TRIDENT TECHNICAL COLLEGE IS OFFERING FREE LEAN MANUFACTURING TRAINING FOR 84 PARTICIPANTS THROUGH THE MANUFIRSTSC GRANT PROGRAM
The demand for workers in high-tech lean manufacturing is expected to continue to surge in the Lowcountry in the coming years and Trident Technical College’s Division of Continuing Education and Economic Development is gearing up to train the employees that can fill those jobs.
The college has modified its Lean Manufacturing program, originally developed in conjunction with local manufacturers to provide workers with the equivalent of one year of manufacturing experience, to conform to the state of South Carolina’s ManuFirstSC Grant program. The ManuFirstSC Grant program completely covers the cost of tuition, background checks and drug screening for a total of 84 participants for Trident Tech’s ManuFirstSC (Lean Manufacturing) continuing education classes running from January to May 2019. Grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
Trident Tech Continuing Education is hosting a series of free information sessions about the ManuFirstSC Grant program in December 2018. Information sessions are scheduled for:
- Tuesday, Dec. 4, 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Trident Tech’s Berkeley Campus Library, 1001 S. Live Oak Dr., Moncks Corner
- Wednesday, Dec. 5, 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Dorchester County QuickJobs Training Center, 5164 E. Jim Bilton Blvd., St. George
- Saturday, Dec. 8, 10-11 a.m. at Trident Tech’s Thornley Campus (formerly Main Campus), 7000 Rivers Ave., North Charleston, in Bldg. 910, Rm. 122
The Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce 2018 Talent Demand Study projected nearly 35,000 new jobs are being created in the Charleston Metro area within the next five years and approximately 18 percent of those are production or mechanical in nature. Additionally, it noted the demand is surpassing local graduate output by 300-500 positions. The ManuFirstSC Grants and Trident Tech’s Lean Manufacturing program can help train Lowcountry residents to fill that void.
To qualify for a ManuFirstSC Grant participants must:
- be at least 18 years old;
- be able to legally work in the United States;
- provide documentation of South Carolina residency;
- have a high school diploma or GED;
- provide proof of a Silver WIN/WorkKeys score;
- pass a SC SLED background check (paid for by the grant);
- pass a basic panel drug screen (paid for by the grant);
- enroll in the SC Works Online Services (SCWOS) system
Interested students should attend the free information sessions to get more detailed information about all of the requirements. For additional information, visit www.tridenttech.edu/ce and click on Funding Opportunities or call 843.574.6152.
Volvo Cars US Operations in Berkeley County Wins South Carolina Chamber Awards for Workforce Development and Manufacturing Employee of the Year
2018 Workforce Innovator Award for Medium-Sized Company
The SC Chamber of Commerce‘s Workforce Innovator Awards honor companies that have implemented unique private sector workforce development solutions. Three awards are granted based upon business size: small (fewer than 200 SC employees), medium (200-999 SC employees), and large (1000+ SC employees). A panel of judges selected from the SC Chamber’s Education & Workforce Committee reviews each nomination and selects the winners based on these criteria:
- Innovation (50%) – Utilizing new ideas in workforce development;
- Teamwork (25%) – Using teamwork in the design and implementation of unique training; and
- Concept Sharing (25%) – Readily sharing the training success with other companies.
On October 30, 2018, at the annual Workforce Development Symposium, Volvo Cars US Operations, Inc. was awarded the 2018 Workforce Innovator Award for Medium Sized Company. In its program, the SC Chamber writes, “In 2015, Volvo Cars chose Berkeley County for its first manufacturing facility in the U.S. and announced the creation of nearly 4,000 jobs. Recognizing that many in the rural areas of the Lowcountry lack manufacturing experience, Volvo Cars partnered with the SC Department of Commerce, Trident Technical College, readySC, and Berkeley County Administration to develop a curriculum that would provide the necessary training for those without manufacturing experience and satisfy Volvo’s one-year manufacturing experience requirement.”
The ManuFirstSC initiative, created in mid-2017, is a 62-hour curriculum that was originally piloted through Trident Technical College that has now been expanded to all technical colleges in the state of South Carolina, and will be available at all Berkeley County High Schools starting in the 2018-2019 school year. As of May 1, Volvo Cars has hired 26 ManuFirstSC graduates, and six more have received offers for a manufacturing career with Volvo. In addition, other manufacturers in South Carolina, including Mercedes Benz, BMW suppliers, and 46 other have agreed to accept the ManuFirstSC credential in lieu of one year’s manufacturing experience.”
