A Wisconsin-based company that makes industrial blades, knives and other cutting tools plans to expand its operations to a 6,000-square-foot building in Greer, according to company officials.

Valley Grinding & Manufacturing plans to move into the facility at Gateway International Business Park on Nov. 4 and be up and running by Nov. 11, said TJ Utschig, company vice president of operations.

The plant will be a service center, Utschig said. Nearly all the company’s products are made in Wisconsin and the service centers refinish and grind the products, as well as provide pickup and delivery services.

The company has already hired five people who will travel to corporate headquarters for training, Utschig said. The company plans to have up to 10 employees in Greer within a year. To apply for a job, visit valleygrinding.com. Proximity to customers and quality workers were factors in selecting the site.

"We have been impressed with the quality of skilled employees available here,” Kim Utschig, co-owner and CEO, said in a prepared statement. "Locating this plant in the center of our largest customer base will reduce logistics costs and provide ample opportunity for Valley Grinding to advance business in all directions.”

Valley Grinding manufactures circular knives, bottom bands, flat knives, solid carbide and solid ceramic razor blades, specialty knives, and a patented TRU-FIT split band.

"We provide sharpening and grinding services to paper, plastic, film, foil, textile industries,” TJ Utschig said. “Anything that can be cut.”

Wryley Bettis, chairman of the Greer Development Corp., said: “Valley Grinding helps to further diversify our economy and will create new, high quality jobs, makes us so proud to count them as a new member of the Greer business community.”

Ryan Koop of CB Richard Ellis assisted Valley Grinding & Manufacturing in the site selection process.

Valley Grinding maintains its corporate office in Little Chute, Wisc., with multifunctional service centers in Atlanta, Columbus, Ohio, Shreveport, La., and now Greer. The company has 80 total employees.