Germany-based automotive manufacturer, Hengst of North America Inc. will expand its Kershaw County, South Carolina, production facility for the third time in less than a decade. The company, which located its North American headquarters in Camden in 2005, will invest an additional $8 million, create 20 new jobs, and expand its warehousing and distribution activities in the former Steeplechase Spec Building in Camden.

The Camden production facility focuses on the production of filter cartridges, assembly, machining, and plastic injection molding. The 75,000-square-foot facility in Steeplechase Industrial Park –the same park as its headquarters – will house the company’s distribution and warehousing operations. The company expects the new facility to be operational by January 2015.

“We are excited about this expansion of our distribution operation in SC and are confident in the continued growth of this region being a force in the automotive sector. This investment in our facility will not only benefit the companies’ growth and development but it is also an investment in our local community’s future,” Robert Junker, President of Hengst of North America.

Hengst of North America, Inc. is an independent and wholly owned subsidiary of the Hengst Group with global headquarters in Münster, Germany. Founded in 1958, Hengst today operates in ten locations in six countries on four continents, with more than 3,000 global employees. Hengst of North America supplies numerous well-known vehicle manufacturers, such as Detroit Diesel Corporation, Chrysler Group, General Motors, Freightliner and Paccar.

“I was excited to meet with Hengst’s team at the International Auto Show in Frankfurt last year, and it’s even more exciting to see them continue to grow in our state. Our international companies play a vital role in the economic success of our state, and I applaud Hengst for making their third major expansion since establishing in Kershaw County in 2005,” said Gov. Nikki Haley.

“South Carolina’s automotive industry has more than quadrupled in the past two decades, accelerating our state’s economy. Expansions like this one by Hengst of North America help drive the growth of the Southeast region’s automotive sector,” Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt advised.