Southeastern North Carolina has a cluster of metal product manufacturing companies that make a range
of products, including steel coils, attic fans, aluminum fencing, grills, steel packing straps, metal buildings,
pipe fittings, cranes, and nails. Overall, North Carolina has over 150,000 people employed in metalworking
industries. Community colleges in the region offer customized worker and classroom training in welding and
metal fabrication and technology. Machining technology and robotics programs are also available.

METALWORKING AND

FABRICATED METALS ASSETS

The metalworking sector contains the largest number of

manufacturing facilities in the Region and it is still

growing. The Region’s companies make products that

are used in everything from boats to buildings. While

the largest industry segments represented in the

Region include sheet metal work and prefabricated

metal buildings, almost all other components of the

sector are represented.

SOUTHEAST REGION

METAL WORKING HIGHLIGHTS:

• More than 3,200 individuals are employed by

  metalworking companies in the Region. (NCESC 2009)

• More than 100 metalworking companies have facilities

   in the Region, a 15% increase since 2005. (NCESC

   2009)

• NC ranks #1 in the US for National Metalworking

   Skills credentials.  (www.nims-skills.org)

TRAINING 

• 3 Community Colleges in the Region (Cape Fear,

   Fayetteville Technical, and Richmond) offer Machining

   Technology Programs.

• 7 Community Colleges in the Region (Bladen,

   Brunswick, Cape Fear, Fayetteville Technical,

   Richmond, Sampson, and Southeastern) offer

   Welding Technology Programs.

• The Community College system also offers the

   general Manufacturing Certification Program with a

   level 2 & 3 focus on the metalworking industry.