Asheboro Manufacturer Announces $12 Million Expansion, Creating 85

Key Takeaways

1.AutoQuip Industries is investing $12 million to expand its Asheboro facility by 40,000 square feet
2.The expansion will create 85 full-time manufacturing jobs with average salaries of $52,000
3.Randolph County approved a five-year, $480,000 property tax incentive grant
4.Hiring begins September 2026 with operations expected by Q1 2027

A homegrown Randolph County manufacturer is betting big on small-town America.

AutoQuip Industries, a precision automotive components manufacturer headquartered in Asheboro since 1998, announced plans Monday to invest $12 million in a 40,000-square-foot expansion of its U.S. Highway 64 facility. The project will create 85 full-time positions with average annual wages of approximately $52,000 — well above the county's median household income of $46,300.

The expansion represents one of the largest single private investments in Asheboro in the past decade.

"A Win for Working Families"

Randolph County commissioners approved a five-year property tax incentive grant worth approximately $480,000 at their regular meeting Monday evening. The grant returns 75% of new property tax revenue generated by the expansion back to the company during the five-year period.

"This is a win for working families in Randolph County," said Commission Chair David Allen. "AutoQuip has been a cornerstone of our local economy for over 25 years. This expansion shows that companies don't need to move overseas or to a major metro — they can grow right here in small-town North Carolina."

AutoQuip currently employs 210 workers at its Asheboro facility, making it one of the largest private employers in the county. The company manufactures precision-machined components used in transmissions and braking systems by several major automotive brands.

Skilled Workforce Development

The expansion comes as Randolph County works to strengthen its manufacturing workforce pipeline. Asheboro is home to the Randolph Community College Advanced Manufacturing Center, which trains students in CNC machining, welding, and industrial maintenance.

AutoQuip President and CEO Greg Morrison said the company chose to expand in Asheboro rather than at competing sites in South Carolina and Georgia because of the area's skilled labor pool and community support.

"We looked at three states, and at the end of the day, Asheboro gave us the best combination of workforce, infrastructure, and community partnership," Morrison said. "The training programs at Randolph Community College have been a pipeline for us for years. We know the talent is here."

Morrison said the new positions will include CNC machinists, quality assurance technicians, maintenance technicians, and production supervisors. Hiring is expected to begin in September 2026, with the expanded production line operational by the first quarter of 2027.

Economic Ripple Effect

The Asheboro-Randolph Chamber of Commerce estimates the expansion could generate an additional $4.2 million in annual local spending through employee wages, supplier contracts, and ancillary services.

Asheboro, with a population of approximately 27,000, serves as the county seat of Randolph County and has been steadily rebuilding its manufacturing base since the decline of the textile industry in the early 2000s. The town's strategic location at the intersection of U.S. Highways 64 and 220, roughly 25 miles south of Greensboro, has made it an attractive site for logistics and manufacturing operations.

"This is exactly the kind of investment we want to see — a company that's already part of this community choosing to grow here," said Asheboro Mayor David Smith. "Eighty-five jobs might not sound like a lot in a big city, but in a town of 27,000, that's families buying homes, kids in our schools, and dollars spent at our local businesses."

The company expects to break ground on the expansion in August, pending final permitting from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality.