ESAB Welding and Cutting Products opened a new manufacturing facility in Union County, South Carolina recently. The 260,000-square-foot plant on Midway Drive is ESAB's production site for the manufacture of welding wires.
Daniel Young of the South Carolina Department of Commerce, state and local lawmakers, and Union County dignitaries were on hand to celebrate the opening, which brings 101 new jobs to South Carolina.
This manufacturing location will house the production of ESAB's MIG and submerged arc welding wires. Two new production lines of the company's AristoRod and copper-coated wires will also be housed at the Midway facility.
While the Midway facility was originally built in the 1970s, ESAB invested millions of dollars to completely refit the building. New power distribution, piping, and a complete fume collection system were among improvements. The fire suppression infrastructure was upgraded, and the office has been remodeled and equipped with new furnishings. New lab equipment and material handling equipment were installed, and the entire interior was given a fresh coat of paint.
Among the jobs created were full teams of maintenance and electrical staff, operations team members, and safety and quality team members. Nineteen of the manufacturing lead operators completed a 12-week training program.