OPmobility Marks 30 Years at Anderson Factory

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

OPmobility, a global automotive equipment provider formerly known as Plastic Omnium, celebrated its thirty-year anniversary of manufacturing operations in Anderson on Thursday. The company’s milestone highlights its long and sometimes complex role as a key industrial presence in the region.

The facility, located on Pearman Dairy Road, specializes in the production of plastic gas tanks, lighting, and exterior body parts for major automotive manufacturers. Its history in the area dates back to 1995, when it became one of the first automotive parts plants to open in Anderson County, creating more than 500 jobs as a crucial supplier to the then-new BMW plant in Greer.

In 2019, following the opening of a new plant in Greer, the Anderson location saw a reduction in its workforce. But the company demonstrated a renewed commitment to the site, with a $17.7 million expansion announced in 2021. That project was aimed at equipping the plant to produce bumpers and tailgates for General Motors’ Lyric electric vehicle and created 76 new positions. The Anderson facility currently employs about 250 workers.

Burriss Nelson, Anderson County’s Economic Development Director, who was part of the original recruitment team, praised the company’s sustained local impact.

"They have been and continue to be a wonderful asset for our community," Mr. Nelson said. "We look forward to 30 more years."

Laurent Favre, the chief executive of OPmobility, emphasized the company’s foundational values in his remarks:

"We are a family-owned company and we care," Mr. Favre said. "That is really important, this idea of caring that we want to offer to people a safe work environment [and] also to offer to the community something different. And that is part of our DNA."