Jushi is the leading supplier of fiberglass reinforcements in the United States. The company has distribution centers in Indiana and California, in addition to the center found here in Columbia, SC.
The new Pineview Industrial Park is about to have its first tenant – an 800,000 square foot giant from China. Jushi USA, one of the largest fiberglass manufacturers in the world, is setting up shop in Columbia, bringing 400 new jobs with its construction.
With this addition, Richland County will soon house its largest factory to date, right off Shop Road. This is only the second largest economic investment in Richland County’s history, the first being Union Camp International Paper back in 1984.
Jushi is based out of Shejiang, China with distribution centers located in South Carolina, Indiana, and California. This new plant is the first manufacturing center in the United States.
The company broke ground in 2016 and has been working continuously to ready the plant for workers. This will be Jushi USA’s second business in Columbia, following the opening of their Idlewilde Boulevard distribution center in 2012.
The Jushi Group mainly produces E-glass and C-glass fiberglass products for a variety of industries, including construction and infrastructure. Part of the fiberglass process requires sand.
“We need raw materials, and that’s sand,” said Rennette Pee, human resources and administration manager at Jushi. “So this is a central location to be able to transport materials and even collect raw materials right here in Richland County.”
According to Jushi, the first phase of the project is expected to bring in $300 million in capital investment in addition to the new jobs recently posted. The company has begun the process to hire hourly workers and hosted a job fair in August for prospective candidates.
“I feel because of the amount of individuals Jushi can employ, it can mean a great deal to this area. Especially at a time when we just recently underwent Hurricane Florence, and individuals that may have been displaced or may have to take off time for jobs or other positions,” Pee said. “Here at Jushi we have a wide variety of positions that they can apply for.”
Jushi China’s warehouse currently sits in the Columbia Industrial Park in a building much smaller than its new home. When construction completes, the workers and equipment that are stationed here will be part of the new operation at Pineview Industrial Park.
Jushi China’s current warehouse, located off Bluff Road, is tiny in comparison to the new building undergoing construction. The company will soon transition into the new manufacturing plant and continue to produce direct roving material and chop strand material.
