West Coast manufacturer chooses Lowcountry for first East Coast operation

A West Coast manufacturer has chosen the Lowcountry for its first East Coast operation.

QMP Inc., a water filtration systems manufacturer, has selected Colleton County to establish the company’s first East Coast manufacturing operation. The $5.1 million investment will create 233 new jobs, according to a news release

QMP will purchase a 22,000-square-foot facility with an additional five acres, located at 153 Anderson Road in Walterboro, to support increased production capacity and faster distribution to East Coast customers, the release stated.

“While many manufacturers have chosen to move production overseas, QMP remains deeply committed to American manufacturing,” QMP Inc. Vice President Vanessa Vidal Forsyth said in the release. “Expanding into South Carolina allows us to continue building on more than three decades of excellence and innovation — right here in the United States. We’re proud to invest in Colleton County and create quality jobs that support both our customers and our communities.”

Headquartered in California, QMP has more than 30 years of experience producing water filtration systems for a variety of applications, including for residential, commercial and industrial uses, according to the release.

Operations are expected to be online in January 2026.

The Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits related to the project. The council also awarded a $250,000 Set-Aside grant to Colleton County to assist with the costs of building improvements.

“Colleton County is pleased to be the East Coast home of QMP, Inc., a family-owned company for more than 30 years and a proven innovator in the water filtration industry,” Colleton County Council Chairman Scott Biering said in the release. “This project was a collaborative effort between the Colleton County Economic Alliance and our regional allies at SouthernCarolina Alliance. It is truly exciting to see it come to fruition. In Colleton County, we pride ourselves on providing an excellent business climate, and we look forward to partnering with QMP for years to come.”