U.S. manufacturing construction surged more than 44 percent in 2011, according to federal data, a good sign for the manufacturing-heavy Upstate.
Among the Greenville companies benefiting from the trend is O’Neal Inc., an engineering and construction firm whose clients are mostly manufacturers.
Brian Gallagher, O’Neal’s marketing director, said its work force has nearly doubled in the past year to 260.
Gallagher said he wasn’t surprised to see the Census Bureau report a 44.2 percent surge in the value of U.S. manufacturing construction — from $30.8 billion in December of 2010 to $44.5 billion in December of 2011.
“We’re seeing quite a bit of activity throughout the entire Southeast,” he said.
Automotive, process chemical and general manufacturing are among the industries putting money into new plant and equipment, said Gallagher, who is also Upstate chairman for the Associated Builders and Contractors trade association.
The federal data also show hikes of 14 percent for commercial construction and 18.8 percent for multi-family construction, a category that includes apartments.
Lodging construction, however, fell more than 15 percent.
Total U.S. construction rose 4.3 percent. Residential construction was up 3.8 percent.
From the Greenville News
