Monday, August 07, 2006
Orangeburg SC is home to much foreign Investment
By Dennis Quick
SC World Trader
ECKA Granules of America, a German company that manufactures pure metallic powders used in everything from paints to automobile parts, two months ago arrived in Orangeburg County/City Industrial Park. The company invested about $12 million in a 67,000-square-foot facility, which over the next five years will employ 40 workers. Wages will be $10 to $12 an hour.
ECKA checked out a few other states, including North Carolina and Texas, before choosing South Carolina as the site for its first production center in North America.
“South Carolina has a strong connection with German companies,” notes Dean Swift, project manager for ECKA Granules of America.
Indeed, the Palmetto State boasts a roster of more than 140 German companies, including heavy-hitters like BMW and Robert Bosch Corp.
By choosing to set up shop in Orangeburg County, ECKA enjoys not only nearness to the port of Charleston, a logistical must-have that scored key points with ECKA, but a certain comfort knowing a host of other foreign companies call Orangeburg County home.
Orangeburg County, population 92,167, could be considered the nation’s international business capital for geographic areas its size.
“Per capita, Orangeburg County has close to the largest amount of foreign investment in the nation,” claims Gregg Robinson, executive director of the Orangeburg County Development Commission.
SC World Trader
ECKA Granules of America, a German company that manufactures pure metallic powders used in everything from paints to automobile parts, two months ago arrived in Orangeburg County/City Industrial Park. The company invested about $12 million in a 67,000-square-foot facility, which over the next five years will employ 40 workers. Wages will be $10 to $12 an hour.
ECKA checked out a few other states, including North Carolina and Texas, before choosing South Carolina as the site for its first production center in North America.
“South Carolina has a strong connection with German companies,” notes Dean Swift, project manager for ECKA Granules of America.
Indeed, the Palmetto State boasts a roster of more than 140 German companies, including heavy-hitters like BMW and Robert Bosch Corp.
By choosing to set up shop in Orangeburg County, ECKA enjoys not only nearness to the port of Charleston, a logistical must-have that scored key points with ECKA, but a certain comfort knowing a host of other foreign companies call Orangeburg County home.
Orangeburg County, population 92,167, could be considered the nation’s international business capital for geographic areas its size.
“Per capita, Orangeburg County has close to the largest amount of foreign investment in the nation,” claims Gregg Robinson, executive director of the Orangeburg County Development Commission.
