June 22, 2006
Allied Air Slated for Dual Groundbreaking
New Corporate Headquarters and R&D Facility in Lexington County;
expansion of Orangeburg facility
Columbia, SC– Allied Air Enterprises, Inc., a subsidiary of Lennox International Inc., will have a dual groundbreaking ceremony to mark the creation of the corporate headquarters and a Research and Development facility in Lexington County and the expansion of Allied Air’s existing Orangeburg manufacturing facility. The two projects will provide space to accommodate the South Carolina consolidation of the company’s manufacturing and headquarters operations, which are relocating from their current base in Ohio. Both groundbreaking ceremonies will be held on Thursday, June 22.
The groundbreaking for the Lexington County facility will take place at 11 am at the CAE industrial park; the Orangeburg County ceremony is scheduled to follow in the Orangeburg City/County Industrial Park at approximately 1:30 pm.
The Lexington County facility will serve as the corporate headquarters for the entire Allied Air business unit with over 22,000 square feet of office space and 40,000 square feet of research and development facilities, including testing laboratories. The expansion of the Orangeburg operation will add 238,000 square feet to the 350,000 square feet already in use on the plant site. Combined, the two endeavors represent the near-term creation of as many as 300 or more new jobs and a major expansion of Allied Air’s commitment to South Carolina.
The Orangeburg facility, in operation since 2000, features state-of-the-art metalworking equipment. Coil-fed presses, turret presses and automated machine lines consistently produce high quality heating and air conditioning equipment for sale through wholesalers throughout North America. Computer-controlled equipment is used throughout the facilities for metal punching and forming, tube bending and 100% run test devices.
Allied operates another factory in Blackville, SC, which also manufactures furnaces and air conditioners. The Blackville facility is in line to receive the company’s oil furnace product line as part of the consolidation, also adding new jobs along the way.
Allied Air’s R&D facility in Lexington is responsible for the design and testing of many new Allied products as well as some platforms sold to the entire Lennox International Worldwide Heating & Cooling customer base. The new operation will include six cooling test rooms, eight heating test stations, a model shop, and other key research functions.
“We’ve made a large investment in South Carolina over the past six years, but this move now means 100% of our business will be located here,” said Dan Seaman, Allied vice president and general manager. “South Carolina will be our headquarters and our home. We expect this consolidation will substantially improve our ability to service our customers and will position us for growth in our highly competitive marketplace.”
“This double announcement of new job creation and investment is another step in our efforts to raise income levels and create opportunities for South Carolinians," said Gov. Mark Sanford. “We remain committed to continue growing our economy through bettering the soil conditions for business creation in our state."
“It’s a special day in our state when a company announces simultaneously it plans to expand an existing manufacturing facility and relocate an R&D facility to the area. Allied Air’s news today just further demonstrates our strengths as a prime location to meet all of its business needs,” said Commerce Secretary Joe Taylor. “I’d like to thank the local developers, Allen Burns in Lexington County and Gregg Robinson in Orangeburg County, the Central South Carolina Alliance, along with our Global Business Development group at Commerce for working together to make this great dual groundbreaking possible.”
Todd Cullum, Chairman of Lexington County Council, said, “We are very proud that Allied Air has decided to locate its Corporate Headquarters and Research and Development facility in our county. Their decision represents a new and exciting chapter in Lexington County’s history. We are pleased to welcome a company that is the best in the business and look forward to being able to help them grow.”
“The decision to locate here makes Lexington County more competitive,” said Johnny Jeffcoat, Chairman of the County’s Economic Development Committee. “We are not just competing in the Southeast,” he said. “We are competing against the world for jobs. Having another Corporate Headquarters with a Research and Development facility right here makes a statement.”
Central SC Alliance Chairman George Bullwinkel, Jr. said, “What a great day for Lennox International – Allied Air and the people of Central South Carolina. The new corporate headquarters and R&D facility in Lexington County along with the expansion of the existing manufacturing facility in Orangeburg County is a major vote of confidence in the work ethic and manufacturing skills of our citizens. We are very appreciative of this significant capital investment being committed by the Lennox International senior management team.”
