Skip to main content

Charleston Business

JW Aluminum Ranks Fourth In Top Economic Development Of 2018 In S.C.

Feb 13, 2019 12:42PM ● By Kathleen Maris
Photo: Construction of the new 220,000-square-foot JW Aluminum building is underway.

JW Aluminum’s $255 million expansion investment ranks fourth in the Top Economic Investment Announcements of 2018, according to the South Carolina Department of Commerce Annual Industrial Recruitment Report. In Berkeley County, JW Aluminum is second only to Google in terms of capital investments last year.

“The ranking is based on our previously announced investment of $255 million,” said Stan Brant, chief operating officer at JW Aluminum. “Additional planned investments will bring the total investment in Goose Creek to over $300 million and make our South Carolina facility one of the most technologically advanced continuous cast plants in the world.”

Recently named the winner of the 2018 Innovation and Productivity Excellence Award for Industry by the Berkeley County Chamber of Commerce, JW Aluminum’s expansion brings 50 new jobs to the area. JW Aluminum is currently recruiting to fill these new positions and implementing more than 40,000 hours of job development training for both current and future teammates to operate the new state-of-the-art equipment being installed as part of the expansion.

Goose Creek Mayor Greg Habib said, “JW Aluminum‘s expansion marks the largest investment in Goose Creek’s history. It is especially impactful for us because many of their teammates are residents of our city. JW Aluminum’s commitment recognizes Goose Creek as a great place to live, work, and raise a family. I am proud of the partnership we have forged, and I appreciate this continued investment in our city, county, and region.”

The expansion is slated to be complete in 2020. The Goose Creek plant is in full production during the construction period, as are JW Aluminum’s plants in Russellville, Ark.; St. Louis, Mo.; and Williamsport, Pa.

“The investment to expand our South Carolina plant is in addition to an over $30 million investment in equipment upgrades for our plants in Arkansas, Missouri, and Pennsylvania,” said Lee McCarter, chief executive officer at JW Aluminum. “These investments are part of our long-term growth strategy. We continue to explore opportunities to reinvest in all areas of our business, so we can remain a trusted supplier to our customers and an employer of choice for current and future teammates now and in the years to come.”