Construction equipment supplier to invest $46M in Calhoun County operations

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A construction equipment supplier will invest $46 million to expand its South Carolina operations into Calhoun County.

Blanchard Machinery Company is establishing new operations at the Sandy Run Industrial Park, a move expected to create 30 new jobs, according to a news release. Approximately 150 existing jobs will be transferred from the company’s Lexington County operations to the new facility.

“As we look to the future, we must continue to expand our footprint and enhance our offerings to serve the ever-changing needs of our customers,” said company president Boyd Blanchard. “As the fourth generation leading the dealership, our responsibility is to build upon the legacy of those who came before us and ensure that we leave the dealership and our communities better for future generations to come.”  

Founded in 1952, Blanchard is Caterpillar's exclusive distributor for machine and generator sales, rental, machine parts and service in South Carolina, according to the release. The company serves a wide range of industries including construction, mining, agriculture, forestry, electric power generation and marine power.

Blanchard plans to purchase nearly 60 acres at Sandy Run to build an approximately 150,000-square-foot facility. This will allow the company to expand its footprint for parts, service, component rebuilds, complete machine rebuilds, and provide additional support services for its other 14 branches across South Carolina, the release said.

Blanchard will relocate a portion of its operations to the new facility in Calhoun County, while some operations including corporate administration functions, machine sales, used parts and Blanchard Energy will remain at its West Columbia campus.

“This investment will have a long-lasting impact as it brings increased opportunity through quality good paying jobs for our citizens,” said John E. McLauchlin, Calhoun County’s economic development director.

Operations at the new facility are expected to begin in 2026.