$3.9 million investment expected to create 89 new jobs
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Encore Container, a manufacturer and re-conditioner of industrial containers, today announced that it will locate its new corporate headquarters, manufacturing and recycling facility in Greenville County. The $3.9 million investment is expected to generate 89 new jobs over the next three years.
“Encore Container is focused on providing our industrial customer base with quality plastic drums and intermediate bulk container (IBC) totes, along with the most dependable service in the industry,” said CEO Chad Odom. “We pride ourselves on providing the fastest service in the industry, reducing our customers’ environmental liability and inventories while improving their cash flows. We are pleased to locate our corporate headquarters, manufacturing and reconditioning operations here in Greenville County.”
The company has established operations in an 80,000-square-foot existing facility at 7021 Augusta Road in Greenville and has already begun hiring, equipment installation and the ramp-up process. Encore Container’s services include national trip leasing, pick-up service for plastic drums and IBC totes (including 55 gallon drums and 275 gallon totes), and tote cleaning, reconditioning and recycling.
“Seeing a new company choose South Carolina as the place to start its operations is always exciting. We celebrate the decision by Encore Container to locate its initial operations in Greenville with a $3.9 million investment and the creation of 89 new jobs,” said Gov. Nikki Haley.
Since January, South Carolina recruited more than $2 billion in investment and more than 3,000 new jobs in the manufacturing sector. Also, Commerce has recruited more than $430 million in capital investment and more than 1,000 new jobs in the recycling-related sector since the beginning of 2010.
“Entrepreneurship is an important part of our economy and it’s great to see Encore Container put its roots down in South Carolina. This announcement also provides a boost to our reputation in two sectors – manufacturing and recycling,” said Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt.
Encore Container is committed to sustainability and to being a good steward of the environment. Recycling industrial containers, and extending the useful life of these containers, limits environmental impact through recycling exercises and water conservation. The company recycles plastic fallout from its reconditioning process to make new drums, and recycles steel fallout through arrangements with steel recycling companies. Encore conserves water through an innovative design of its wash process that minimizes use through reverse plumbing, solids removal and filtration, and water reuse. The result is a zero discharge of wastewater.
“Encore Container is a fine example of an entrepreneurial company that is using advanced technology, performance-based processes and local talent to grow and succeed here in the Upstate,” said Chris Riley, chairman of the Greenville Area Development Corporation. “The company is a great reflection of the opportunities to be found here in Greenville County.”
Odom cited the company’s veteran management team, including partner and Chief Operating Officer Blayne Henderson and partner and Chief Compliance and Quality Officer Chas Key, as instrumental in the company’s ability to move quickly to fill a void in the marketplace.
“Encore’s management team has worked successfully together in this industry before. We understand our customers’ requirements, we know the equipment to purchase and the space and water/sewer requirements to be successful, and we found Greenville County to be accommodating and focused on meeting our needs for success,” said Odom. “We considered other locations in Georgia and North Carolina, but we have operated other businesses in Greenville and South Carolina previously, and we feel the community is open-armed, the quality of life outstanding and the economic environment very appealing. We’re happy to be in Greenville.”
Previously, Odom was founder and CEO of Greenville-based Innovative Container for five years, which was in a similar line of business to Encore Container. The business grew rapidly, including being named fastest-growing company in South Carolina in 2003, before being purchased. Both of Odom’s partners in Encore Container – Henderson and Key – were members of the leadership team at Innovative Container as well.
Jobs being added include: equipment operators, skilled maintenance positions, customer support and unskilled labor positions, along with sales, accounting and administrative roles to support the organization’s growth. Noting that the company will pay “competitive-market wages with benefits based on experience,” Odom encourages persons interested in being considered for employment to submit resumes via email to [email protected].
The Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved a set aside grant for $100,000. readySC™, a division of the S.C. Technical College System, will provide pre-employment training.
For more information on Encore Container, visit them at www.EncoreContainer.com.