Business

Company Providing Microphones To Grammy Awards & Olympics Now Calls Berkeley County Home

audio-technica CEO and President Phil Cjka says as the company grows, Berkeley County is a great place to be.
audio-technica CEO and President Phil Cjka says as the company grows, Berkeley County is a great place to be.

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. — It’s like music to the ears for many in Berkeley County! Audio-Technica USA, a global sales, marketing, and distribution company of audio equipment, has officially opened its new distribution center in Moncks Corner.

The $3.3 million project is expected to create six new positions in Berkeley County.

Front door logo at the warehouse.
Front door of the warehouse.

The facility is located off of Garrott Avenue in Mount Holly Commerce Park.

“Our microphones are used across the world. They were used to project the sound at the Olympics, they were used at the Grammy awards, they are used in churches. It’s a high quality, high-end microphone product,” VP of Richard Sprungle said.

The new audio-technica site in Mount Holly Commerce Park.
The new audio-technica site in Mount Holly Commerce Park.

County government and economic development officials and Audio-Technica USA employees celebrated the grand opening at a reception Friday.

The company started in 1972, and currently provides products such as professional quality wireless and wired microphones and headphones. And for the everyday consumer, items such as headphones and turntables.

Pictured is one of the company's turntables, which is one of the items to be shipped from the Moncks Corner site.
Pictured is one of the company’s turntables, which is one of the items to be shipped from the Moncks Corner site.

“It’s like Back to the Future with the turntables. I never thought that we’d be looking 30-40 years later at all those turntables back there… It’s a neat business to be able to bring the pleasure of sound to people,” said President Phil Cjka.

The Berkeley county warehouse will focus on distribution of turntables and headphones, which are higher volume products, says Sprungle.

A peek inside the warehouse.
A peek inside the warehouse.

The company in the US hit $100 million in sales last year and globally $400 million. Company officials say the Berkeley County site marks the company’s first expansion in the Americas, outside of its original site in Stow, Ohio.

“This is a great place as we grow the company,” Cjka says.

These turntables will be shipped from Moncks Corner to retailers across North and South Americas.
These turntables will be shipped from Moncks Corner to retailers across North and South Americas.

“We looked at inbound costs of the freight coming to us, the infrastructure available in this area, whether it was labor, or infrastructure of the trucking companies or port, and proximity to our customers,” Sprungle says. “Charleston is only one shipping day away from a majority of our customers.”

audio-technica officials meet with a South Carolina State Ports Authority representative. The company says SCSPA was instrumental in their choice to expand in Berkeley County.
audio-technica officials meet with a South Carolina State Ports Authority representative. The company says SCSPA was instrumental in their choice to expand in Berkeley County.

County Supervisor Bill Peagler praised and thanked the company for bringing jobs and money to the area.

“It’s a good thing for us in the county for us to welcome another business partnership,” Peagler said. “We are extremely grateful you chose our county and community. We are excited about the partnership we formed.”

Several people won raffle prizes at the grand opening event, including County Supervisor Bill Peagler who had joked earlier he wanted to buy a turntable!
Several people won raffle prizes at the grand opening event, including County Supervisor Bill Peagler who had joked earlier he wanted to buy a turntable!

Since Peagler took office in January 2015 through June 30, 2016, he says the county has seen $1.1 billion in new investments created and 4,300 new jobs. And those numbers are growing thanks to companies like this.

Audio-Technica USA officials say they are looking forward to being part of the growing community.

Several attendees enjoys food, beverages, and music at the grand opening of audio-technica.
Several attendees enjoy food, beverages, and music at the grand opening of audio-technica.

Sprungle says, “It’s important for us to be part of the community. It’s not just that we do business here. We want to live here. We want to be a part of the community. That’s part of who we are. We believe in relationships. Relationships with our customers, relationships with our suppliers, and relationships with our employees and community as well.”

The Berkeley County facility will handle warehousing and distribution operations as well as order processing. The 56,000-square-foot facility has seven loading docks and is designed to meet the increased market demand for Audio-Technica products.

Nicole Johnson Shealy

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