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Irish company builds data center power hub in Upstate

Molly Hulsey //April 16, 2021//

Irish company builds data center power hub in Upstate

Molly Hulsey //April 16, 2021//

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E+I Engineering USA Corp. has already broken ground on a new data power distribution center set for completion in the third quarter of this year. (Photo/Provided)When E+I Engineering’s reconnaissance team came to the United States to survey a location for its American manufacturing hub, South Carolina was the top contender early in the game.

Then it came down to Anderson County and another county in the region. The competition was fierce, but with the company’s multiple expansion announcements over the past five years, Rusty Burns, Anderson County administrator, remains grateful that Anderson won over the company.

“We pled our case that this was the best place for them to be successful and we certainly wanted them. We already had one Irish company and we need another one,” Burns said, referencing BMW supplier and plastics molding company Mergon.

The company’s close relationship with the county continues to this day with a fee-in-lieu of tax agreement used to lay the groundwork for a $13 million investment, formerly known as “Project Switch” projected to create 200 jobs at E+I Engineering USA Corp.’s facility at 400 Supreme Industrial Drive.

The company has since outgrown its current facility, Burns said, and is seeking to expand its footprint on the site. Grading for the approximately 100,000-square-foot-building set to house a data center power distribution facility has already begun, he said, and is slated for completion in the third quarter this year.

The announcement follows the groundbreaking of the multi-tenant data center DCBlox in Greenville.

“They have a worldwide market, and the demand for their services has just increased and increased,” Burns said. “It’s been a blessing for us and a blessing for them.”

The company, an electrical switchgear and power distribution system provider headquartered in Burntfoot, Ireland, serves large infrastructure projects such as data centers, banks, airports, arenas and hospitals, according to today’s announcement.

“The E+I Engineering team is delighted to be able to announce the creation of 200 new jobs at our U.S. plant in Anderson,” Philip O’Doherty, managing director of E+I Engineering, said in the announcement. “This investment marks an acceleration in our investment in North America, which is testament to the skilled workforce in the area.”

The expansion will also increase the company’s capacity to meet the growing demand for its sales, design and manufacturing services, as well as add modular power solutions to E+I Engineer’s suite of products and services, according to the announcement.

“Since setting up operations in the U.S. in 2014, we’ve attracted some of the industry’s best talent to help develop our innovative products and services,” O’Doherty said in the announcement. “We see continued strength in our North America business, and our hiring plans reflect our commitment to meeting our customers’ demands in the region. This is a competitive industry, and we strive to be ahead of the game by creating high-quality skilled jobs and providing the most professional leadership.”

The Coordinating Council for Economic Development also stepped in to help pay for the cost of site preparation and building construction with a $350,000 Set-Aside grant to Anderson County, as well as job development tax credits.

“These new jobs mean rewarding career opportunities and promising futures for many Anderson County residents and their families,” Anderson County Council Vice Chairman Brett San said in the announcement. “We are proud to have E+I Engineering right here in Anderson and are excited to see them continue to grow and prosper.”

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