FITT Marks Grand Opening of Anderson Facility with Plans to Expand

Ken De La Bastide, The Herald Bulletin

September 19, 2025

ANDERSON — FITT USA celebrated the grand opening of its Anderson facility on a former brownfield site Friday, with company officials sharing plans for an expansion.

“For a garden hose company, this is perfect weather,” Dave Eglinton, president of FITT USA, said before a large turnout of company officials, employees and local community members.

The Italian company has invested $30 million in the Anderson facility, which was built on a former General Motors property along Raible Avenue and employs 40 people.

Eglinton said the process of developing the Anderson site began in 2017.

He said Anderson is an ideal location because it is close to the retailers the company supplies, with access to both coasts.

“In terms of cost, it lowers the manufacturing expanse because of the new tariffs,” Eglinton said. “There are lower transportation costs and it’s located close to our customers. It was the right thing to do for our company, customers and location.”

He said the company has sold $50 million in products to companies in the U.S.

Alessandro Mezzalira, chief executive officer for the FITT group, said having a presence in the U.S. was a dream eight years ago.

“This is an important day for our company,” he said. “In 2020 we started to develop designs for this market.”

Mezzalira said the company is planning to add as many as 90 jobs in Anderson by 2027.

“We’re going to double the size of this facility,” he said. “This is beginning a new chapter for FITT, Anderson and all of us.”

Anderson Mayor Thomas Broderick Jr. said the facility is a prime example of the city’s desire to repurpose former brownfield sites.

“We’re proud FITT choose Anderson and this site,” he said. “Anderson has a history of innovation, and it will continue as it has done in the past.”

FITT USA purchased the property in 2023 for $200,000 from the RACER Trust, which was formed to sell former GM properties on brownfield sites in Anderson and at locations in 13 other states.