Local Data

Location & Expansion Log

Diverse companies – from startups to multinational corporations – continue to relocate and expand existing operations in the Charleston region.

Archive:    2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995

New, Expanding, and Mergers & Acquisitions

Leonardo DRS / DRS Naval Power Systems

February 27, 2024

Jobs: 58
Investment: $120 Million

Defense products and technologies manufacturing and testing

Multinational firm Leonardo DRS, through its subsidiary, DRS Naval Power Systems, has announced it will build a 140,000-square-foot manufacturing and test center at 1588 Bushy Park Road in Berkeley County within the Charleston region. DRS Naval Power Systems provides naval power and control technology solutions for the U.S. Navy and allied navies, as well as for commercial applications. The new facility will expand the company's capability to integrate its next-generation electric propulsion system into current and future naval platforms including the U.S. Navy's priority program, the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine. Operations are expected to be online by 2026.

Gnosis Freight

February 27, 2024

Jobs: 51
Investment: $.4385 Million

Supply chain and logistics software

The company, founded in Charleston in 2017, recently doubled its existing facility within the Charleston Tech Center to allow for growth over the next several years. Gnosis' Container Lifecycle Management platform combines supply chain visibility and execution software to help companies track and manage shipping containers from booking through empty return. The firm's CEO and Co-founder Austin McCombs said, "Charleston has been home to Gnosis Freight since very early in our journey. It's unsurprisingly ranked one of the best cities in the country to live in and has been a cheat code for attracting top talent. The support we've received from the local community as we've grown has been humbling, and we're committed to finding ways to return the favor. The culture of Charleston is embedded in our company's DNA, and we are forever grateful to represent such a special city."

MOONDOG Animation

February 21, 2024

Jobs: 20
Investment: $.09 Million

Animation and immersive experiences studio

Established in Charleston County in 2013, the company provides multimedia client services such as story development, character design, animation, augmented and virtual reality experiences, and interactive content creation. MOONDOG has moved to a larger office at the Harbor Entrepreneur Center at 11 eWall St. in Mount Pleasant. "We're looking forward to the growth ahead and couldn't be more excited about our new home in the Harbor Entrepreneur Center. Being here allows us to connect with like-minded companies, collaborate on new projects and bring creative solutions to our customers worldwide. Here's to the future of animation, made in Charleston!" said MOONDOG Animation Studio CEO and Co-Founder Ben Davis.

Google

February 15, 2024

Data center campus

Google released a statement today about this development: "We have been proud to call South Carolina home for over fifteen years since we first put down roots in Berkeley County. Since then, we have partnered closely with local leadership, schools, and nonprofits to lift up the great work happening here. As we look to expand in the state, we have acquired property in Dorchester County for the development of a new data center campus. We look forward to growing our community here in South Carolina and will share details as this long-term project progresses."

Alcami

February 8, 2024

Contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) serving pharmaceutical and biotech companies of all sizes through every stage of the development cycle

Alcami Corporation, a leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), announces the expansion of its sterile fill/finish manufacturing capacity with the addition of a new sterile fill/finish line with isolator and two lyophilizers at its existing Charleston, SC, manufacturing campus. The new state-of-the-art, fully automated GMP sterile filling line offers the flexibility to fill liquid and freeze-dried vials under isolator technology to minimize the potential for contamination, providing the capacity and scalability for clinical and commercial needs and is fully integrated with the company's network of formulation development, packaging / labeling, lab services and pharma storage and services facilities. The expansion aims to meet growing industry demands for onshore sterile fill/finish capabilities amidst supply constraints, industry consolidation and tightening capacity as the pipeline of biologics and specialty therapeutics continues to grow.

Evonik

January 31, 2024

Manufacturer of precipitated silica

Evonik plans to expand production of precipitated silica at its Berkeley County plant by 50%. Construction of the new production line is scheduled to start in mid-2024, and operations will begin in early 2026. Silica is a key ingredient for fuel-efficient tires and other products such as coatings. South Carolina is home to 12 tire manufacturing plants, producing 144,000 tires per day. The state is also the nation's leading exporter of tires, with sales exceeding $1.7 billion in 2021. Lauren Kjeldsen, head of Evonik's Smart Materials Division (which includes the silica line) noted, "With this expansion, our state-of-the-art Charleston site becomes a major hub for precipitated and sustainable silica products in North America." The expansion is noted as part of Evonik's plan toward carbon neutrality for its Charleston site. "North America is an important strategic growth region for us," Maike Schuh, chief financial officer of Evonik's Americas region. "With the investment in Charleston, we are strengthening our strategic customer-centric approach and improving our cost and sustainability position." The Germany-based company did not specify how much it would invest in the expansion but gave an estimate of "mid-double-digit million Euro" range, along with the addition of an unspecified number of full-time jobs.

Pegasus Steel and Metal Trades LLC

January 26, 2024

Jobs: 300

Super Tier-1 manufacturer of complex structures for the highest priority programs within the Navy, Army, and Air Force

Arlington Capital Partners, a Washington, D.C.-area private investment firm, has formed Keel Holdings LLC, a "super tier-1" manufacturer of complex structures for multiple branches of the U.S. military. Keel Holdings was formed through the merger of two Charleston area firms (recently-acquired Pegasus Steel and the newly-acquired Metal Trades LLC) with Michigan-based Merrill Technologies Group. The merger creates a "vertically integrated suite of design, engineering, fabrication, machining, integration, assembly, finishing and surface treatment capabilities across its nine facilities in Michigan and South Carolina," according to press releases from the various firms.

SHL Medical

January 15, 2024

Medical device manufacturing

Swiss-based SHL Medical has acquired US manufacturing company Superior Tooling, Inc., known for plastic injection molds. This move aims to strengthen SHL's in-house manufacturing capabilities, especially for its upcoming US site in North Charleston, South Carolina, scheduled to start operations in mid-2024, in line with SHL's global strategy and emphasis on tooling.

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