Orangeburg County has been growing steadily as a hub of logistics suppliers in recent months, leading to speculation that South Korean tyre giant Hankook may select South Carolina as the site of its new US manufacturing plant.
Since early 2011, the state is reported to have gained $5.1 billion in investment and provided more than 8,500 jobs. It is little wonder, therefore, that a recent report found that South Carolina on the short-list for Hankook Tire’s proposed facility.
Last week, logistics and manufacturing supplier 2AM Group announced the establishment of its new production facility in Richland County. Over the coming three years, the $500,000 investment is anticipated to generate 100 new jobs.
Similarly, The Crown Group – which provides coating services for the automotive market – detailed plans for the imminent opening of its new plant in Greenville County, which is expected to provide 42 jobs over the next five years. The company is investing $5.4m in the facility.
The South Carolina Department of Commerce has said that, since January 2011 – the month Governor Nikki Hayley took office – the state has gathered over $9 billion in capital investment and employed more than 26,000 jobs in the manufacturing sector.
South Carolina currently stands as the US’s top exporter of tyres, and has the potential to override Oklahoma as the top site for tire manufacturing.
According to the Orangeburg Times and Democrat, Hankook’s decision to locate in the county would be both financially and strategically beneficial given its position at the crossroads of major east-west and north-south trade routes.
