Regional Economic Indicators (Southeast Focus)
Airsys brings energy-saving data center cooling to Upstate (Scbiz)
Summary: Airsys, a global leader in mission-critical cooling systems, opened a $60 million manufacturing and global headquarters in Woodruff, South Carolina, in May 2026. The 60-acre facility, expected to employ 215 people, could become one of the world’s largest 3-D printing manufacturing sites when production starts in early 2027. Airsys specializes in zero-water liquid cooling for data centers, using dielectric fluids to capture waste heat and convert it into usable thermal energy for nearby facilities like resorts, universities, and hospitals. The company positions itself as a response to community pushback against data center energy and water consumption, citing examples like Marion and Newberry counties in South Carolina where projects were rejected.
Why it matters: For regional economic watchers, this signals a shift in how data center infrastructure can be integrated into communities—turning a contentious energy drain into a heat-recovery asset. It also marks a significant manufacturing investment in the Upstate, with implications for local jobs and the broader logistics ecosystem.
Context: Data center development has faced increasing local opposition due to noise, energy use, and water consumption, with recent rejections in South Carolina’s Marion and Newberry counties. Airsys’s approach—recovering waste heat for external use—offers a potential template for mitigating those concerns while supporting AI-driven infrastructure growth.
"Christina Lee Knauss // July 29, 2026// Ever heard the phrase “energy cannot be created or destroyed, but it can change form?” Anyone who has taken a physics class likely remembers that." — SCBIZ
Commentary: Airsys’s model could reframe the data center debate from NIMBY opposition to a utility-like integration, where waste heat becomes a district heating source. The 3-D printing angle also suggests a move toward on-demand, customizable cooling components, potentially shortening supply chains for hyperscale operators. Watch whether this convinces other Upstate counties to approve projects, or if the technology remains too niche to scale beyond flagship installations.
Date: July 29, 2026 06:29 AM ET
URL: https://scbiz.com/airsys-data-center-cooling-woodruff-sc/
AI Sentiment Score: Negative (55%)
AI Credibility Score: 10.0/10 — High
Scores and text generated by AI analysis of the source article indicated.UPS shift away from Amazon shows bigger payoff (Freightwaves)
Summary: UPS reported Q2 2026 revenue of $22.8 billion, up 7.6% year over year, with adjusted operating profit up 12% to $2.1 billion, as it completed an 18-month phase-out of low-margin Amazon volume. The company eliminated 2 million pieces per day of Amazon shipments and $4.5 billion in related expenses, while closing 150 sort facilities and cutting 30,000 positions. Revenue per piece rose 9.3% domestically and 19% internationally, but total volumes fell 3.3% and 5.8% respectively. Management raised full-year revenue guidance 2% to $91.2 billion, though shares dropped 6.5% on softer second-half guidance and margin concerns. The strategic pivot toward premium segments—healthcare, B2B, and small business—is yielding higher yields, with healthcare logistics now at a $12 billion run rate.
Why it matters: For Southeast-focused readers, UPS’s network reconfiguration—including facility closures and automation investments—directly affects regional logistics capacity, employment, and the competitive dynamics for shippers and last-mile providers across the Southeast, where UPS’s Atlanta headquarters and major hubs are located.
Context: UPS’s shift mirrors FedEx’s strategy of ceding low-margin e-commerce volume to focus on higher-yield segments. The company’s RFID rollout and digital access program are part of a broader industry move toward automation and data-driven logistics, while Amazon’s growing logistics ambitions remain a long-term competitive threat.
"“This reconfiguration was never the destination. It was the foundation. We now have a leaner, more automated, more agile network that will deliver operating leverage as volume grows. And importantly, incremental volume today carries materially better economics than before because of the structural changes we’ve made,” CEO Carol Tomé emphasized." — FREIGHTWAVES
Commentary: The 6.5% share drop despite a profit beat signals investor skepticism about whether the premium pivot can offset volume losses and margin pressure heading into peak season. The 2028 Teamsters negotiation looms as a structural cost risk, while Amazon’s remaining 9% revenue share leaves a tail risk. For the Southeast, the closure of 150 facilities—many likely in the region—could reshape local labor markets and could push smaller shippers toward regional carriers, accelerating a fragmentation of the last-mile ecosystem.
Date: July 28, 2026 03:37 PM ET
URL: https://www.freightwaves.com/news/ups-shift-away-from-amazon-shows-bigger-payoff
AI Sentiment Score: Negative (80%)
AI Credibility Score: 10.0/10 — High
Scores and text generated by AI analysis of the source article indicated.Post ID: 75f714bf