Meiden America Switchgear Celebrates Opening & First Product Shipment from its First US Manufacturing Facility

On Tuesday, February 9, Meiden America Inc. Switchgear held its official opening ceremony at their facility in Gray Court. The ceremony was also a celebration of the first product shipment from the Laurens County location—their first manufacturing facility in America.

Jon Baggett with the SC Department of Commerce, Jonathan Coleman, President/CEO of LCDC, & Laurens County Council Chair Brown Patterson.

The event, kept small in size to exercise distancing and caution, included a welcome from members of the Japanese management team, a flagpole dedication by the VFW Honor Guard of Walhalla, and a small tour. Councilman W. Brown Patterson Jr. welcomed Meiden America Switchgear on behalf of Laurens County, and presented them with a commemorative palmetto tree plaque from the Laurens County Development Corporation.

“International investment continues to make Laurens County thrive. Meiden America Switchgear’s new facility in Laurens County is a further example of that for our County and the Upstate South Carolina region. We appreciate their commitment to our County, and we commit to provide them with a long and prosperous relationship.” -Laurens County Development Corporation President and CEO Jonathan Coleman, from the initial announcement in 2020.

About Meiden America Switchgear:
Meiden America, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Meidensha Corporation, established Meiden America Switchgear which expanded the production of their environmentally-friendly, high-voltage vacuum circuit breakers rated 72.5kV and 145kV at the new South Carolina facility, its first production base in North America. This location will also become the North American sales hub of Meiden’s vacuum interrupters.

Founded in 1897, Meiden is a global supplier of power and energy products with companies worldwide. Individuals interested in joining the Meidensha Corporation team should visit https://www.meidensha.com/msl/career/index.html.