South Carolina – A major industrial gas company is investing heavily in South Carolina, therefore supporting the state’s rising profile as a center for industrial operations and innovative manufacturing.
Including a division of steel manufacturing behemoth Nucor Corp., the Pennsylvania-based Universal Industrial Gases LLC (UIG) announced intentions to construct a new plant in Darlington County, committing around $100 million to the project.
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Important addition for the company
Located at 300 Steel Mill Road, the new operation will be a significant addition to UIG’s current industrial gas production plant fleet. Operating across the United States, including a site in Berkeley County, UIG specializes in the manufacturing and supply of industrial gases, which are essential for many different manufacturing operations.
Set to be finished by the end of 2025, the Darlington plant will mostly support Nucor’s local steel mill, hence further merging the activities of the two businesses.
Long-term ties with South Carolina
Emphasizing the company’s close ties to South Carolina—Nucor has been working in the state for over six decades—Scott Pape, General Manager of UIG, celebrated the decision for the new investment.
“Universal Industrial Gases is pleased to be a part of Nucor’s expanding presence in South Carolina, building on 60 years of the company doing business in the state,” Pape said.
Pape also expressed appreciation to local and state leaders for their help; the company is excited to start business in Darlington by late 2025.
“We would like to thank the local and state officials for welcoming our new teammates and investment into your state, and we look forward to commissioning our industrial gas facilities to support Nucor Darlington at the end of this year,” he said.
Palmetto State remains popular for out-of-state businesses
Companies trying to grow their operations choose South Carolina because of its pro-business atmosphere and industrial infrastructure. Governor Henry McMaster welcomed UIG’s investment, highlighting the significance of such large-scale industrial projects.
“We are proud that Universal Industrial Gases continues to do business in our state. This impressive investment of nearly $100 million is great news for Darlington County and reinforces that South Carolina has the environment and resources businesses need to thrive,” McMaster said in the release.
Impact on regional economic development
The 200,000-square-foot facility will supply on-site industrial gases directly to Nucor’s steel production operations in Darlington, improving efficiency and reducing reliance on third-party suppliers. Although UIG has not stated the exact employment the new facility will generate, the investment points to potential regional economic development.
Officials from Darlington County also demonstrated enthusiasm in the project. Chairman of County Council Bobby Hudson underlined the significance of UIG’s local expansion decision.
“We are excited about Universal Industrial Gases’ investment in Darlington County. Darlington County is pleased to have Universal Industrial Gases and looks forward to their continued success,” Hudson stated.
UIG’s action fits a larger trend of manufacturing businesses safeguarding their supply chains by moving important production capacity in-house. UIG is establishing itself as a key player in the long-term plan of Nucor by manufacturing industrial gases directly for their steel mills.
The investment not only benefits Darlington County but provides evidence of South Carolina’s appeal as a top industrial growth location as the company gets ready to break ground on the facility. With operations planned to start by December 2025, the project would most certainly have long-lasting industrial and financial effects on the area.
