Manufacturer to build nation's largest carbon bicycle factory in Spartanburg County.

• Position: TIME Bicycles

TIME Bicycles plans to establish its first South Carolina operations in Spartanburg County to build the nation's largest carbon fiber bicycle factory.

The company's $6.5 million investment will create 105 new jobs, according to a news release from the South Carolina Department of Commerce.

Situated on 30 acres of land on the Saluda Grade Trail, TIME plans to renovate an existing 140,000-square-foot factory located at 19810 Asheville Highway in Landrum, the release stated. The company will extend the capabilities of its European factory and produce industry leading carbon fiber bicycles and components using TIME's exclusive resin transfer molding technology in conjunction with Clemson University, KraussMaffei and the SC Competes SC Fraunhofer USA Alliance initiative.

"After two years of planning, we are thrilled to announce Spartanburg County as the TIME USA factory location," TIME Bicycles CEO Tony Karklins said in the release. "The infrastructure that exists within this region for advanced manufacturing is unrivaled. Through our collaboration with Clemson University, KraussMaffei and The SC Fraunhofer USA Alliance, we look to produce the most advanced carbon fiber bicycles in the world, with technologies and partnerships in place to rival production out of Asia."

Founded in France in 1987, TIME is one of Europe's most significant cycling brands, pioneering carbon fiber technology in professional cycling, the release stated. A subsidiary of Cardinal Cycling Group, TIME manufactures bicycles that have won Olympic gold, multiple world championships, the Paris-Roubaix and numerous stages of the Tour de France.

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