High-tech company opening facility in Gulfport

The former Hydro Carbide facility on Seaway Road in Gulfport has a new owner that will bring 20 jobs to the area.

Towanda Metadyne Inc., a company that manufacturers high-tech materials and components, has acquired the 33,000-square-foot building.

The new division, Metadyne Gulfport LLC, should begin operations in two weeks, the company said in a press release.

Metadyne's products are used in mining, construction, metal-cutting and defense industries. The company recycles tungsten carbide to produce a high-quality tungsten carbide powder.

Headquartered in Towanda, Pa., the company has developed more than 600 tool sets that support the manufacture of over 1,500 individual part configurations, according to its website.

"This acquisition will complement our growth strategy by expanding our production capability and capacity, product offering and distribution footprint," said Metadyne President Raman Daga.

Mississippi Development Authority and Harrison County provided funds to repave the parking lot, fence the property and construct an employee pavilion.

"We frequently hear that jobs are being lost to China. Metadyne's decision to expand in Harrison County proves that we can provide the workforce needed to operate advanced technology and manufacture a globally competitive product," said Harrison County Development Commission President Johnny Atherton.

"It's a proven workforce," said Wade Jones, a director at the Harrison County Development Commission. That has a lot to do with the local community colleges, he said.

HCDC has added staff to market the North Harrison County Industrial Complex and other available properties and Jones said he and Paula Delcambre, assistant director, are pursuing companies to come to South Mississippi while Brandi Huff is working with existing companies.

"We've targeted shipbuilding, boat building and we'll see more of that," he said, along with aerospace and other industries.

In the case of Metadyne Gulfport, some of the equipment the company will need is still in the building and more is being shipped to the new location.

This story was originally published November 2, 2015 at 2:46 PM with the headline "High-tech company opening facility in Gulfport ."