Red Metals picks Charleston County for copper plant

Copper manufacturer Red Metals  will establish a copper manufacturing operation in Charleston County. The company’s $70 million investment is expected to create at least 45 new jobs, according to the state Department of Commerce.

Red Metals is building a new domestic supply chain for copper products by converting copper raw materials directly into finished goods through an integrated refining and manufacturing process, according to a news release. The company’s Charleston County facility will serve as its first production operation.

Located at 4500 Leeds Ave. in North Charleston, the company’s 42,000-square-foot facility will manufacture high-conductivity copper rod used in wire, cable and other electrical applications.

“Red Metals is building a modern domestic supply of copper products at a time when reliable industrial infrastructure has never been more critical,” Red Metals founder and CEO Jackson Switzer said in the news release. “Charleston County gives us the foundation to scale a new model for copper refining and manufacturing, in close proximity to both the sources of supply and the industries that depend on it. We’re excited to invest in the region, create high-quality jobs and help support the next generation of American manufacturing, energy and defense.”
Copper is a critical input for electrical infrastructure, data centers, electrification, advanced manufacturing and defense applications. S&P Global projects global copper demand will nearly double by 2035, driven by electrification, renewable energy, electric vehicles and digital infrastructure.

The operation is designed to strengthen domestic manufacturing capacity and deliver essential copper products with shorter lead times and reduced supply chain complexity.

“Red Metals’ decision to bring its copper manufacturing to Charleston County delivers a significant advantage for several of our key industries that rely on this essential material,” Charleston County Council Chairman Joe Boykin said in the release. “Aside from strengthening the supply chain for neighboring businesses, this investment also brings high-quality jobs to advance our workforce as it continues to grow.”

Operations are expected to come online in the fourth quarter of this year. Engineers, operators and other entrepreneurial builders interested in joining the Red Metals team should visit redmetals.com to learn more.

“We’re pleased to welcome Red Metals to the Charleston region,” Charleston Regional Development Alliance Board Chairman Will Russell said in the release. “Their investment reflects the continued momentum we’re seeing across Charleston and the strength of our regional partnerships. We appreciate their commitment to our community and look forward to supporting their success as they grow here.”

The Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits related to the project.

NAI Charleston represented Red Metals Inc. in securing Leeds Avenue industrial facility, which is on more than six acres.

The property is zoned for heavy industrial.

NAI Charleston brokers Dexter Rumsey and Whit Jones represented Red Metals in the transaction. The property ownership was represented by Alex Whittemore and Jon-Michael Brock of Colliers.

“From start to finish it was great working with Red Metals to secure this space,” Whit Jones, associate at NAI Charleston, said in a separate announcement from the firm. “They are revolutionizing the copper industry, and they couldn’t have picked a better market to do so.”