Bosch Rexroth Unveils Expanded Manufacturing Facility

Calling it an "historic day," company officials along with Gov. Nikki Haley officially christened the newest addition to the growing Bosch Rexroth manufacturing campus in Fountain Inn on Wednesday.

With around 200 people looking on, Haley and Bosch executives held a ceremonial ribbon cutting to mark the start of production in Building 103 — a former 260,000 square-foot industrial warehouse on the site that has been remodeled into a state-of-the-art production facility that will initially produce hydraulic pumps used in a variety of industries.

The $80 million investment by the German-based company, which will double the plant's current production capacity, is expected to add 160 jobs over the next few years, company officials said. 

Noting the pro-business climate of the Upstate and South Carolina, company officials said the investment and expansion at its campus, located off Interstate 385 in the Southchase industrial park, is the biggest the global company has undertaken in North America. In addition to the building, Bosch Rexroth also has expanded its campus footprint by an additional 65 acres to a total of 101 acres.

In addition to the ribbon cutting, company officials also presented checks totaling $420,000 to Greenville Technical College for a new hydraulics lab.

"Finding technically skilled associates has become one of the most pressing issues in our business, especially as we expand to meet the needs of our customers," said Berend Bracht president and CEO of Bosch Rexroth Americas. "Greenville Technical College has worked with us closely to establish programs that address this critical need. The top-of-the-line training equipment is a further, significant step in making the training center even better."

The lab will serve as a tool for Greenville Tech students and as a training center for Bosch customers and associates. Along with equipment, Bosch is supplying textbooks, online training, and manuals for teachers and students.

The new facility, able to accommodate 18 people, will be used for hydraulic technology training, hydraulic performance testing, and industry research. The lab will be housed at the Buck Mickel Center on campus.

"This truly is a celebration," Haley said. "What are we talking about? Eighty million dollars. The largest investment in North America. 160 new jobs right here in Fountain Inn. They could have done it anywhere else, but this is where they chose."