Work underway on new, $35.7M Allied Air facility; expansion called testament to area, employees

Allied Air Enterprises, a subsidiary of Lennox International, recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new, 405,000-square-foot warehouse at the Orangeburg County/City Industrial Park.

“The expansion of our operations is a testament to the positive business environment and the dedication of our employees in Orangeburg, South Carolina,” said Joe Nassab, vice president and general manager of Allied Air Enterprises.

“A key factor in deciding to expand the Allied Air facility has been the outstanding business relationship we have shared with local and state officials since the inception of the plant,” he said.

The company held the groundbreaking ceremony earlier this month for a small group of guests due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The new, $35.7 million facility will be located next to the existing 550,000-square-foot building at 355 Millennium Drive. The expansion will increase the company’s manufacturing, distribution and storage capabilities. It will create 20 new jobs.

The new facility will be one of the largest recently constructed in the county, according to economic development officials. Husqvarna added 500,000 square feet in 2017.

Construction of the expanded Allied Air facility has begun, with plans for it to be fully operational by the fourth quarter of this year.

The Coordinating Council for Economic Development awarded Orangeburg County a $150,000 Rural Infrastructure Fund grant for costs related to the project.

“We are very excited about the expansion in Orangeburg,” said Craig Fairley, plant operations director of Allied Air Enterprises. “This is a great development, because it allows us to grow our capabilities for our customers and continue to be a major contributor to the economy of this region,” he said.

Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Orangeburg County Development Commission did not hold its typical ceremonial groundbreaking event.

The OCDC does plan to hold a ribbon-cutting and larger ceremony in the future as the COVID pandemic continues to wind down.

The expansion is the second the company announced in 2020.

In August, Allied Air announced it would expand into the $13 million, 200,000-square-foot speculative building at the OC/CIP.

The building will also be used for warehousing and production capacity. The number of employees did not increase with that previous project.

A division of Lennox International, Allied Air Enterprises serves residential and commercial marketplaces in the United States and Canada with the heating and cooling solutions. The company has five plants across North America.