(Post and Courier) SUMMERVILLE — A vital part of the COVID-19 vaccine distribution is built here, and Gov. Henry McMaster paid a visit Tuesday to celebrate it.
Horizon Scientific Inc. has recently gotten more attention after being the only manufacturer in South Carolina selling ultra-low temperature freezers. The equipment has become vital in safely storing the Pfizer vaccine for the coronavirus.
Horizon President Laura Steiner gave the governor a personal tour of the Summerville facility. McMaster said between 200,000 and 300,000 vaccines are slated to come through the state by the end of the year.
“We never expected to get the attention of our governor,” Steiner said. “We’re very proud and honored to be a part of this solution.”
While highlighting each component of the freezers during the tour, she also touched on the growing orders to the company.
In the past month, the number of orders for freezers from Horizon have been the highest the company has seen in the past two years. Steiner said overtime to meet demand has become necessary.
Horizon is also currently looking to hire more employees to build the freezers, which it made for vaccine storage even before the pandemic. Steiner said it was mostly selling to the academic community doing research.
The company’s products include a broad range of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-compliant, medical-grade refrigerators and freezers that are also used for medication and patient sample storage.
With South Carolina health care workers starting to get the vaccine this week, the company is expecting more demand as the months go on.
Following the tour, McMaster held a small press conference to further commend the company for its work. He also reiterated that officials had plans ready for a vaccine rollout months ago.
