BLYTHEWOOD, S.C. - A New Jersey company plans next week to begin hiring about 100 of the 400 workers it says it will need for a new Midlands plant that makes parts for air conditioners.

Trane, a division of American Standard Cos. of Piscataway, N.J., plans to put an air conditioning plant in a former auto parts factory near Interstate 77 that has sat vacant since September, company spokeswoman Lisa Glover said Wednesday.

The $30 million facility has more than 300,000 square feet of space and could employ 400 workers in five years, Glover said.

"We're excited about Trane's long-term plans," Gov. Mark Sanford said. "We need to do everything we can to work with companies like Trane to help maximize the economic impact they're having on South Carolina."

The site was formerly owned by Ambac Industries Inc., who moved its 100-employee diesel fuel systems operation to a smaller plant near Pontiac.

The parts that American Standard will make at the Blythewood plant are now manufactured at 11 other facilities.

The company hopes to standardize and improve the quality of the parts by consolidating the operation, Glover said.

Trane employs about 60,000 people and has facilities in 27 countries.