more great news for our innovation economy and the advanced computing supply chain in Catawba County. Investments like these help position rural communities to compete for high-demand industries as it attracts global companies that will create more jobs and increase resiliency." While wages will vary by position among engineers, operators, technicians, and support staff, the average annual salary for new positions is expected at $56,982 - slightly above the county average - and could generate an annual payroll impact exceeding $12.7 million. A performance-based grant of $500,000 from the One North Carolina Fund will assist with this project. The fund provides financial assistance to local governments aiming to attract economic investment; companies receive no upfront funds but must meet job creation targets before qualifying. All grants require matching participation from local governments. Senator Mark Hollo said, "This is another great win for Catawba County and the entire State of North Carolina. US Conec has been a great corporate citizen and we stand ready to support the company in this next phase of growth." Representative Jay Adams added, "We welcome these new jobs and investment to Hickory. We appreciate the diligent work of the state and local officials as well as the economic development professionals that helped the company make this decision." Partners involved include multiple state agencies, the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, Catawba Valley Community College, Duke Energy, Piedmont Natural Gas, Catawba County, the City of Hickory, and the Catawba County Economic Development Corporation. The Office of the Governor of North Carolina serves as the chief executive for the entire state, directs the state budget, and serves as commander in chief of the North Carolina National Guard, according to the official website.

Corning Incorporated has partnered with US Conec to license PRIZM TMT optical ferrule technology, expanding its high-density optical connectivity solutions for AI networks. The collaboration addresses growing data centre demands, where fibre requirements are reaching thousands of fibres per server rack as AI infrastructure scales. PRIZM TMT technology uses precision-aligned microlenses instead of direct fibre-to-fibre contact, enabling denser and more resilient optical networks. This expanded beam approach aims to provide faster installation, increased contamination resistance and reduced total cost of ownership for data centre operators managing AI deployments. The integration supports Corning's efforts to facilitate the transition from traditional copper links to optical connections in modern data centres, where space constraints are increasingly challenging.