BookSurge

BookSurge - an Amazon.com affiliate - is a print-on-demand company offering self-publishing services for authors and on-demand book manufacturing services for both authors and publishers.

Headquartered in Charleston, SC, BookSurge was launched in 2000 by a small group of local writers. Since its inception, the company has been dedicated to creating better opportunities for authors by providing services and tools to support them in publishing their own work. By doing so, authors have unprecedented access to the world's largest online sales channel.

"BookSurge is not just a manufacturing business. Yes, we have a print-on-demand facility, where we employ a 24-hour-a-day manufacturing environment, but we also have a large creative component to our business. We are all about making books - making them pretty and attractive - so, we need young, talented people in all kinds of areas like pre-press, customer service, sales, account management, marketing, you name it.

"We've actually been very fortunate in that we've been able to hire some of the best and brightest people in the world right here in the Charleston area or been able to recruit them to the area because of the quality of life, culture and history here. We are growing extremely fast, and we have been able to recruit people in a lot of very creative positions."

Cummins

Cummins Turbo Technologies is the world leader in the design and manufacture of mid-range and heavy duty turbo chargers for diesel engines. Formerly Holset Turbochargers, Cummins has a reputation for bringing innovative solutions to the specific product requirements of its key market sector.

The company's new world-class turbocharger manufacturing facility, which opened in 2006, was the second built in the Charleston region. The $13 million investment will create more than 180 new employment opportunities and expand Cummin's capacity by 200,000 units per year. The Palmetto plant focuses on heavy-duty VGT™ turbocharger manufacturing serving North American and other global markets.

"The selection of Charleston was a balance of many factors. We considered the customer base and the supplier base, as that tells us how and where we have to move materials. We also considered the cost and availability of labor, the skills and education of the workforce and also the competition for that workforce. I would have to say, however, the selection was driven primarily by a very competitive incentive package provided by both the State of South Carolina and the Charleston government.

"Our experience with the local workforce has been very positive. We've found the people to be very friendly, which has helped me to settle very quickly. We've also found them to be hard working and very diligent. Additionally, with the training provided by Trident Technical College, the Center for Accelerated Technology Training (CATT) and our own internal training programs, we've found this to be particularly successful."

Global Aeronautica, LLC

Global Aeronautica is a joint venture between Vought Aircraft Industries Inc. and Alenia North America, Inc., founded solely for the purpose of building the fuselage for the world's most technologically advanced aircraft - the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Located next to the new Vought facility by the Charleston International Airport, Global Aeronautica's 334,000-square-foot facility was built in just 15 months. Its team will assemble, integrate, test and apply surface finishes to more than 60 percent of the 787 fuselage prior to shipment to Boeing's final assembly facility in Everett, Washington.

"Charleston was selected from several cities around the United States because Charleston had a deep water port, an international airport, land next to the airport that was readily available and a great workforce. We were also able to contract with local contractors to do everything we needed to build the factory

"As we came to Charleston, one of the deciding factors was the teamwork and the cooperation of the local economic development community and the state. We were very pleased to see they were focused on what was best for us and our business, and everything they promised us they would deliver - they delivered."

NanoScreen

NanoScreen is a leading edge automation company that develops and produces liquid handling equipment for the largest pharmaceutical companies globally. Originally formed in Los Angeles, Nanoscreen located to Charleston, SC in 2003, and consolidated its headquarters, R&D, manufacturing and distribution operations to a single state-of-the-art facility in 2005.

"We started with about eight employees, moved to Charleston, hired approximately fifteen workers right away, and started production. We make micro pipettes for the pharmaceutical industry - very labor intensive and lots of inspection. As we branched out, we started to do repairs on equipment, needing more employees. Now, as we implement the next phase of our business plan, we are producing new equipment and robotic platforms that pharmaceutical companies need to miniaturize their process."

"We have a policy of trying to vertically integrate the company as much as possible. With NanoScreen's in-house manufacturing, engineering and administration, we have a need for a wide base of employees. We have hired several employees locally, as well as recruited employees with special skill sets form other parts of the country. It's very, very easy to get them to fall in love with Charleston."

Navigational Sciences

Navigational Sciences Inc. (NavSci™) is a wireless technology development company specializing in data communications, smart sensor networking, and radio-frequency identification systems supporting inter-modal logistics. NavSci has developed advanced technologies to track and monitor mobile assets, including hazardous materials, trucks, rail cars and overseas shipping containers with an unprecedented ability to stay connected.

Founded in 2000 by a local entrepreneur, the formation of NavSci was inspired by the Port of Charleston - one of the busiest ports in the Southeast and Gulf regions.

"I was working on the old Charleston Navy base and kept seeing these big ships rolling in and out with thousands of containers. In fact, about a million containers a year move through this port and it begs the question - what is moving through this port?"

Now, this Charleston-area company employs 10 workers, who collectively handle the entire process from start to finish, ensuring the highest level of efficiency and security.

"Charleston has a unique charm, its own style if you will, and amenities that you won't find in a city two or three times its size. The coastal living is clearly a wonderful thing. And, with a growing technology sector like this you can live in a great place and still work with the best minds in the business."

SKF

SKF, a global supplier of products, solutions, and services in the rolling bearings and seals business, selected the Charleston area for its Aero Bearings Service Center in 2000. Because of its success in the region, the company decided to expand its operations in 2006 by choosing Charleston for the site of its Specialty Bearings Manufacturing Operations of MRC Bearings.

Headquartered in Goteborg, Sweden, SKF is the world leader in aero bearings with about 38 percent market share. The company employs approximately 44,000 people with a sales turnover of about $8 billion a year.

"We selected Charleston based on the availability of skilled labor, proximity to our other industrial units and the Air Force base, good airports and connections, competitive incentive packages, and of course the cost of the location. We also wanted the possibility to further expand.

"Everyone loves the Charleston area. It's not difficult for us to bring in service people from all over the world. We can see the opportunity for Charleston and for this facility to play a more global role in the development of this new process.

"I have yet to meet one person that is not positive toward Charleston, South Carolina."