What's Happening in Anderson, SC…

E&I Engineering Ltd., based in Burnfoot, Ireland, recently announced that it will be investing $17m to build a manufacturing plant in Anderson County, which will create 250 jobs. This is the company’s first operation in the United States.

A vacant 50,000 square-foot building has been purchase by the business so it can make power system switchgear and bus ducts. Over the next five years, it plans to expand this facility to over 150,000 square feet.

According to the new general manager of the plant, Jim Murphy, the company was looking for a location on the Interstate 85 corridor and a building that could be expanded, which led it to the location it found in Anderson County. Upstate South Carolina is a growing region, with access to several excellent academic institutions. These include Tri-County Technical College, which trains students in computing, engineering, business, and design.

According to the economic development director for the county, Burris Nelson, the company looked at other locations in South Carolina and other states. However, it believed that the location along a major interstate, along which it could display its name and what it does, was very desirable.

Business card printing will most likely be used after the company hires the needed mechanical and electrical engineers, supervisors, and production operators to get things up and running.