Holset building new turbocharger manufacturing plant (2005-5-31)
Holset Turbochargers, a division of Cummins Inc. and headquartered in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England announced plans for the construction of a new world class turbocharger manufacturing facility in Charleston, S.C.
The new plant is part of Holset\’s strategy of expanding its worldwide manufacturing capacity to meet the growing demands of global turbocharger market. Earlier this year, the existing facility in Dewas, India was expanded and in 2004, a new plant opened in Wuxi, China.
The $13 million investment in a new 110,000-square-foot facility will create more than 180 new jobs and expand Holset\’s capacity by 200,000 units per year while allowing room for expansion. The plant will focus on heavy duty manufacturing, providing turbochargers for both the US and other global markets. Construction of the new facility is expected to start in May 2005, with the first turbochargers being produced early in the third quarter of 2006.
Jeffrey A. Stanton, Manufacturing Support Leader, said the company considered locations nationally and internationally before selecting the location in the Palmetto Commerce Park in the Charleston region. The new plant is 14 miles from Holset\’s existing Charleston facility and while it will interact closely with the existing plant, the new one will be a stand-alone facility.
"Two factors were instrumental in this decision: a competitive incentive package and a strong base of existing resources in the region," Stanton said. He added that established ties with the Charleston community will help Holset get the factory in place sooner with lower opening costs.
Paul Massey, Director of Manufacturing, singled out the effort of Sen. Lindsey Graharm, U.S. Rep. Henry Brown and Tim Fangerfield, chief of staff to South Carolina\’s Secretary of Commerce, for maing the new plant a reality.
Massey also noted the efforts of President & CEO David Ginn and Project Manager Heyward Horton with the Charleston Regional Development Alliance; Hack McGill, Project Manager for the S.C. Department of Commerce; and Steve Dykes, Charleston County Economic Development Director, as instrumental in bringing this business to Charleston.
"We\’re grateful for their efforts. They reached out to us and worked hard with us through the decision-making process to help us locate this plant in Charleston," Massey said.
Congressman Brown said he welcomed the new plant and the jobs it will generate. "We have long enjoyed Cummins\’ business partnership in the community. I look forward to continued success for Cummins in the future," Brown said.
(Source: cummins.com)
