NEW YORK — Zinc electroplater Roy Metal Finishing Co. Inc. (RMF) is building a $13-million custom facility in Piedmont, S.C., as it seeks to increase its presence in the automotive and aerospace sectors.

The new 85,000-square-foot plant, on which construction has already commenced, is expected to be operational in June 2013. The site "will have room to expand to over 200,000 square feet as demand warrants in the future," RMF president John Pazdan said in a statement.

The Greenville, S.C.-based company already operates two facilities in the area, and might ultimately combine all operations at the new site, which is being constructed in the Matrix Business and Technology Park.

"Ultimately combining all of our operations at the Matrix is an important part of the successful future we envision, and this expansion will help to make us even more competitive," Pazdan said.

"Manufacturing in the Southeast has rebounded recently with the U.S., German, Japanese and Korean automotive assembly plants all doing well," RMF chief executive officer Cliff Roy added. "We also are seeing opportunities within the heavy truck and industrial equipment markets."