Shimano American Corporation has broken ground on an expansion at its Ladson, SC, distribution center. The new construction adds nearly 99,000-square-feet to the current 102,000-square-foot facility, built by Shimano in 2006. The addition is scheduled to be online by August 2013.
“With this investment, it’s much more than just doubling the size at our South Carolina facility–we'll also be prepared for both current and future distribution needs for all our brands,” said Dave Pfeiffer, president of Shimano American Corp. “Taking our original investment in 2003 in a 25,000-square-foot distribution center in Ladson’s Benchmark Industrial Park to another level again, this a needed positive step in order to increase services to our business partners up and down the East Coast and throughout the Midwest and Southern states. We look forward to our South Carolina facility playing a larger role in Shimano’s operations in the U.S., and we appreciate the cooperation we’ve received from local, regional and state agencies in our expansion plans.”
Along with the added capacity, the expanded facility will allow Shimano to improve material handling automation and adds 3,000-square-feet of office space, said Shimano’s senior manager of operations Allen Johnston. He notes that along with Shimano bicycle components and fishing tackle, the company distributes its G.Loomis fishing rods and PowerPro fishing line from the Ladson facility. When the improvements are complete, Shimano will add the distribution of its Pearl Izumi technical cycling and running products, as well as Jackall brand fishing lures, to the facility.
Shimano American Corporation is the U.S. subsidiary of Osaka, Japan-based Shimano, Inc., a worldwide leader in the manufacturing of fishing tackle and bicycle components. Along with its Irvine, Calif. sales, service and distribution operations and its Pearl Izumi USA headquarters in Louisville, CO, Shimano manufactures its PowerPro braided fishing line in Grand Junction, CO, and its G.Loomis fishing rods in Woodland, WA. Beginning in January 2013, it will also handle the sales, marketing and distribution of Jackall Lures in the U.S. and Canada.
