Universal Industrial Gases Announces New Operation in Darlington County

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Universal Industrial Gases, LLC (UIG), a wholly owned subsidiary of Nucor Corporation (Nucor), announced it is growing its South Carolina footprint with a new operation in Darlington County. The company is investing nearly $100 million in the new facility.

Based in Pennsylvania, UIG specializes in the design, construction, and operation of industrial gas production and supply systems.

The company operates production plants across the U.S., including one in Berkeley County, supplying to both Nucor sites and third-party clients.

UIG's new 200,000-square-foot facility, located at 300 Steel Mill Road in Darlington, will provide on-site industrial gases to Nucor's Darlington County steel mill.

“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,” said Universal Industrial Gases General Manager Scott Pape.

“The project is part of Nucor's strategy to produce its own industrial gases for use in its steel mills. 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 the year.”

Operations are expected to be online in December 2025.

Continental Tires The Americas CEO Announces Retirement

Continental Tires, which has its U.S. headquarters in Fort Mill, has announced the retirement of Jochen Etzel, chief executive officer of Continental Tire the Americas, LLC, effective May 1, 2025.

Tansu Işık will succeed him in this role and will be the new head of Continental’s Business Area Replacement Tires the Americas. He will report directly to Christian Koetz, executive board member of Continental and head of Continental Tires.

Etzel has been a cornerstone of Continental’s tire business in the Americas, serving in this capacity since 2011. He has played an important role in uniting the various Continental tire activities in the region and further strengthening their competitive position.

Etzel started his career as a lawyer in Continental’s corporate law department. He then took over a financial manager position, responsible for developing the company’s tire business in regions outside of Europe, before leading Continental’s corporate Mergers and Acquisitions team.

“Jochen’s impact on Continental’s tire business has been immeasurable. On behalf of the entire Tires Board, I want to sincerely thank him for his leadership, dedication, and contributions throughout his tenure. We wish him a well-deserved and fulfilling retirement,” said Christian Koetz.

“At the same time, we are excited to welcome Tansu Işık into his new role as head of our Business Area Replacement Tires the Americas. With his deep tires expertise and strategic insight, he is perfectly equipped to build on our success and lead our tire business in the Americas into the future.”

Işık brings more than 20 years of international experience in a wide variety of markets and functions within Continental’s tires business, including marketing, supply chain, strategy, and key account management. He began his career as a business development specialist in Istanbul, Turkey.

SkyREM Signs Long-Term Lease in Fort Lawn

SkyREM, a leading owner and operator of industrial real estate, announced the signing of a 129,600-square-foot long-term lease at 2251 Catawba River Road in Fort Lawn, South Carolina.

This lease brings the 236,210-square-foot building to full occupancy, reflecting the continued demand for high-quality industrial space in the region.

The new tenant, a global leader in advanced engineering and construction solutions, specializes in infrastructure, environmental protection, and geotechnical innovation. The company provides solutions for road and rail infrastructure, erosion control, soil stabilization, and reinforced structures, serving industries such as civil engineering, mining, and environmental remediation.

The mission-critical Fort Lawn facility will support the company's U.S. expansion, bolstering its manufacturing, distribution, and logistics capabilities to meet growing demand across North America.

The facility offers state-of-the-art warehouse and manufacturing space, strategic access to major transportation networks, and proximity to a skilled workforce. As part of its commitment to long-term asset enhancement, SkyREM has planned a multi-million-dollar capital improvement program to further modernize the property.

Additionally, the dual-rail served industrial campus includes 77 acres of development-ready land, presenting significant expansion or build-to-suit opportunities.

“We are excited to bring this facility to full occupancy and to welcome another industry leader to our portfolio,” said Jared Zolna, vice president of asset management at SkyREM.

“This lease highlights the continued strength of the Chester County industrial market and SkyREM's ability to attract high-caliber tenants. With planned capital improvements, we are ensuring this facility remains a premier option for industrial users.”

Chester County, located just south of Charlotte, has become one of the region's fastest-growing industrial hubs. Over the past decade, manufacturing in the area has increased substantially, driven by its proximity to Charlotte.

PayMore Announces New Locations, Including Two in South Carolina

PayMore, the nation's fastest-growing electronics franchise and one of the fastest growing retail brands, announced the grand opening of 18 new locations across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom in March 2025.

This expansion, which includes new South Carolina stores in Seven Oaks and Summerville, marks the latest milestone in PayMore's aggressive growth strategy, which has seen the company experience a 600 percent increase in units over the past two years.

Since its founding in 2011, PayMore Stores has facilitated nearly 1.5 million device trade-ins, establishing itself as the leader in the electronics resale industry. The company specializes in smartphones, gaming systems, tablets, and all other electronics, offering consumers an environmentally friendly way to monetize their devices while receiving the most competitive compensation for their used electronics or recycling responsibly all with the proper data protection wiping processes.

“Our March 2025 expansion represents our commitment to making electronics trade-in services accessible to more communities across North America and now the UK,” said Stephen R. Preuss Sr., CEO and co-founder of PayMore.

“We're excited to bring our sustainable business model to these 18 new markets and continue our mission of extending the lifecycle of electronics while providing exceptional value and empowering our customers.”

The announcement of these new locations follows an exceptional period of growth for the company. In the first quarter of this year alone, PayMore signed 13 franchise agreements that will result in nearly 70 new stores across multiple states.

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