FOMAS Inc. is investing $5 million to expand and modernize its heavy‑industrial factory on Wallace Way just north of downtown York in York County, signaling continued growth in the region’s advanced manufacturing sector. The project, which is already underway, is slated for completion by mid‑2026 and will add new machining capacity, a building addition, furnace upgrades, and supporting infrastructure to improve efficiency and output.
What the expansion will do
The upgrades will enhance FOMAS’s heat‑treatment systems and precision‑machining capabilities, allowing the facility to produce more complex seamless rolled rings and high‑performance components used in aerospace, energy, and industrial applications. Company leaders say the investment will also support greater market diversification and faster production timelines, aligning with tightening industry standards. The project is expected to create new skilled jobs in engineering, machining, and production support, adding to York County’s expanding manufacturing base.
Environmental history and oversight
The site has a documented legacy of groundwater contamination tied to earlier industrial operations, including elevated levels of trichloroethylene (TCE) and other metals and volatile substances used in metalworking. Cleanup has been pursued through South Carolina’s voluntary cleanup program, with 2020 efforts including treatment‑compound injections into wells and prior removal of contaminated soil from oil‑handling and burn zones.
Experts note that the main risks in such cases arise from groundwater movement and potential vapor intrusion of TCE into nearby structures, a compound linked to elevated cancer and other health risks with long‑term exposure. However, current public records do not indicate an active emergency at the site, and the FOMAS expansion is unfolding alongside ongoing environmental monitoring and regulatory oversight in York County.