[Read More]2018 Manufacturing Employee of the Year, Support Category for Medium-Sized Company
On October 5, 2018, The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce celebrated the winners of the S.C. Manufacturing Employee of the Year Awards with an awards luncheon and panel discussion regarding the future of manufacturing in South Carolina. The 2018 Manufacturing Day Celebration, presented by Jackson Lewis P.C., recognized the important contributions honorees have made to their employers, customers and communities.
“We are grateful for the employees that are being recognized today,” said Ted Pitts, President and CEO of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce. “These folks are not the CEOs and Presidents – they are the backbone of manufacturing in our state, working in production, enabling, and support jobs. Dedicated workers like these make their companies successful, and that success breeds prosperity in South Carolina. We recognize these winners for not just showing up to work every day, but for going the extra mile in their jobs and in their communities.”
Amanda Lovin, Supply Chain Manager, Volvo Cars US, was awarded this honor in the Support Category for a Medium-Sized Company.
[Read More]
Evonik Industries Cuts the Ribbon on New Chemical Plant in Berkeley County
Oct 16, 2018 – Berkeley County joined industry leaders today to cut the ribbon and celebrate Evonik Industries’ new chemical plant in Goose Creek. The precipitated silica plant will supply the tire industry. The plant will result in $120 million investment and 50 new jobs.
Evonik adds to our international family, bringing a German company to Berkeley County.
Berkeley County Economic Development Director Barry Jurs spoke on behalf of the County, welcoming Evonik to the Berkeley County family, celebrating a promising future in Goose Creek. Jurs was joined by David Riley, the Senior Vice President of Global Specialty Silica, and Business Line Silica North America, Dr. Harald Schwager, Deputy Chairman representing Evonik Industries, Dr. Johannes Ohmer, Managing Director, representing Evonik Resource Efficiency, Mandy Brawley from South Carolina Department of Commerce, and Ralph Walker from Pacolet Milliken Enterprises.
Many spoke on the sustainable energy and efficient solutions offered at the plant and its tremendous innovative strength.
Welcome to Berkeley County, Evonik!
Read more about Evonik’s investment in Berkeley County here.
Berkeley County Announces Additional Training for Manufacturing Jobs
Sign-up and information session scheduled October 9 at 5 p.m.
MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – (Monday, October 1, 2018) Berkeley County will host an information meeting to provide training for manufacturing positions on Tuesday, October 9th at 5 p.m. The meeting will be held at Trident Technical College Berkeley Campus. It is open to Berkeley County residents looking for manufacturing jobs.
When: Tuesday, October 9 at 5 p.m.
Where: Trident Technical College Berkeley Campus, 1001 S Live Oak Drive in Moncks Corner
Why: Help connect Berkeley County residents with the necessary training for manufacturing positions
Attendees will have the opportunity to sign-up for the upcoming ManuFirstSC, formerly known as Lean Manufacturing, course that will begin on Saturday, October 13 at Trident Technical College Berkeley Campus. This 4-week course will provide the necessary training to qualify candidates for positions at industries around Berkeley County and throughout the state of South Carolina. The course is free for candidates who are Berkeley County residents.
The information session will include presentations from representatives at Trident Technical College, ReadySC, and Adult Education with Berkeley County School District.
Berkeley County worked in partnership with Trident Technical College, South Carolina Department of Commerce, Volvo Cars, and Ready SC to start the pilot program in May of 2017. The pilot program saw 155 people graduate from the Lean Manufacturing course, which put them on the path to land manufacturing jobs at major industries around the County, including Volvo Cars in Ridgeville. Since then, neighboring counties have emulated the training program to provide opportunities for residents around the state with over 600 graduates in the Tri-County area. South Carolina Department of Commerce has rebranded the program to ManuFirstSC and will be working to standardize the curriculum for the certificate to be offered at all South Carolina Technical Colleges.
Interested candidates are asked to sign-up for the information session here: http://bit.ly/BerkeleyManuFirstSC
GOOGLE INVESTING $600 MILLION IN ITS BERKELEY COUNTY OPERATIONS
Tuesday, August 28, 2018 marks the 10-year anniversary of landmark data center
COLUMBIA, S.C. [August 28, 2018] – Google today confirmed plans to further expand its existing campus in Berkeley County, marking the 10-year anniversary of its data center at the Mount Holly Commerce Park. The expansion is projected to bring approximately $600 million of additional capital investment.
With this new announcement, Google’s total investment in Berkeley County will reach approximately $2.4 billion. For more information on Google, visit the company’s website.
