Top Manufacturing Companies in North Carolina: A Growing Industrial Hub

Top Manufacturing Companies in North Carolina: A Growing Industrial Hub

North Carolina has transformed from a traditional manufacturing base for textiles and furniture into a high-tech industrial powerhouse. Today, the state is a national leader in biotechnology, aerospace, and sustainable energy manufacturing, supported by the "Research Triangle Park" (RTP) and a business-friendly environment.

Here are the top manufacturing companies leading the industry in North Carolina:

1. Wolfspeed (Semiconductors)

Headquartered in Durham, Wolfspeed is a global leader in Silicon Carbide (SiC) technology. They manufacture wide-bandgap semiconductors used in electric vehicles (EVs), 5G networks, and renewable energy systems. The company is currently building one of the world's largest SiC device manufacturing facilities in Chatham County, known as "The Siler City Mohawk Facility."

2. FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies (Biopharmaceuticals)

Located in the Research Triangle Park, this company is a world-leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO). They manufacture complex biologics, including vaccines and gene therapies. Their massive expansion in Holly Springs is set to become one of the largest cell culture biopharmaceutical manufacturing facilities in North America.

3. HondaJet (Aerospace)

The Greensboro-based Honda Aircraft Company designs and manufactures the HondaJet, the world’s most advanced light business jet. North Carolina’s aerospace cluster is bolstered by HondaJet’s global headquarters and primary manufacturing plant located at the Piedmont Triad International Airport.

4. Honeywell (Industrial Technology & Aerospace)

Since moving its global headquarters to Charlotte, Honeywell has significantly expanded its footprint in the state. While they are a diversified technology company, their manufacturing focus in the region includes advanced sensing technologies, aerospace components, and safety solutions.

5. VinFast (Electric Vehicles)

While a newcomer to the U.S. market, the Vietnamese EV maker VinFast has broken ground on a multi-billion dollar manufacturing complex in Chatham County. This facility is designed to produce electric SUVs and transit buses, marking North Carolina's massive entry into the automotive assembly sector.

6. Hanesbrands (Apparel)

Based in Winston-Salem, Hanesbrands is a legacy manufacturer that has successfully modernized. While much of their global production is international, they maintain a significant administrative and specialized manufacturing presence in North Carolina, continuing the state’s long-standing textile tradition with advanced, high-performance fabrics.

7. Siemens Energy (Power Generation)

Siemens Energy has a major manufacturing hub in Charlotte, where they produce large-scale power generation equipment, including gas and steam turbines. This facility is critical to the global energy transition and supports thousands of high-skilled engineering and manufacturing jobs.

Key Trends in North Carolina Manufacturing

• The "Battery Belt": The state is becoming a center for EV battery manufacturing, with major investments from companies like Toyota (building a $13.9 billion battery plant in Liberty).

• Biotech Boom: North Carolina has the third-largest biotechnology cluster in the U.S., focusing on specialized pharmaceutical manufacturing.

• Workforce Development: The state's community college system provides specialized training tailored to the needs of advanced manufacturing companies.

  ---

  >> oil wellhead christmas tree octg manufacturers