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A worker moves ceramic components used in catalytic converters at NGK Ceramics.

NGK Ceramics President Steve Dailey talks about the company.

After 30 years, 15 site expansions and with 900 current employees, NGK Ceramics USA Inc. in Mooresville has plenty of reason to celebrate.

The 50-acre, multi-building facility on Mazeppa Road is a subsidiary of the Japan-based NGK Insulators, and produces HoneyCeram, a honeycomb ceramics part that is used in automobile catalytic converters.

The part also is made in sister facilities in Japan, Belgium, Poland, Indonesia, South Africa, Mexico and China.

NGK’s U.S. president, Steve Dailey, was there when the doors of NGK opened in 1988, after leaving Kemet Electronic in Shelby.

Dailey said that he, along with the human resources manager at the time, Butch Adams; and Scott Hirata, the previous NGK president, all met at the front door when the company opened and turned the key together at the former Armitage Shanks plant, which manufactured bathroom fixtures and supplies.

“ The location has lent itself well to our production and processes, and it’s really worked out,” said Dailey. “We’ve also grown a lot since we first started. I was one of the first three people here, and now I believe we’re the largest manufacturing employer in Iredell County. We started out so small as a company that we were like family and knew everyone’s names. Now that we’ve grown, we still try to keep that family-friendly atmosphere.”

Dailey said that even though 30 years sounds like a long time, “it went by really quickly.”

“ It’s been a great company to work for,” he said. “I’ve had a lot of freedom to take my ideas and run with them, and we’ve got a good bunch of folks here.”

He added that manufacturing the HoneyCeram takes “a lot of science, and a lot of craftsmanship.”

“ There’s really an art to it,” he said, noting that the facility is also responsible for providing about 70 percent of the raw materials needed to produce NGK products at the company’s sister sites.

Dailey said he believes that with the popularity of electric cars on the rise, there’s a chance the U.S. company could start manufacturing a gasoline particulate filter that’s become popular in Europe and China.

“ The U.S. hasn’t quite embraced it yet, but I think that may be where we’re headed next,” he said. “By 2025, that will probably be our next step.”

He added that he also expects production to become more automated, which he said would give employees a chance to learn new skills in the robotics field.

In the meantime, NGK decided to quietly celebrate its milestone this year because next year is the global company’s 100th anniversary,

“ We’re putting all of our eggs in that basket,” said Dailey. He added that he wanted to thank the town, which has been “very supportive” of the business.

“ We have a great relationship with the town, and we really appreciate all of their help behind the scenes to make our expansions and growth possible,” he said.

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A worker moves ceramic components used in catalytic converters at NGK Ceramics.

NGK Ceramics President Steve Dailey talks about the company.