Location & Expansion Log

Side

December 6, 2024

Jobs: 350
Investment: $1.2 Million

Gaming services: video game development and testing

Side is a UK-based company whose parent, PTW Holdings, Inc., was founded in Japan in 1994. Side develops games for some of the industry's largest publishers and studios, including Xbox Game Studios, Sony, Nintendo, Amazon Game Studios, Blizzard Entertainment and Warner Brothers. The company will establish a Charleston office in part of a 30,000-square-foot office complex at 2387 Clements Ferry Road in Berkeley County in the city of Charleston. Sebastien Bisch, vice president of operations for the Americas noted, "Charleston stood out as the ideal location -- it's a growing tech hub with the perfect blend of proximity and highly skilled talent." This will be the company's fifth U.S. studio, with daily operations led by Bernhard Rieder, who will report to Bisch. "Expected to be ISO 27001 compliant by next year [2025], the studio will provide an ideal environment for nurturing local talent and providing top-tier game development services to our clients, all from a secure facility," stated a press release by the company. Worldwide, the firm has 40 studios in 15 countries across North America, Europe, South America and Asia.

P3

July 1, 2024

Jobs: 2

Multinational consulting firm specializing in bespoke solutions integrating technology strategy, business process optimization, and organizational development; local expertise includes automotive, energy, digitization and other sectors

Founded in Germany in 1996 as a spin-off from a globally-recognized, leading technical university, P3 began with the goal of implementing an innovative new process and has remained focused on serving clients from innovation to implementation. The company has nearly 2000 employees across 30 locations globally. More than 250 of the firm's consultants, engineers and software specialists are now working on e-mobility, including powertrain systems, battery cells, and the charging infrastructure. P3 has established a Charleston office due to the region's growing economic base in this field.

Comact

June 12, 2025

Warehouse operation for original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of high-caliber wood-processing equipment

Comact is pleased to announce the expansion of its operations with the lease of a 48,000-square-foot facility in Building 2 at Port 95 Business Park in St. George, South Carolina. This strategic move marks Comact as the first tenant in this state-of-the-art industrial park, positioning the company to better serve its growing customer base. "We are excited to expand our operations in St. George," said Simon Potvin, CEO at Comact. "The new facility at Port 95 will enhance our spare parts service offerings and support our customers with greater efficiency. Its strategic location near Interstate 26 and Interstate 95 benefits our manufacturing and distribution, being close to our plant and our southern USA clientele, in addition to allowing us to ship efficiently across North America. We are proud to support Dorchester County and align this investment with our core values of commitment to our clients." The expansion highlights Comact's commitment to delivering top-tier facilities and exceptional service, reinforcing its mission to provide clients innovative solutions and superior support.

Alpha Sheet Metal Works

May 12, 2025

Jobs: 14
Investment: $3.7 Million

Metal fabrication

Alpha Sheet Metal Works specializes in steel, stainless steel and aluminum metal products, with specialties ranging from individual parts to complete automated assemblies. Their products serve a wide range of industries, including defense, chemical, automotive, and environmental. The 80-year old company will add 24,000 square feet adjacent to its existing facility at 9525 Hamburg Road in Ladson, increasing its Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining, assembly and large-format fabrication capabilities. Company president, Joseph W. Schady, noted, "We're thrilled to expand our operations in Charleston County. This community has been incredibly supportive, and we're excited to continue serving the local businesses and industries here. Our expertise in steel, stainless steel and aluminum fabrication, combined with our commitment to quality and customer satisfaction, make us well-suited to meet the region's diverse needs."

Volvo Cars

May 7, 2025

Automobile manufacturing

Downsizing affecting 125 workers: Volvo provided the following statement: "Volvo Cars is making a small reduction to our workforce and making some production changes at our Charleston plant. This is part of our announced shift to regionalization and in response to challenging macro conditions." CEO Hakan Samuelsson recently noted "We need to be more efficient in our white-collar areas, need to slim down the organization," while also reiterating that Volvo remains committed to expanding production levels at the Charleston area plant, creating 4,000 jobs in South Carolina over the longer term. The plant currently employs about 2500 people.

Ron Group LLC DBA Blue Sky Specialty Pharmacy

May 6, 2025

Support services to patients, physicians, payers and manufacturers in the prescription pharmaceuticals process

Layoff affecting 125 workers by 7/3/25