Hailo USA, the American division of a German manufacturing firm, will relocate its headquarters and open a wind turbine component facility in Elberton, investing $10 million and creating 200 jobs over five years, Gov. Nathan Deal said.
The company produces climbing and service lift systems, platforms, railings, doors and other mechanical components for wind turbine towers. The division is moving to Georgia from Holbrook, N.Y., to expand and add production capacity to meet the needs of its customers in the wind energy industry.
In another blast of good employment news for the state, NanoLumens, a growing five-year-old manufacturer and marketer of digital displays, announced it will stay in Norcross and will expand its headquarters to a larger building in the city. It said it will add up to 175 jobs in the next year.
Hailo USA CEO Steffen Kosir said his company "carefully reviewed different states and counties and found that this area fulfills all the business and social criteria that Hailo has set as the company global standard in order to support the future growth of the company."
State and local officials said Elbert County has the skilled workforce Hailo requires. Hailo cited the workforce training program Quick Start, which it will use to provide specialized custom training in welding, assembly and quality systems for new hires.
Elberton also was chosen because of its proximity to Hailo's domestic supply chain as well as to Georgia's seaports, in addition to the business climate and the quality of life, officials said.
Hailo qualifies for about $6.4 million in state financial incentives, mainly job tax credits and in-kind assistance from Quick Start.
"Hailo USA has some appealing opportunities both for Georgia's manufacturing and alternative energy sectors," said Chris Cummiskey, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. "The jobs being created will also be a real benefit to this region that has been particularly hard hit by the economic downturn."
NanoLumens President and CEO Rick Cope said his company will move to its new building in Norcross in December.
"Our company has more than doubled in size over the last two years and we expect 2012, our first full year of commercial production, to create an even faster rate of growth," Cope said.
About the Author
