A global manufacturer of aerospace components is investing about $43 million and adding 53 jobs in a customer-fueled expansion of its North Charleston operation.
Eaton Corp. announced Sept. 30 that it plans to build a 60,000-square-foot plant next to its longtime existing factory at 7230 Cross County Road to make hydraulic pumps and motors. The parts are "used on nearly every major aircraft today," according to a Charleston County Council document.
Eaton said the investment will partly support a recent, unidentified "program win" for the manufacturer. It also will give the company extra capacity to take on new business.
The new jobs will pay an average of $46 per hour, or $97,632 a year, boosting Eaton's existing local payroll by about $5.14 million, the S.C. Commerce Department said.
The capital investment will be split roughly between property improvements and equipment
The second plant is expected to ramp up operations starting in 2028.
"The expansion ... will enable Eaton to add machining, assembly and test capabilities and expand our existing additive manufacturing capability to support a key customer’s accelerated delivery schedule on a new program win,” company executive Armando Tellez said in a written statement.
The manufacturer considered about six of its other sites for the investment, according to Merle Johnson, Charleston County's economic development director.
The expansion is expected to generate about $11.7 million for government agencies over the next 20 years under an agreement that replaces Eaton's property tax bill with a flat fee.
Also, up to $2.3 million in state tax credits and government grants have been approved for the company to help pay for infrastructure upgrades and construction costs tied to the project.
County Council’s finance committee approved the incentive package last month. At the time, Eaton was identified by the code name "Project Modern."
The property tax break still must be finalized. County Council will hold a public hearing on the fee agreement on Oct. 14 at 6:30 p.m.
The North Charleston plant is part of Eaton's aerospace division, a global supplier of mechanical, hydraulic and air-driven components that flight crews need to safely and easily control and operate aircraft.
The company has stated previously that it makes pumps and valves for Boeing Co.'s locally based 787 Dreamliner program, which is investing $1 billion to raise its production rate to 10 planes a month from seven.
Eaton Aerospace LLC acquired its 14-acre Cross County Road property in 1999 through its purchase of Aeroquip-Vickers Inc., an Ohio company that made high-precision metal parts at the North Charleston site.