|
|
|
Above: SUV assembly at the BMW Spartanburg plant in South Carolina. Credit: Greer Development Corporation
South Carolina is rapidly solidifying its position as a powerhouse in U.S. manufacturing, especially with its increasing investments in the electric vehicle (EV) industry. Already a major player in automotive production, the state is now attracting both domestic and international automakers and suppliers eager to establish or expand their EV operations. Business conditions remain favorable, with competitive tax rates, a skilled workforce, and a well-developed logistics network making South Carolina an ideal location for manufacturing growth.
Recent developments reflect this continued momentum. Vertiv announced a new manufacturing facility in Pelzer, which will add 300 jobs and increase production capacity for critical data center and communication network technologies. CIMCO Refrigeration Inc. from Canada opened its first U.S. manufacturing facility, a 42,000-square-foot plant in Duncan. In Aiken, Rolls-Royce Power Systems unveiled a new Remanufacturing and Overhaul Center to further strengthen its American footprint. Additionally, EnerSys is developing a lithium-ion cell gigafactory in Greenville, while Switzerland-based Matica Group launched its first U.S. manufacturing site in Greer, expanding its identity and payment solutions production in America.
For those looking do business with South Carolina manufacturers, it helps to have a complete understanding of the state’s manufacturing climate. Today, we’re covering some of the key facts and trends in the state based on our survey of South Carolina’s manufacturers and providing a look at the top manufacturing companies operating in the Palmetto State .
Looking to do business with South Carolina manufacturers? Access comprehensive profiles of 4,800+ South Carolina manufacturers and 16,000 executives with IndustrySelect. Try a free demo of IndustrySelect and reach new prospects in the industrial world! Want other states? We have them all!
South Carolina is currently home to 3,762 manufacturing companies employing 275,651 workers. Looking at MNI’s city data, Greenville is home to the most industrial jobs, with 23,665 workers. Greer ranks second with 15,055 industrial jobs. Other top industrial cities in South Carolina include:
Other facts to know about South Carolina manufacturers, based on IndustrySelect’s advanced criteria available to subscribers:
South Carolina’s industrial sector boasts strongholds in the transportation equipment sector, as well as industrial machinery and rubber/plastics.
South Carolina’s top industry by number of employees is the transportation equipment sector, currently accounting for 15% of the state's industrial employment. This is followed by industrial machinery with 13% of the state's industrial jobs and rubber/plastics with 11%. The fabricated metals sector is also powerful in the state with 8% of its industrial workforce jobs, followed by food processing with 7%.
According to IndustrySelect’s database of 360,000 U.S. industrial companies, there are 16,433 executive contacts among South Carolina’s manufacturing companies, including 1,783 presidents, 1,343 owners and partners; 1,093 vice-presidents and 1,284 sales, marketing and purchasing executives.
Next, we’ll take a look at the state’s top companies
| Company | Employees | City | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC | 11,200 | Greer | SC |
| The Boeing Co. | 7,800 | North Charleston | SC |
| GE Vernova, LLC | 3,400 | Greenville | SC |
| Volvo Car US Operations, Inc. | 3,290 | Ridgeville | SC |
| Kraft Heinz Foods Co. | 2,500 | Newberry | SC |
| ZF Transmissions Gray Court, LLC | 2,400 | Gray Court | SC |
| Robert Bosch, LLC, Automotive Group | 2,200 | North Charleston | SC |
| Electrolux Major Appliances | 1,950 | Anderson | SC |
| Michelin North America, Inc. | 1,900 | Greenville | SC |
| Michelin North America, Inc. | 1,900 | Greenville | SC |
Looking to do business with U.S. manufacturers & suppliers? Connect with 360,000+ U.S industrial companies and their one million executives with IndustrySelect, a service of MNI. Explore all of our industrial contact databases, by state, industry, executive, niche market, and more. Want to take our data for a test drive first? Sign up for a free demo account, loaded with 500 real company profiles (see a sample profile).
With 11,000 employees, BMW is the state’s largest industrial employer. The Greer BMW location is a major assembly plant and produces more volume that any other BMW plant in the world, specializing in the X5, X3 and X6 sports utility vehicles.
Boeing, the state’s second-largest industrial company employs 7,000 at the North Charleston assembly plant. This facilities produces a wide range of aircraft and related equipment, including commercial jetliner & defense, space & security systems for military, civil and commercial use. These include fighters, bombers, transports, rotocraft, and defense and launch systems.
GE’s location in Greenville employs 3,400, making it the state’s third-largest industrial employers. This facility produces gas turbines for energy applications and infrastructure products.
In 2016, Volvo announced it would be establishing its first U.S. plant in Ridgeville. Now, employing 3,290 workers, it ranks as the state’s fourth largest manufacturer by number of employees. A major win for the state, this site produces sports utility vehicles, specifically the Volvo S60.
South Carolina’s manufacturing sector isn’t all about the auto sector. Heinz, a major food products company also has a strong presence in the state, employing 2,500 workers at its Newberry facility, where it specializes in turkey processing and packaging under its famous Oscar Mayer brand.
All major automakers need major suppliers and ZF Transmissions fits the bill, employing 2,400 South Carolina workers in Gray Court to produce automotive transmissions, components and assemblies. ZF Transmissions is a major supplier to the Greer BMW plant.
Another major auto supplier, Robert Bosch employs 2,200 workers in North Charleston, where it produces auto parts such as anti-lock brake & diesel common rail fuel injection systems and gasoline fuel injectors. Robert Bosch is among the nation’s top auto parts manufacturers.
Electrolux is a top U.S. manufacturer of home appliances. The company’s Anderson location focuses on refrigeration manufacturing, employing 1,950. In 2017, Electrolux announced a major expansion of its Anderson manufacturing facility, adding on 800,000 square feet.
Located in the city of Greenville, this is the largest Michelin facility among the state’s six Michelin facilities. This manufacturing site employs 1,900 and focuses on producing rubber tires for passenger vehicles, trucks, agricultural earthmoving, as well as 2-wheel tires for bikes and motorcycles.
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics operates its Greenville facility as a key site for aircraft production, modification, and sustainment. Best known for its role in supporting the F-16 Fighting Falcon program, the plant handles advanced manufacturing, upgrades, and lifecycle support for both U.S. and allied military fleets.
For those looking to do business with manufacturers, IndustrySelect’s database of 400,000 U.S. manufacturers is a top resource for both developing and researching sales leads in the manufacturing sector.
An IndustrySelect subscription can put you on a first-name basis with South Carolina’s 5,200 industrial companies and 17,000 executives. Subscribers can select up to 30 data points on any manufacturing company in the U.S. to help identify or pre-qualify leads. Company profiles also include the contact information for hard-to-find executive decision-makers. Try a free demo today!
Editor's Note: This article was originally published in November 2020. It is updated annually to reflect new statistics and trends.