QUOTES
“We are pleased to confirm that we will soon expand our presence in Berkeley County. South Carolina is our home, and we are so excited to work together with the community in this next phase of growth.” –Lilyn Hester, Google Head of Public Policy and Community Relations for the Southeast
“We couldn’t be more thrilled that Google is choosing to expand their South Carolina operations yet again. I congratulate Google on celebrating a full decade in the Palmetto State, and know that thanks to the business-friendly environment that we continue to foster, it is the first of many.” –Gov. Henry McMaster
“We congratulate Google on this latest expansion, which adds to the ongoing success they’ve experienced in South Carolina. This innovative company has been a longtime partner of Team South Carolina, and this new $600 million investment further reaffirms their commitment to our state.” –Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt
“Berkeley County is thrilled to have had Google operating within the county for more than a decade. The county is excited about Google’s expansion and looks forward to its continued growth in Berkeley County.” –Berkeley County Supervisor Bill Peagler
FIVE FAST FACTS
- Google is expanding its Berkeley County operations.
- $600 million of additional capital investment.
- This year marks the 10-year anniversary of Google’s data center at the Mount Holly Commerce Park.
- With this announcement, Google’s total investment in Berkeley County will reach approximately $2.4 billion.
- For more information on Google, visit the company’s website.
Volvo Car University Training Center will be cornerstone for training and leadership development for the entire Americas region
Berkeley County Announces Additional Training for Manufacturing Jobs
Sign-up and information session scheduled August 2 at 5 p.m.
MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – (Monday, July 23, 2018) Berkeley County will host an information meeting to provide training for manufacturing positions on Thursday, August 2 at 5 p.m. The meeting will be held at Trident Technical College Berkeley Campus. It is open to Berkeley County residents looking for manufacturing jobs.
When: Thursday, August 2 at 5 p.m.
Where: Trident Technical College Berkeley Campus, 1001 S Live Oak Drive in Moncks Corner
Why: Help connect Berkeley County residents with the necessary training for manufacturing positions
Attendees will have the opportunity to sign-up for the upcoming Lean Manufacturing course that will begin on August 11 at Trident Technical College Berkeley Campus. This 4-week course will provide the necessary training to qualify candidates for positions at industries around Berkeley County and throughout the state of South Carolina. The course is free for candidates who are Berkeley County residents.
The information session will include presentations from representatives at Trident Technical College, ReadySC, and Adult Education with Berkeley County School District.
Berkeley County worked in partnership with Trident Technical College, South Carolina Department of Commerce, Volvo Cars, and Ready SC to start the pilot program in May of 2017. Since the pilot program, Berkeley County has seen nearly 200 people graduate from the Lean Manufacturing course, which put them on the path to land manufacturing jobs at major industries around the County, including Volvo Cars in Ridgeville. Since then, neighboring counties have emulated the training program to provide opportunities for residents around South Carolina.
Interested candidates are asked to sign-up for the information session here: http://bit.ly/BerkeleyLeanManufAugust18
###
Hilton Garden Inn-Homewood Suites Summerville and Lowcountry Event & Conference Center
Source: Frampton Construction Company
Charleston, S.C. [July 11, 2018] Frampton Construction Company, LLC, a regional full-service construction firm providing planning and design support, preconstruction, construction services, and sustainability services throughout the Carolinas, is underway on construction of the Hilton Garden Inn-Homewood Suites Summerville and Lowcountry Event & Conference Center. The facility will be the largest and tallest of its kind in the Summerville area, with the accompanying event and conference center fulfilling a significant need for meeting, training, and accommodation space in the burgeoning business corridor.
Frampton Construction was selected by developer Lowcountry Hotels and partnered with project architect Bounds, Gillespie, Killebrew, Tushek, PLLC, to design, plan and build the 208,828 square foot facility. The hotel and conference center will sit on a 6.1-acre site in the Nexton community, at the corner of Sigma Drive and Edge Street.
At a groundbreaking ceremony held June 28, Daniel Blumenstock from Lowcountry Hotels commented, “It was apparent to us that there was a need not just for a hotel in this market, but for event and conference space, and I believe we’ve found the perfect location, the perfect hotel brands, and the perfect mix by including the conference space in this development.”
Pictured left to right in the attached photo from the groundbreaking ceremony are Fred Drulard (Senior Vice President, South State Bank), Gary Finnell (Senior Director of Development, Hilton Worldwide), Chad Frampton (President, Frampton Construction), Wiley Johnson (Mayor of Summerville), Scott Fennell (Chief Operating Officer and President, Lowcountry Hotels), George Fennell (Chairman, Lowcountry Hotels), Bill Peagler (Berkeley County Supervisor), Greg Padgett (Chief Financial Officer, Lowcountry Hotels), Brent Gibadlo (General Manager, Nexton), and Daniel Blumenstock (Director of Hotels, Lowcountry Hotels).
