New to the Region |
| Announced |
Company Name |
Product / Service |
Description |
New Jobs |
Capital Investment |
| 03/11/2010 |
Moulton Logistics Management |
Distribution and direct response order fulfillment |
Los Angeles-based Moulton Logistics Management plans to open a new distribution center in Berkeley County, generating 500 new jobs in the next five years. The $25 million investment, located in the former Masisa USA building on Clements Ferry Road, was chosen to reduce the firm's freight costs and transit times by providing better access to its East Coast and overseas customers. “South Carolina’s positive business environment and the excellent port in Charleston will be important keys to our success on the East Coast,” said Patrick Moulton, head of new business development for Moulton Logistics. |
500 |
$25 million |
| 03/09/2010 |
IMO Group USA |
Manufacturing of slew drives and slew rings for wind turbines |
German-based company plans to open its first U.S. operation in the region. The company will utilize the Port of Charleston for both importing materials and exporting products and will service multiple markets from its Dorchester County operation including the U.S., Europe and Asia. |
190 |
$47 million |
| 12/16/2009 |
Gildan Activewear |
Quality branded basic apparel |
This Canadian-based company is consolidating its Eastern U.S. retail distribution operations into a 580,000-square-foot facility in Berkeley County. |
250 |
$25 million |
| 12/04/2009 |
Mankiewicz Coatings LLC |
Specialized coatings and coating systems for a variety of industries |
The German-based company plans to locate its new operations in Berkeley County to strengthen its North American market presence. The facility will be used primarily as a distribution center for products coming in through the Port of Charleston. |
25 |
$2 million |
| 10/12/2009 |
TBC Corporation |
One of the largest marketers of automotive replacement tires |
TBC will serve as anchor tenant in a new 400-acre industrial park being developed by The Rockefeller Group and MeadWestvaco along I-26 near Jedburg, an area slated to become a major distribution corridor. The 1.1 million sq. ft. distribution center will not only provide a significant boost to the Port of Charleston, but also bring much needed jobs to the upper parts of our region. |
120 |
$52 million |
| 09/17/2009 |
Acadia Human Capital Soultions |
Human Resources software developer |
Columbia-based Acadia is relocating to Charleston and expanding from its current 21 employees to about 50 over the next year. One of the company's excutives explains why Charleston was chosen, explaining they "...feel like Charleston is becoming a vibrant technology center." |
50 |
|
| 07/10/2009 |
Aeonian Bricks |
Specialty brick manufacturer |
Aeonian, with 9 employees, is a new brick manufacturing operation boasting a product that is fireproof and waterproof. |
9 |
|
| 04/27/2009 |
Sunland Distribution Inc. |
Warehousing, transportation management, contract labor services, packaging and full supply chain consulting services |
Acquiring a 211,000-square-foot warehouse facility on Piggly Wiggly Drive in North Charleston. According to company CEO Arch Thomason, "Charleston is one of the busiest ports in the United States, so it’s a natural place for us to expand." |
15 |
|
| 02/16/2009 |
Palmetto Custom Compounding |
Custom compounding of pharmaceuticals |
The owner of a former downtown pharmacy is starting this new venture: the practice of mixing medicines by hand which is known as compounding. Many large drug manufacturers find the process not profitable, but this pharmacist/owner sees a niche to fill. |
2 |
|
| 02/16/2009 |
Advancen MOD Corp. |
Headquarters for equipment manufacturing operation |
Relocating from Florida, this firm is establishing its headquarters at the campus of the South Carolina Research Authority in North Charleston and is hiring nearby Orangeburg plastics manufacturer, Zeus Inc., to assemble its patented "medication-on-demand" devices. |
NA |
|
| 02/12/2009 |
American Synthetics |
Polywoven packaging |
The newly formed venture will begin manufacturing durable, fully recyclable packaging for the pet food industry. American Synthetics is currently hiring its initial 50-person workforce and expects to invest $25 million and add another 200 employees within five years. |
250 |
$25 million |
| 02/01/2009 |
Magellan Jets |
Private charter passenger jet service |
Based in Massachusettes, the company established a new office in the Charleston region because as the local operations manager says, "We project that once this recession corrects itself, we're actually going to see a growth in private aviation." The firm plans to attract business from all over the Southeast. |
NA |
|
Local Expansions |
| Announced |
Company Name |
Product / Service |
Description |
New Jobs |
Capital Investment |
| 01/14/2010 |
DC Machine LLC |
Industrial machine shop with design/engineering, manufacturing/assembly and welding capabilities |
DC Machine designs, produces and assembles a range of metal component parts, including racing components for automakers, parts for The Boeing Co.’s machines and equipment for medical companies. DC Machine also has designed a line of surgical lights for the military. The firm is building a 35,000-square-foot facility near its existing leased facility of half that size. |
25 |
$3 million |
| 11/24/2009 |
Clemson Univ Restoration Institute (CURI) Wind Energy R&D Center |
Wind turbine drivetrain development and testing facility |
A new wind turbine drivetrain testing facility will be constructed at CURI's research campus on the former Navy base. The new facility will be capable of full-scale highly accelerated testing of advanced drivetrain systems for wind turbines in the 5-megawatt to 15-megawatt range, with a 30% overload capacity.
