Fabricated Metals Manufacturing Site Selection

Proximity to the transportation industry, as well as the food and beverage industry, and robust growth in construction make the Carolinas an ideal location for companies involved in fabricated metals manufacturing site selection. An extensive network of highways and ports exceed the supply and market needs for importing raw materials and exporting product, making the Carolinas an ideal choice for fabricated metals manufacturing site selection.

Hundreds of potential customers live in the Carolinas. Companies such as BMW, Honda, Caterpillar, Bridgestone/Firestone, Fuji, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Nestlé, Wise, Sara Lee, Campbell Soup, Lance and Kellogg’s have chosen the Carolinas as home for their metal industry site selection.

Duke Energy offers one of the most powerful site selection tools available. For companies involved in fabricated metals manufacturing site selection work, the tool is designed to: Evaluate the demographics, wages, labor pool, transportation system, as well as search for sites, buildings, suppliers, competitors or customers throughout North or South Carolina.

Superior Transportation Infrastructure

A sufficient transportation system is critical for fabricated metals manufacturing site selection. The Carolinas are centrally located on the eastern seaboard of the U.S. and have a robust transportation network.

  • Four Class I railroads with 37 freight lines operate over 5,500 miles of track throughout the Carolinas.
  • The Carolinas recognize the importance of suitable roadways when being considered for fabricated metals manufacturing site selection. Crisscrossed with 6 major interstates (I-85, I-26, I-77, I-95, I-20 and I-40) and over 140,000 miles of highway, the Carolinas are linked to seaports, businesses and consumers in all directions. Approximately 96 percent of N.C. has access to four-lane highways within 10 minutes.
  • Five deep water ports, specializing in intermodal system terminals with interstate and rail access to markets throughout the U.S., are located in the Carolinas. N.C. was the first port operated inland container staging and storage facility in the nation. S.C. is the fourth largest container port in the U.S.
  • Charleston ranked 30th for tonnage transported across its transportation network (30 Million Short Tons).
  • Seven international airports (Charlotte-Douglas, Piedmont Triad, Raleigh/Durham, Wilmington, Greenville-Spartanburg, Charleston, and Myrtle Beach International), along with nine regional airports, provide a global gateway to and from the Carolinas.

Proximity to Major Southeastern Markets

The Carolinas offer a robust business climate and access to diverse markets within 300 miles/500 kilometers of its boarders.

  • Population of more than 40 million people.
  • Growing Southeastern metropolitan centers such as Charlotte (N.C.), Columbia (S.C.), Atlanta (Ga.), Richmond (Va.), and Jacksonville (Fla.).
  • In 2003, the Carolinas issued 117,417 residential building permits, which accounted for 6.2 percent of all permits issued in the U.S. North Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Virginia are among the top 10 permit issuing states.
  • The 5-year state population growth is 7 percent in N.C., 6 percent in S.C., 7 percent in Va. and 10 percent in both Ga. and Fla.

Quality Workforce and Competitive Wages

The Carolinas profited from the presence of the textile industry for many years. As this industry continued to move its operations off shore, many highly-skilled manufacturing employees were left behind. Companies in the process of fabricated metals manufacturing site selection in the Carolinas have a ready pool of talented and affordable workforce.

  • Affordable wages is a significant criteria for fabricated metals manufacturing site selection. The average manufacturing wage in the Carolinas is $13.20 per hour vs. $18.10 per hour nationwide.
  • The Carolinas’ 75-campus Community College System has emerged as one of the largest in the nation and is recognized as the national leader for its support of economic work force development and training. Companies involved in fabricated metals manufacturing site selection should evaluate the assistance available to them through programs such as ISO 9000, Total Quality Management, Team Building, Supervisory Development Training, Statistical Process Control and World Class Concepts.
  • North Carolina and South Carolina have the lowest union membership rates among the fifty states, 3.6 percent and 4.2 percent, respectively.

Reliable and Affordable Energy

Duke Energy has highly qualified energy experts and site consultants who can assist in any fabricated metals manufacturing site selection project. The service is free and confidential.

Environmental Permitting

For companies that anticipate permitting to be a risk in their fabricated metals manufacturing site selection efforts, the Carolinas have environmental programs to assist companies in moving through the process quickly.

  • Pro-business environment
  • Quick turnaround for most applicants (average 6 weeks)
  • In line with federal standards

Industry Presence

Companies can be assured that the Carolinas are a viable option when evaluating for metal industry site selection. Some of the largest fabricated metal producers in the world call the Carolinas home:

  • Alcoa, Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation, Nucor Corporation

Incentives/Tax Advantages

To demonstrate North Carolinas’ commitment to fabricated metals manufacturing site selection, the North Carolina General Assembly made significant enhancements to its existing incentive tools:

  • The Jobs Development Investment Grant, a key incentive tool, was expanded to 25 grants per year, and the cap was raised from $10 to $15 million, extended to 2006.
  • An additional $20 million was secured for the One North Carolina Fund (cash incentives).
  • The wage test was eliminated for Industrial Revenue Bonds.

South Carolina has one of the most attractive tax climates in the Southeast—no state property tax, no local income tax, no inventory tax, no wholesale tax, and no unitary tax on worldwide profits.