Made in the Triad: Machine Specialties

By WFMY Staff

WFMY News 2, 02 February 2010

Whitesett NC — The space shuttle, the mars rover and the F-16 are made of many components.

But did you know a Whitsett company plays vital role in ensuring all the work is done properly?

Machine specialties provides "the parts nobody else wants to mess with." The term "mess with" is generic for splitting hairs.

Machinists are pin-point accurate, every day.

"A lot of that comes from the demand within us. It takes a highly skilled person to last here. We have a lot of tasks to do every day, and baby-sitting? There's not a lot of time for that," says 15-year Machine Specialties employee Kenny Swisher.

Machine Specialties makes components for 25 core customers who then send those components out of this world.

The company makes parts for the Mars Rover, F-16s, and even the space shuttle.

But some of the parts end up much closer to home, like a device that goes in the hip to help rotate it.

The company started in 1969 on Trindale Road in High Point.

Demand led to Machine Specialties to a 160,000 square foot facility in Whitsett.

The company has been in the top 50 growth companies in the Triad, first at number forty-seven, then jumping up to number seven.

It's not just product they produce, but also the workforce that has raised the bar at Machine Specialties. Most workers come from local colleges.