Manufacturer Linear LLC Opens Distribution Center
Posted on: Monday, 1 May 2006, 15:00 CDT
By Caroline Fossi, The Post and Courier, Charleston, S.C.
Apr. 29--A California-based electronics manufacturer recently opened a new distribution center in Summerville, creating about 40 jobs, local economic development officials said Friday.
Linear LLC opened the center in an existing 162,000-square-foot building that formerly housed distribution operations for Belk department stores. The company's investment will be about $1 million, according to the Charleston Regional Development Alliance, which aims to promote business investment in Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties.
Based in Carlsbad, Calif., Linear makes home security systems, smoke and fire detection systems, home theater entertainment equipment and other electronic products. The company had about $350 million in revenue last year. It's a subsidiary of Nortek Inc., a Rhode Island-based building products manufacturer.
The new distribution center will serve Linear's customers east of the Mississippi. The merchandise is imported from China and shipped to retailers, such as Best Buy, and homebuilders and professional electronics installers.
The company chose Summerville for its proximity to the Port of Charleston and interstate access. The location will allow Linear "to distribute 50 percent of the company's merchandise along the East Coast from one location," said Terry Cain, vice president of logistics. Linear is expected to send about 3,000 containers through the port each year, he said.
Grant Rummell, Linear's chairman, said the company was drawn to the Southeast because the region is slowly but surely becoming the East Coast's "center of consumption."
"The money's moving south. It's as simple as that," he said.
South Carolina Secretary of Commerce Joe Taylor said the Charleston region offered advantages over other locations the company was considering, including Savannah, Lexington, Ky., and Norfolk, Va.
"Smart business leaders see the economic benefits of having the country's most efficient port and two major interstate highways at their front door," Taylor said.
Bill McCall, chairman of the Charleston Regional Development Alliance, offered similar sentiments. "Once again, the region's ability to meet supply chain needs of its future corporate citizens landed us a new business partner," he said.
Jim Rozier, Berkeley County supervisor, said the company also would benefit from the area's quality of life and "supportive and growing business structure."
Linear hopes to have the new site fully staffed by September.
The company's Web site is www.linearcorp.com.
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Source: The Post and Courier
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