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The world’s first environmentally friendly 145kV dead tank dry air insulated vacuum circuit breaker was made in Gray Court and deliver in 2022 to Golden Valley Electric Association in Fairbanks, Alaska. (Photo/Meiden America Switchgear)
The world’s first environmentally friendly 145kV dead tank dry air insulated vacuum circuit breaker was made in Gray Court and deliver in 2022 to Golden Valley Electric Association in Fairbanks, Alaska. (Photo/Meiden America Switchgear)
Gray Court manufacturer invests $9.3M in expansion
Ross Norton // October 15, 2025//
- Meiden America Switchgear investing $9.3 million in Gray Court expansion
- Project will create 43 new jobs in Laurens County
- Expansion adds 37,000 square feet for new North American product lines
- Completion expected in May 2026 with state support for site preparation
A Gray Court manufacturer of high-voltage vacuum technology plans to spend $9.3 million on an expansion project that will create 43 new jobs.
Meiden America Switchgear Inc., founded and headquartered in Gray Court, will expand ts operations in Laurens County, according to a news release.
MAS designs, manufactures, tests and sells high-voltage vacuum circuit breakers and vacuum interrupters.
MAS will expand its existing production facility, located at 2200 N. Old Laurens Road in Gray Court, by 37,000 square feet to accommodate several new product lines for the North American market.
“We’re excited to invest in our people, our products and Laurens County,” Meiden America Switchgear President Hiro Takeshita said in the news release. “This expansion reflects our dedication to innovation, our commitment to help our customers reduce their environmental impact and strengthen the electrical grid of the U.S. and Canada. It also positions us to meet increasing demand.”
The company will begin manufacturing and distributing 123 kV breakers to support North American electric power utility partners and OEMs, the release stated. Additionally, MAS will expand the office space in its existing building by 7,500 square feet.
“Laurens County continues to be a place where business thrives,” Laurens County Council Chairman Jeff Carroll said in the release. “We would like to congratulate Meiden America Switchgear Inc. on their success and continued growth. They are a very valuable member of our corporate community, and we look forward to continuing our partnership into the future.”
The expansion is expected to be completed in May 2026.
The Commerce Department’s Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits related to this project. The council also awarded a $150,000 Set-Aside grant to Laurens County to assist with the costs of site preparation and building construction.
“Congratulations to Meiden America Switchgear Inc. on continuing to build its legacy in South Carolina,” Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III said in the release. “The company’s additional investment and job creation in Laurens County is a testament to the state’s healthy business climate, and we’re excited to see MAS grow.”
MAS is a subsidiary of Meidensha Corp. founded in 1897 in Tokyo, which manufactured high-voltage vacuum circuit breakers for more than half a century, the release stated.
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