Featuring a total of 250 guest rooms, the eight-story hotel will measure 93 feet in height, making it the tallest building in Summerville and Berkeley County. Amenities are set to include a full-service restaurant, bar and lounge, resort-style pool with cabana, several outdoor green spaces, a workout facility, and a business center.
Chad Frampton, president of Frampton Construction, said, “We’re honored to be part of one of the most significant private developments in Berkeley County and humbled by the confidence Lowcountry Hotels and the Fennell family have shown in the Frampton team.”
The dual-brand concept caters to both select service and extended stay hotel customers through one property by pairing two distinctly branded hotels under the same roof while consolidating guest amenity spaces and back-of-house-operations for maximum efficiency.
A two-story conference center with 14,000 square feet of meeting space will connect to the hotel. Keeping the area’s growing automobile manufacturing industry in mind, the conference center’s first floor will feature a back entryway suited for vehicle access and over 7,000 square feet of uninterrupted space large enough to showcase automobiles. Folding walls will allow this area to be separated into three smaller conference rooms as needed. The second floor will house six additional meeting rooms.
“We are excited to begin construction of this formidable project that will take a tremendous team effort. Over the next 20 months, our team will manage an estimated 500+ construction trade workers who will put in place approximately 8,000 cubic yards of concrete, 1,500 tons of steel, 1,750 gallons of paint, and over 350,000 square feet of drywall,” Frampton further commented.
Bill Peagler, Berkeley County supervisor, also at the ceremony, noted, “If there’s one thing I can say about Frampton Construction, they will get the job done, and they will get it done on time.”
Construction is expected to be complete in early 2020.
About Lowcountry Hotels:
Lowcountry Hotels is the hotel development and management company division of Fennell Holdings, with award-winning properties and staff leading the way in hospitality in Charleston, S.C. With a focus on dependability, efficiency, and customer focus, Lowcountry Hotels takes pride in their reputation for excellence in service and accommodations. Lowcountry Hotels offers exceptional hospitality to guests in their three Charleston Area Convention Center hotels, as well as the Ansonborough Inn in Historic Downtown Charleston, and are working to expand their venture across the Lowcountry with new projects in Mount Pleasant and Summerville. For more information, please visit www.lowcountryhotels.com or call 843-723-0009.
Frampton Construction is a regional full-service construction firm with financial strength and industry knowledge born of years of experience employing proven procedures. Frampton Construction offers planning and design support, preconstruction, construction services, and sustainability services. The dedicated team of professionals takes pride in building strong relationships with clients while providing the highest quality of service. They deliver executive leadership and personal oversight throughout the building process, while working diligently to exceed the expectations of every client. With offices in Charleston, S.C., and Charlotte, N.C., the company is positioned to manage projects in the Carolinas and beyond. For more information, please visit https://www.frampton.construction/ or call 843-572-2400.
Nexans Announces $80 Million Expansion to Goose Creek Site, The only underwater cable manufacturing site in North America
Source: Post and Courier, By David Wren dwren@postandcourier.com
Nexans Goose Creek SC Plant
(June 20, 2018) A French company that builds high-voltage cables in Goose Creek for the power industry is adding underwater cables to the site’s product mix as part of an $80 million expansion.
Nexans, which opened its 350,000-square-foot plant in 2014 at the Charleston International Manufacturing Center, plans to add 125,000 square feet of space and double its workforce to roughly 135 employees over the next two years.
It also plans to build a shipping terminal at its site along the Cooper River, where the company’s cable-laying vessels can load up before heading to offshore projects. The underwater, or submarine, cable expansion is prompting Nexans to build a second ship
“Nexans is investing here because the submarine market is exploding — both in North America and globally,” said Brian Boan, director of transformation projects for Nexans’ plant in the Bushy Park area of Berkeley County.
The underwater power cable market is expected to grow from about $8 billion this year to more than $16 billion by 2023, according to industry researcher Markets-to-Markets.
The Goose Creek site will be Nexans’ only underwater cable manufacturing site in North America.
“The overall market is set to witness significant growth because of increasing offshore wind installations, growing demand for inter-country and island connections, and demand from the offshore oil & gas sectors,” the researcher said.
The Goose Creek site will be Nexans’ only underwater cable manufacturing site in North America. Currently, the company builds underwater power cables at its Calais, France, headquarters and at a plant in Halden, Norway. Nexans has other North American facilities that make fiber-optic cables, wiring for the construction industry, low-voltage cables and other products.
