Michelin unveils plans for new distribution center in S.C.

The global tire manufacturer said construction on its new distribution center in Spartanburg County, S.C. is expected to begin this year, the center’s first phase is slated to open in late 2017, and full build-out is expected in early 2017.

   Michelin will build a $270 million automated distribution center in Spartanburg County, S.C. to support distribution of tires for passenger vehicles, heavy trucks and agricultural equipment, the company said Monday.
   The site is located at the intersection of S.C. Highways 101 and 417 near Spartanburg, S.C, and is also located near the South Carolina’s inland port in Greer, which offers shippers daily train service to relay containerized imports and exports moving through the Port of Charleston.
   The new distribution center will create 350 new jobs and will feature five buildings with about 3.3 million square-feet of space for its Michelin, BFGoodrich and Uniroyal brands. Michelin is one of the top users of the Port of Charleston and its inland port.
   Construction on the facility is expected to begin this year, with the first phase slated to open in late 2017. Full build-out is expected in early 2019. Automation for receiving, tire selection, sequencing and shipping, as well as warehouse management software will be provided by Swisslog Group.
   “The Spartanburg distribution facility will cap a multi-year evolution of Michelin’s distribution network in North America,” Pete Selleck, chairman and president of Michelin North America, said in a statement. “We see it as a transformational milestone designed to better serve our customers while optimizing inventories and improving supply efficiency.”
   Overall, Michelin operates 20 major manufacturing plants in North America, including seven in South Carolina’s upstate region. The company’s North American headquarters is located in Greenville, S.C.
   In related news, UST Logistical Systems, a third-party logistics provider specializing in last-mile delivery for furniture and appliance retailers such as hhgregg, will relocate its headquarters from Hendersonville, N.C., to Greenville, S.C., bringing 50 jobs to the Upstate region, according to the South Carolina Department of Commerce.