Charleston | South Carolina | USA

Germany

Charleston | South Carolina | USA is home, workplace and inspiration to more than 830,000 voices, talents, passions and ideas. Three quarters of a million people who are globally connected through trade, technology and travel - and locally engaged to craft a legacy for the future.

Many different types of German firms operate in the three-county Charleston region, including manufacturing, engineering, distributors, and professional services. The region’s growing international community includes the following industry leaders:

Strategic Location

With the most productive and efficient seaport in North America, an integrated rail and highway system, and an international airport, Charleston provides seamless connections to the global marketplace. Our central location, roughly halfway between New York and Miami, offers prime access to the U.S. Southeast. Nonstop flights to Frankfurt and Munich depart daily from nearby Atlanta or JFK international airports.

Map

More than one-third of the U.S. population resides within
500 miles (800 km) of the Charleston region.

YOU’RE IN GOOD COMPANY HERE

77,000+

local residents have German ancestry

21,400+

workers in South Carolina are employed by German-based firms

$11+ billion

Germany is a Top 2 trading partner with SC

Charleston Center for Business Research

learn more

WHY German FIRMS

CHOOSE CHARLESTON

An international travel destination, Charleston is consistently voted the number one city in the U.S. and number two on the World's Best Cities list by top travel magazines. South Carolina offers a moderate climate year-round. It's geographically diverse, offering an easy drive from the ocean to the mountains in just 3 to 4 hours.

Charleston is renowned for beautiful architecture, award-winning restaurants, arts, culture, and independent shops and boutiques. The Charleston region welcomes thousands of new residents each year–bringing new ideas, diversity and passion to a thriving, international community. Professional soccer, hockey, and baseball teams, college and university teams, and an array of annual races, tennis, and golf tournaments satisfy even the most die-hard sports fans and athletes.

Residents enjoy a lifestyle that strikes the perfect balance between work and play – and a warm climate, culture, food, attractive cost of living, European sensibilities, miles of beaches, diverse housing options, one of the best medical hubs in the Southeast U.S.A. Visit Living Here to learn more.

Stephanie Rhodes

IFA Rotorion

"Charleston has proven the perfect place for IFA Rotorion to set up and to grow. Our most recent expansion not only helped us meet increased demand, but positioned us to extend our capabilities as well."

RESOURCES

German Companies

Company EmployeesProduct/Service
Aldi100 to 249Trader Joe's grocery store and 2 Aldi stores
ARNTZ, Inc.20 to 49Metal-cutting saw blades & machinery
BASF Dispersions - Effect Mica Business Unit50 to 99Pearlescent (inorganic) pigments
BLG Logistics20 to 49Supply chain services for Mercedes-Benz Vans
Brenntag Mid-South, Inc.10 to 19Chemical distribution (coatings, DEF, food/nutrition, water treatment applications)
BVG Inc10 to 19Chemical handling systems for paper industry and other sectors
DB Schenker5 to 9Freight transportation arrangement
DHL20 to 49Global courier and logistics services
Diehl Aerospace / Diehl Aviation10 to 19On-site Support Service (OSS) to Boeing
Evonik50 to 99Precipitated silica for use in tire production
Finalcontrol, Inc.10 to 19Quality assurance and control services for automotive, electronic, ceramic, molded plastic and medical device manufacturers
Gedore Tools Inc.10 to 19Distribution of hand tools targeting aviation, automotive, industrial and renewable energy sectors
Hapag-Lloyd (America) Inc10 to 19Offices for container shipping company
Hubner Manufacturing Corp.100 to 249Articulation systems (bellows), passageway systems, specialty bumpers, airplane walkway coverings
IFA North America LLC500 to 999Maker of propshafts for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles
IMO Group USA5 to 9Sales office for manufacturer of slewing rings used to spin wind turbines
Ingenics Corporation5 to 9Multinational corporate consulting firm specializing in strategy, cost reduction, supply chain, digital transformation and more
Isringhausen100 to 249Manufacture seats and seat assemblies for the Mercedes-Benz Vans Sprinter
Job Impulse, Inc.20 to 49Personnel services firm with 50 sites in 12 countries and 9,000+ employees worldwide
Kion North America Corp.250 to 499Assembly of forklifts and pallet jacks; material handling equipment parts distribution; North American HQ
Kloeckner Metals20 to 49Pattern size sheet and coil in hot rolled, floor plate, HRP&O, and cold rolled; carbon and non-ferrous metals
LANXESS Corp. (2 area sites)100 to 249Manufacture phosphorus-based chemicals for auto, pharmaceutical, construction & other industries; Advanced Industrial Intermediates Business Unit
Leschaco Inc10 to 19Freight transportation arrangement
MAHLE Behr Charleston, Inc.500 to 999Manufacturer and integrator of engine cooling systems
Mankiewicz Coatings LLC100 to 249Manufacturing & distribution of coating & paint systems serving the medical, automotive, aviation, rail, yachting & other sectors
Marabu North America LP20 to 49Develops & manufactures liquid laminates (clear coatings) and inks for large and grand format digital printing as well as other applications such as vehicle/fleet graphics, fine art printing and others
Mercedes-Benz Vans, LLC1,000 to 2,499Assembly of Sprinter vans for the U.S. market under the brands Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner; Semi-knockdown (SKD) production of Metris van
Paul Bippus Precision LLC20 to 49Precision turned parts for automotive manufacturing applications
Protego (USA), Inc.20 to 49Manufacture & wholesale distribution of tank & flammable vapor processing safety equipment for chemical, pharmaceutical, bio-energy and other sectors
Robert Bosch LLC1,000 to 2,499Fuel injection valves & pumps for combustion engines, internal portion of anti-lock braking systems (ESP), & electric motors for the U.S. market
Schnellecke Logistics South Carolina LLC10 to 193PL supporting the automotive industry
SGB-SMIT Sales, Inc.5 to 9Sales and distribution of power transformers
STAHL CraneSystems Inc.10 to 19Material handling equipment
Stobich Fire Protection Systems LP10 to 19Fire & smoke protection textiles and closure systems sales, distribution, installation & technical support
Symrise 20 to 49Aroma chemicals
Syn Strand, Inc./Voith50 to 99Monofilament, nylon & polyester; used in belts on paper-making machines
TAG/ICIB Services10 to 19Cargo inspection, freight audits and other transportation related support services
ThyssenKrupp Industrial Services20 to 49Warehousing, FTZ, export packing, supply chain services
T-Mobile USA1,000 to 2,499Inbound/outbound customer service center
Vartan USA LLC20 to 49Aviation cabin interior production, support services, maintenance/overhaul
Wabco / ZF250 to 499Manufacture of air compressors and advanced, single-piston disc brake for trucks and other commercial vehicles
Wurth Wood Group10 to 19Distribution of specialty building materials
Zapp Precision Wire Inc./Zapp Tooling Alloys, Inc.50 to 99Specialty suppliers of cold formed stainless steel and titanium wires, bars and profiles
Zeltwanger CNC Mfg LP/Leak Testing & Automation LP20 to 49Contract CNC manufacturer specializing in ready-to-install machine components and complex assemblies; leak-testing systems services and support
ZF Transmissions Gray Court LLC20 to 49Automotive transmissions
Source: Charleston Regional Development Alliance, 2022

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