wave graphic

Two Companies Will Add Jobs

SPINDALE — Diamondback Tactical is moving its manufacturing business within Rutherford County, making way for Manroy USA to occupy the Yelton Street building. 

Manroy USA bought the plant in Spindale in August, and company officials want to be in Rutherford County in early fall to start doing business. Diamondback was leasing the building on Yelton Street.

Diamondback Tactical is a world leader of advanced armor protection systems, tactical gear and complimentary personal products for law enforcement and military personnel worldwide, the company says. Manroy makes a range of standard mounts for the 0.50-inch M2HB Heavy Machine Gun and the 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Gun.

As Manroy officials in Nashville, Tenn., prepare to move here, bringing about 50 jobs precision jobs, Diamondback’s senior management team met Tuesday to discuss plans.

“Manroy makes machine guns that shoot bullets, and we make tactical shields to stop bullets,” said Diamondback’s president, Dale Taylor.

When it moves Diamondback will hire at least 35 additional workers. They will join 130 workers who make tactical shields and uniforms for law enforcement agencies and the military. 

In addition to the 130 employees already in Spindale, Diamondback also has at least 10 representatives across the United States.

Taylor and team members Farron Fowler, Angela Milligan and Tshenea Royalty say the company is excited about its expansion. 

“This is great news for us,” Taylor said. “We will either recondition a facility or have a brand new building. We are excited about the opportunities, effective growth and expansion. This is good news. We will either refit a building or get a brand new one.” 

“We are eager to get in there and we’ll be looking for skilled machine operators and machinists,” Manroy president John Owens said Thursday morning from Nashville. 

Taylor said Diamondback has an order to make all the tactical shields for the FBI around the world. 

Rutherford County is now the company’s headquarters, Taylor said. It had been in Phoenix. Employees who suffered pay cuts last year due to the economy were told last Friday their full salaries have been restored.

Taylor said the move — there are six location options in the county —will take some time. “You don’t pick up a company in 30 days and move,” he said.

Diamondback Tactical bought the assets of First Choice Armor in 2010 and subsequently named Taylor president in May 2011. “We have restructured the management team.  Since June growth has been rather rapid.”

The transition came after completing recent integration planning for Diamondback Tactical and the assets of First Choice Armor & Equipment, which was acquired in foreclosure in September 2010.
 
Taylor has more than 24 years of hands-on and strategic knowledge and experience in the business.

Diamondback officials will work with Isothermal Community College and Isothermal Planning Development Commission’s workforce program to train and recruit workers. Applications for the jobs at Diamondback are being received at the plant in Spindale and through the Employment Security Commission on Trade Street in Forest City. 

Job training and recruitment will also be a focus of Manroy officials as they begin a recruitment process in the near future.

About Manroy, Taylor said, “The good news is they are coming here with new jobs, and we are hiring more people.” 

Tom Johnson, Rutherford County Economic Development director, said Manroy’s decision “brings about further diversification of the industrial base by bringing a precision metal work in the building.”

jgordon@thedigitialcourier.com 
Read more: The Digital Courier - To Protect And Serve