Production of underwater cable won’t be too different from the land-based power cables the company already makes at the Goose Creek plant. The process typically involves a copper conductor capable of handling up to 525 kilovolts being lowered into a 426-foot-tall tower where it is encased in melted plastic and then cured and cooled with nitrogen.
The land-based cables, which are used in underground power installations, are built in lengths that can stretch more than one mile. They are placed into drums and transported by trucks from the Nexans site to roughly 20 large customers that serve utilities nationwide. The Goose Creek plant builds about 60 miles of such cable each year, with 80 percent going to markets in North America.
The site plans to build up to 155 miles of underwater cable each year when manufacturing begins in 2020, serving markets around the globe as production ramps up to 24 hours a day.
“It’s a very slow manufacturing process — we’re not a widget environment,” Boan said, adding the tower process takes about one minute for every 3.3 feet of cable. “Every cable that comes out of this factory is a very specific design to a very specific customer and need. We never produce the same cable twice here.”
The expansion in Goose Creek comes at a difficult time for Nexans, which said last week that its full-year earnings would be weaker than expected because of an “abrupt deterioration of the high-voltage project activities forecast for the second half of 2018.” That includes postponements of some underwater cable projects and a weak backlog of land-based cable deals.
Nexans’ shares have lost nearly 30 percent of their value this year and Arnaud Poupart-Lafarge, the company’s CEO, unexpectedly announced he would leave the company by Sept. 30 for personal reasons. The high-voltage cable industry also is being challenged by growing competition from Chinese manufacturers.
The Goose Creek expansion is part of a long-range plan to diversify production of the underwater cables that Nexans sees as a future profit driver for the company.
“It’s a big commitment for Nexans, and it shows a lot of confidence in our facility, the Charleston area and our workforce,” Boan said. “We take pride in the fact that we’re using local resources as far as people and other businesses supporting us. It’s exciting to be a part of this community, and now to be stepping into the maritime and port industry that’s growing so fast here.”
Volvo car to be built at Berkeley County plant site unveiled
Source: Live5News
Volvo car to be built at Berkeley County plant site unveiled. Left to right: Berkeley County Deputy Supervisor Tim Callan and Les Blackenship, County Supervisor William Peagler, Economic Development Director Barry Jurs, and County Attorney John O. Williams
BERKELEY COUNTY, SC (June 20, 2018) – We’ve been hearing about it for years now, and finally, the Volvo Car manufacturing plant in Berkeley County is open for business.It’s the first Volvo plant ever in the United States.
On Wednesday, Volvo unveiled the redesigned S60 sports sedan that will be made at the Berkeley County plant.The atmosphere was like a New York high end fashion show, except most of the runway participants, were showing off their Volvo employee uniforms.
“On my line, we install the doors on every car that leaves this place,” a bodyshop employee said.”Volvo coming to South Carolina for me personally, it promotes growth in the Lowcountry as well as job security for myself and our futures. I am proud to say I am from South Carolina.”
The cars will start rolling off the line in late August, early September of this year and once the plant is up to full capacity, they will be able to manufacture 50,000 of the cars every single year.
The head of the American division says the United States is definitely where Volvo needs to be expanding.
Volvo Cars is still hiring.
“Our American business is developing extremely well with strong growth. Sales this year are up 41 percent,” said U.S. CEO Anders Gustafsson.
In addition to the S60 car, the plant will also pump out the XC90 SUV, starting in a few years.That will put production at 150,000 vehicles a year, once at full capacity.
“Of course our idea with those cars is not only produce for the US, it’s to export. Half of the production will export,” said Javier Varela, SVP of Manufacturing & Logistics.
Volvo says it is proud to open its first auto manufacturing facility ever in the United States, bringing with it some 4,000 jobs right here to the Lowcountry. While Volvo is ready to roll, it’s still hiring and training. If you’re interested in opportunities available at the plant, be sure to click this link.
The site is now ahead of its hiring schedule and in the pre-production phase for the S60, said Katarina Fjording, Volvo’s vice president of manufacturing and logistics for the Americas. The company plans to employ 2,000 people and head into full production of the S60 sedan by the end of the year.
Fjording managed the launch of the site, overseeing facility construction, supplier recruitment and hiring. She will transition into a new role, and Jeff Moore will run the site going forward.
Meet the people who made the #newS60 reveal so special. A car revealed by those who made it #MadeBySouthCarolina pic.twitter.com/WkIbeDvYAN
— Volvo Cars (@volvocars) June 21, 2018
This is the last piece of Volvo's lineup and it's a looker. pic.twitter.com/yrLYI5cxfb
— Roadshow (@roadshow) June 20, 2018
Read more from the Post and Courier and Charleston Regional Business Journal.
