The Georgia Department of Economic (GDEcD) announced Germany based GEIGER Automotive, a leading global manufacturer of high-quality plastic products for the automotive industry, will open a U.S. manufacturing facility in Gwinnett County, creating as many as 120 jobs over the next several years.
“GEIGER Automotive’s decision to locate its U.S. facility in Gwinnett County underscores not only our booming auto hub, but also the growth of German companies in Georgia,” said GDEcD Commissioner Chris Carr. “The state’s strategic location to large OEMs, including the Volkswagen Chattanooga Assembly Plant, coupled with a highly skilled workforce, create the ideal location for companies such as GEIGER Automotive to thrive.”
In order to better reach its growing customer base in the Southeast, the company will move into a 48,000-foot facility in Suwanee. The new facility will manufacture plastic automotive components for engine compartment powertrain applications. GEIGER produces highly engineered products for cooling and brake systems in relation to air and fluid management, as well as many other functional products under the hood. The new jobs will be in injection molding and assembly manufacturing, as well as customer support positions.
“We are pleased to locate our U.S. operations in Georgia,” said Ralph Ralston, president, NAFTA region, GEIGER Automotive, USA, Inc. “This location was strategically selected to optimize our ability to supply to our current automotive customers in the southeast U.S. We see an increasing interest from automotive OEMs in the region and a high growth potential for us here in Gwinnett County.”
GEIGER has steadily grown to become one of the leading partners of the automotive industry. Today, at its other state-of-the-art production locations in Germany, Mexico and China, the company manufactures precision components and subassemblies to satisfy the high demands of its customers.
Germany is one of Georgia’s top five investor nations. Since June 2014, German automotive companies have invested more than $160 million and created more than 1,400 jobs in Georgia. Nico Wijnberg, GDEcD international project manager, supported the company on behalf of Georgia, along with Lonnie Smallwood, project manager at Electric Cities of Georgia and Partnership Gwinnett.
“I am pleased to welcome GEIGER to our growing international business community,” Gwinnett Board of Commissions Chairman Charlotte Nash said. “Gwinnett is committed to supporting the expansion of international businesses to our community and to promoting the county as a prime destination for companies worldwide. We are glad that GEIGER has chosen to grow in our community and wish them continued success.”
“This is a great win for the City of Suwanee and we are thrilled to count GEIGER Automotive as one of our newest businesses,” said Suwanee Mayor Jimmy Burnette. “We are confident that they will find the support and resources in our community that are necessary to remain competitive in the U.S. and around the world.”
About GEIGER Automotive
GEIGER Automotive, headquartered in Murnau, Germany, supplies primarily German automotive manufacturers with highly engineered plastic components for powertrain applications and operates three production facilities in Germany, one in the USA, and is opening new facilities in Mexico and China in 2015. The Company employs a workforce of more than 700 people. GEIGER Automotive is wholly owned by Sanoh Industrial Co., Ltd. More information can be found at geigerautomotive.com.
About the Georgia Department of Economic Development
The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) plans, manages and mobilizes state resources to attract new business investment to Georgia, drive the expansion of existing industry and small business, locate new markets for Georgia products, inspire tourists to visit Georgia and promote the state as a top destination for arts events and film, music and digital entertainment projects. Learn more at www.Georgia.org.