South Carolina Attracts $47 Mil in New Plants

BLYTHEWOOD, SC-Two South Carolina communities are attracting $47 million of foreign capital in new plant investment. About 180 jobs could be created.

Locally based ALD Thermal Treatment Inc. is completing a $27 million, 36,000-sf complex just as Komatsu America International Co. Inc. finishes a $20 million, 200,000-sf manufacturing facility in Newbury, SC.

Mashburn Construction Co. Inc. of Columbia, SC is constructing the custom metal components heat-treating plant in the Carolina Pines Industrial Park in northeast Richmond County, according to Industrial Information Resources Inc., a Houston-based industry research firm. Jenkins, Hancock and Sides Inc., also of Columbia, SC, handled plant design.

The ALD plant could have a staff of 80 over the next five years. ALD will provide special heat treatment services to manufacturing plants across South Carolina, including Siemens Diesel Systems Technology, a neighboring manufacturer of fuel injections systems for trucks.

Ten-year-old ALD is a subsidiary of ALD Vacuum Technologies GmbH of Hanau, Germany. The privately held parent employs 300 and has annual average sales of $68 million, according to Information Resources Inc.

Komatsu America International, based in Vernon Hills, IL, plans to start operations at its Newbury, SC plant by spring. The factory will have an estimated work force of 100 to manufacture backhoes and small construction equipment that will compete with similar products made in Japan and Italy.

MB Kahn Construction Co. of Columbia, SC provided engineering, procurement and construction services for the Komatsu plant.

Komatsu America and its affiliates, Komatsu Mining Systems and Komatsu Utility, are all subsidiaries of Komatsu Ltd., the second largest supplier of construction and mining equipment worldwide with a total work force of 38,000.