Local Data
Location & Expansion Log
Diverse companies – from startups to multinational corporations – continue to relocate and expand existing operations in the Charleston region.
CRDA-Facilitated Projects
Evolt
November 30, 2021
North American corporate headquarters and distribution center for digital body composition analytic equipment
Founded in 2015 in Gold Coast, Australia, Evolt is a global, innovative wellness company that offers end-to-end solutions that track body composition, activity and nutrition including sophisticated data analytics. The firm has already partnered with one of the largest fitness brands in the world, Anytime Fitness, and is currently rolling out to their network across the U.S. and worldwide. "Our plan for the next five years is to continue our penetration into other verticals including pharmacies, supplement retail stores, corporate wellness programs and the body contouring industry,” says Evolt CEO Ed Zouroudis. Located at 2457 Aviation Avenue in North Charleston, the company’s facility will serve as the company’s North American corporate headquarters and distribution center. Hiring is underway.
Elbit Systems of America, LLC
November 9, 2021
Defense electronics assembly and integration
Founded in 1983, Elbit Systems of America, LLC is a subsidiary of Israel-based Elbit Systems Ltd. and a leading provider of high-performance products and system solutions focusing on the defense, homeland security, commercial aviation and medical instrumentation sectors. Located at 9028 Palmetto Commerce Parkway in North Charleston, Elbit Systems of America, LLC’s new facility will serve as their 'Ground Combat Vehicle Assembly and Integration Center of Excellence' and will increase the company’s manufacturing capacity and support future growth for new products. The new facility is a expected to be operational by fall 2022.
New, Expanding, and Mergers & Acquisitions
Evolt
November 30, 2021
North American corporate headquarters and distribution center for digital body composition analytic equipment
Founded in 2015 in Gold Coast, Australia, Evolt is a global, innovative wellness company that offers end-to-end solutions that track body composition, activity and nutrition including sophisticated data analytics. The firm has already partnered with one of the largest fitness brands in the world, Anytime Fitness, and is currently rolling out to their network across the U.S. and worldwide. "Our plan for the next five years is to continue our penetration into other verticals including pharmacies, supplement retail stores, corporate wellness programs and the body contouring industry,” says Evolt CEO Ed Zouroudis. Located at 2457 Aviation Avenue in North Charleston, the company’s facility will serve as the company’s North American corporate headquarters and distribution center. Hiring is underway.
DHI Corp (Design House)
November 16, 2021
Home goods distribution center
Founded in 1872, Wisconsin-based Design House offers a variety of home good products for any room. The company’s products include home furniture, lighting, ceiling fans, bath furniture and accessories, kitchen cabinets and more. Located at 300 Trade Zone Blvd. in Summerville, Design House’s new Berkeley County facility will increase the company’s capacity to meet growing demand and serve as a distribution center. Company officials chose the Charleston region for its "perfect combination of proximity to many U.S. online consumers, a [brand] new facility and an expanded port, as well as very supportive local and state teams." The center is currently fully operational.
Downsizing
DAK Americas
June 10, 2021
Polyester staple fibers manufacturing
DAK Americas is closing part of its Berkeley County manufacturing operations at the end of 2021, affecting 200 jobs at the Cooper River plant. “This is a very difficult decision for us,” said Jorge Young, DAK’s co-president. “The closure of the fibers operations comes after an extensive analysis of our ability to be cost competitive in an extremely challenging market that has faced prolonged and continuing pressure from low-priced imports. Current economics do not support the extensive investment needed to revitalize the site and meet future market needs. We thank our employees for their many years of commitment and service.” The Cypress Gardens Road site will continue to make specialty resins for the bottle and packaging markets and will retain about 100 employees, the company said. DAK is a subsidiary of Alpek, a petrochemical company that makes a variety of polyester, plastic and chemical products that’s owned by Alfa S.A.B. de C.V. of Monterrey, Mexico.
ARD Logistics DBA Key Logistics
September 30, 2020
3PL services
A Ladson company that provides logistics services for Cummins Turbo Technologies is laying off 106 workers, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be out of a job. ARD Logistics, which does business as Key Logistics Solutions, told the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce that Cummins “has decided for strategic reasons” to terminate its contract as of Sept. 30. All of the workers are expected to be hired by Cummins or another logistics firm working with the turbocharger manufacturer. “We are currently working on a transition plan to seamlessly move this work back to the Cummins organization or a third-party identified by Cummins,” said ARD Logistics officials.
