Have you ever noticed this name on your zippers?

Editor’s note: The following story is part of a feature called Home Grown in which we take a look at the people and products that have made a name for themselves well beyond our Middle Georgia borders.

Look closely at the zippers on slacks, shorts, suitcases, purses — even hazmat suits — and it likely will have “YKK” on the tab.

YKK USA Inc., originally YKK Industries, opened in Macon in 1974. It was the Japan-based company’s first U.S. zipper manufacturing plant.

At the time, Interstate 16 was being built from Macon to Savannah’s port. YKK bought 50 acres off Ocmulgee Boulevard.

It makes about 5 million zippers a day and employs about 600 workers.

This story was originally published November 17, 2016 at 12:00 PM with the headline "Have you ever noticed this name on your zippers?."