South Carolina attracts more out-of-state manufacturers

An Italian pipe fitting manufacturer and an Illinois-based industrial component manufacturer respectively plan to open warehousing and production facilities in the state.    An Italian pipe fitting manufacturer is establishing a 50,000-square foot warehouse in southeastern South Carolina, the state’s Department of Commerce announced Thursday.
   Nupi Americas, Inc., the North American subsidiary of Nupi Industrie Italiane, S.p.A., is investing $4.9 million to purchase the spec building in Early Branch, S.C., with full operations expected to begin in the second quarter of 2016.
   The U.S. arm has been manufacturing and marketing polypropylene pipe and fitting systems for plumbing and air conditioning systems in Houston since 2001.
   In other news, AS/R Systems, an industrial component manufacturer, will move operations from Illinois to a new 40,000-square foot facility in Ridgeland, S.C. The company’s owner listed the location’s proximity to I-95 and the ports of Savannah and Charleston as factors in the site selection.