|
21 |
$98 million |
| 10/28/2009 |
Boeing |
Second assembly line for 787 Dreamliner aircraft |
Boeing will locate its second 787 Dreamliner final assembly line in the Charleston region to accommodate a growing market demand for the aircraft. The new facility will be adjacent to two established 787-related operations, Boeing Charleston and Global Aeronautica. |
3,800 |
$750 million |
| 10/13/2009 |
Scientific Research Corporation |
Communications and electronic systems and equipment design, integration and support services |
This Atlanta-based advanced engineering company serves both the U.S. government as well as private industry in both domestic and international markets. The firm chose to expand its Charleston area location citing an excellent business environment that is well-matched to fit the needs of our growing company and access to a talented workforce as key factors. |
300 |
$4 million |
| 08/20/2009 |
Vapor Apparel |
Manufactures on-demand performance apparel using a digital printing process that binds ink at a molecular level |
An apparel manufacturing company, which saw sales increase 20% in 2008 and expects a 15% increase in 2009, sells uncut fabric for a highly specific market. Their core business is a process called sublimation, by which molecules of the fabric are opened with heat, infused with ink and then closed to encapsulate the color and pattern. Because Vapor Apparel can customize short runs, it has gained customers including New Balance, Boy Scouts of America, MTV, VH1, Four Seasons and TV show Army Wives. |
2 |
|
| 07/23/2009 |
BAE Systems |
Defense contracting, technology professional services, engineering |
Company plans to consolidate three local facilities into larger space to accommodate company growth to meet advanced security industry needs. Its leading customers include nearby Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Atlantic (SPAWAR). |
175 |
$4.5 million |
| 07/14/2009 |
Global Recovery LLC |
Plastic, wood, metal and other scrap industrial materials recycler |
The company reprocesses plastic, wood, metal and other scrap industrial materials into raw materials for re-use in various manufacturing processes. Approximately 100 industrial firms across the Southeast U.S. supply the recycling firm with their waste materials which Global turns into new raw material. Operations have grown so that the firm relocated from St. George to a larger warehouse in Harleyville and is adding 15 new jobs. |
15 |
|
| 07/08/2009 |
Metalworx Inc. |
Industrial machining and metal fabricating services to the medical, steel, military, automotive and other related industries |
Metalworx is adding 25 new jobs and expanding its existing space by 16,000 sq. ft. in Eastport Commerce Park in Summerville. |
25 |
$2.3 million |
| 06/26/2009 |
Welded Tube-Berkeley |
Fire protection sprinkler pipe, mechanical and structural tubing for OEM applications such as crates and racks |
The company will expand its current product line in the fire protection market with a new product to be used in the transmission of air, water, and gas utilities, and for well-water removal. |
31 |
$1.4 million |
| 04/29/2009 |
American LaFrance |
Fire trucks, garbage Trucks, rescue units |
The company plans to consolidate all of its operations to its Berkeley County headquarters and production facility, allowing the company to streamline production of three distinct product categories thus gaining manufacturing efficiency. |
216 |
$1.69 million |
| 04/02/2009 |
TRUMPF Medical Systems Inc. |
Medical equipment, operating room products, surgical suites |
A manufacturer and marketer of state-of-the-art medical equipment for health care facilities throughout North America, TRUMPF will be moving into a new build-to-suit facility located on a 2.5-acre site in Berkeley County’s Cainhoy Park. |
29 |
$5.58 million |
Downsizing |
| Announced |
Company Name |
Product / Service |
Description |
| 09/30/2009 |
Force Protection |
Military Armored Vehicle, Tank, and Tank Component Manufacturing |
Layoff affecting approximately 120 workers due to slowdown in defense department contracts awarded |
| 07/25/2009 |
Cummins Turbo Technologies |
Turbochargers and air compressors manufacturing |
Layoff affecting 33 employees due to company consolidation of divisions to streamline operations |
| 05/07/2009 |
Allstate Claims Office |
Insurance claims office |
Allstate Insurance Co. is closing its Faber Place claims office, affecting 63 jobs locally, as part of a company-wide move to consolidate claims offices across the country to improve efficiency. |
| 04/23/2009 |
Metal Trades Inc. |
Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
Layoff affecting 27 workers |
| 04/21/2009 |
Robert Bosch LLC |
Automotive parts manufacturer |
The global economic slowdown, which is particularly affecting industries such as automotive, has led to a layoff at Bosch's North Charleston plant affecting 225 production jobs. |
| 04/21/2009 |
Imagine-One |
Military Armored Vehicle, Tank, and Tank Component Manufacturing |
Layoff affecting 14 workers |
| 01/15/2009 |
Hill-Rom |
Manufacture of specialty hospital beds |
Hill-Rom will cut its local workforce by 90 jobs, relocating these positions from the North Charleston plant to its Indiana headquarters. The move is part of its company-wide efforts to cut costs and maximize efficiency. |
| 01/13/2009 |
Giant Cement |
Cement manufacturing |
The significant decrease in demand for cement from the construction industry makes it necessary for this Summerville-based firm to cut 45 jobs from its Harleyville plant's workforce to manage its costs and remain competitive. |
| 01/06/2009 |
Robert Bosch LLC |
Automotive parts manufacturer |
Due to the declining global economy, Bosch has decided to reduce its local workforce by about 200, including 75 workers who agreed to take advantage of a "voluntary buyout." |