Charleston Regional Development Alliance

Berkeley, Charleston & Dorchester Counties

Printed from www.crda.org

Location & Expansion Log

For a detailed list of Alliance facilitated projects, please visit our company announcements page.


New to the Region
Announced Company Name Product / Service Description New Jobs Capital Investment
08/18/2010  Maverick Equipment Manufacturing Inc.   Hydraulic hammers and components manufacturing  Maverick Equipment Manufacturing Inc. brings $1.5 million in capital investment and up to 70 jobs to its new Dorchester County location over the next five years.  70  $1.5 million 
07/20/2010  Blue Bell Creameries  Ice cream products distribution center  The 2000-square-foot center at 7396 W. Spartan Blvd. in the Ashley Industrial Park will serve coastal South Carolina, where Texas-based Blue Bell has cultivated a strong following over the last five years. The company has experienced double-digit growth every year since entering the Charleston market in 2005. Eight employees will be based out of the new facility. Jay Cooke, territory manager for the area, and other officials emphasized the new center will enable the company to "... ensure that you purchase a quality product every time."  8   
07/01/2010  Gedore Tools Inc.  Distribution of hand tools targeting primarily aviation, automotive, industrial and renewable energy sectors  German-owned Gedore, the largest tool manufacturing conglomerate in the world, does business in more than 70 countries; has manufacturing plants in Germany, Austria, South Africa and Brazil; and employs more than 3,000 worldwide.  10   
04/22/2010  Odyssey Logistics & Technology Corporation   Third party logistics and transportation   Company will acquire International Forwarders Inc. and will utilize their current facility for its operations. The employees working for International Forwarders will become part of the Odyssey team immediately and the addition of new positions is expected over the next several years.  30  $1 million 
03/19/2010  Schuchart Corp.  Commercial construction contract firm  Opened local office to work with Boeing's on new 787 assembly line operations and maintenance projects, tenant improvements, equipment relocations, and other construction and infrastructure projects. Firm representatives "found Charleston to be a booming business environment with a lot of opportunity" in addition to Boeing.      
03/11/2010  Moulton Logistics Management  Distribution and direct response order fulfillment  Moulton will open a new distribution center in a facility that was chosen to reduce the firm's freight costs and transit times by providing better access to its East Coast and overseas customers.   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 
03/08/2010  CTS International  Staffing and recruiting firm  Company opened a local office that will soon hire hundreds of contract employees in support of Boeing’s new 787 Dreamliner plant. Staff positions include engineering, maintenance, assembly and scheduling. Company will work in sectors such as health care, defense, telecommunications and IT, in addition to its relationship with Boeing.     
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
07/16/2010  Behr Heat Transfer Systems  Manufacturer of automotive parts  The North Charleston manufacturer of automotive air conditioning and engine cooling systems will expand its product portfolio to include two new products made at its Leeds Ave plant: exhaust gas recirculation systems and charge air coolers.   70  $3 million 
07/15/2010  Boeing Co.'s Interiors Responsibility Center South Carolina   Manufacture 787 aircraft's interior parts, including stowbins, closets, partitions, class dividers, etc.  Boeing will site its new fabrication facility just 10 miles (16 km) from its 787 final assembly operation in North Charleston. Construction of the facility is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2010, being operational with 150 employees the following year.  150   
06/21/2010  Regal Logistics    Supports new import-export business at its Charleston facility from American Marketing Enterprises Inc. American Marketing will use Regal's services to import and ship children’s sleepwear to Walmart distribution centers. This marks the first time American Marketing Enterprises will use a U.S. Southeast port, citing supply chain efficiencies which are gained by using the most direct distribution route, the Port of Charleston.   20   
06/15/2010  ArborGen Inc.  Tree improvement, commercial production of trees using both traditional breeding and advanced genetic technologies  The company will expand its global headquarters and R&D center in the region. Its new facility will be located on a 13.5 acre campus and will house its laboratories, production and administrative functions, as well as a 35,000-square-foot greenhouse.   25  $14 million 
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 
09/02/2009  Dorchester County Quick Jobs Development Center  Job training center   This "quick jobs" center will train workers for jobs available within 90 days with classes offered by Trident Technical College in a variety of fields including warehousing and distribution specialists, manufacturing, paralegals, industrial maintenance mechanics and heavy equipment operators.     $2.6 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 with a core business 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  Reprocessing of 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.   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
04/25/2010  Carolina Nurseries  Distribution of agricultural products  Though spring sales have been good, company president J. Guy said a drastic slump in sales last year (2009) during the steep recession hurt the 686-acre facility. A total of 335 positions will be affected if the company closes in June 2010. The firm's management is still trying to secure alternative financing.  
03/12/2010  SC State Ports Authority  State ports operator  Due to the global economic slowdown, the ports authority chose to cut 17 positions. 
10/29/2009  ThyssenKrupp  Manufacture and sell steering components  Closure due to severe economic recession's impact on automotive industry, affecting 65 positions. 
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." 

Source: Center for Business Research, Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce

*Charleston-N. Charleston-Summerville MSA is comprised of Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties in S.C.