Nexans, a worldwide leader in the cable industry, has announced that its new high-voltage power cable manufacturing plant will be located in Berkeley County, SC. The $85 million investment is expected to create up to 200 new jobs.
“Establishing our Berkeley plant is a key strategic development that will enable Nexans to capitalize on the ever growing demand for high-quality high-voltage cables designed and manufactured to meet the specific needs of the major power transmission infrastructure projects in North America and worldwide in the coming years,” said Dirk Steinbrink, vice president in charge of Nexans’ High Voltage and Submarine Business Group.
Nexans will use the facility to manufacture high-voltage power cables, with a possible future extension to submarine cable production. The company expects plant operations to begin in 2014.
“It’s exciting to see an international company like Nexans choose to locate new operations in Berkeley County. We celebrate the company’s $85 million investment and the creation of 200 new jobs. More and more companies around the globe are learning that South Carolina is the place to do business,” said Gov. Nikki Haley.
In 2011, South Carolina recruited more than $4.7 billion in investment and more than 13,000 new jobs in the manufacturing sector.
“Nexans is a world class company and we’re grateful they’ve chosen South Carolina to help them make world class cables. Announcements like this one continue to build momentum for our state’s manufacturing renaissance,” said Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt.
The facility will be built on a new site at the Bushy Park Industrial Complex in Berkeley County. In its initial phase, the plant will focus on the manufacture of underground land cables from 69 kilovolts up to extra high voltage cables of 420 kilovolts.
“We in Berkeley County are extremely pleased to welcome Nexans into our family of national and international corporations,” said Berkeley County Supervisor Dan Davis. “The significant investment of capital and jobs represented by this project continues to emphasize the quality of place as well as the depth and dedication of our workforce in attracting world-class companies to our community.”
The Berkeley plant will reinforce Nexans’ current product range in North America, adding to the existing medium-voltage, low-voltage, overhead transmission, industrial, building wire, electrical wire and LAN portfolios. In 2011, North America represented more than 11 percent of the company’s total sales, with over 1,300 people employed in seven production facilities – four in the U.S. and three in Canada.
“We are excited to welcome Nexans to the Charleston region, adding their expertise to a growing base of global manufacturing companies,” said R.M. Singletary, Charleston Regional Development Alliance Board chairman. “The Port of Charleston, Bushy Park Industrial Complex and our ready supply of highly-skilled workers were critical factors in Nexans’ decision to locate here. They will be an invaluable asset to our region.”
The company will begin construction in 2012 and expects hiring to begin in late 2013.
The Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved a rural infrastructure grant worth $1.6 million for the county to help with site preparation and infrastructure improvements. Job development credits will also be available when hiring targets are met. readySC will provide training for potential workers.
