A South Korean company will build a plant in West Point to produce resin used by the automotive industry, creating 150 jobs, the Governor’s Office announced Tuesday.
KOPLA specializes in engineering plastics resin, which can be used to make car bumpers, dashboard trim and motorcycle helmets, among other applications.
The 100,000-square-foot facility will be built on 20 acres at the Northwest Harris Business Park in West Point, which is in Troupe County.
KOPLA President and CEO Sangyong Han said the plant will be the company’s first in the United States. KOPLA will invest $15 million in the plant by 2018.
The Governor’s Office said state incentives to attract the company included free employee training through the state’s Quick Start program.
West Point is the home of Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia. Last month, Hyundai Dymos, which manufactures manual transmissions, axles and seats for automobiles, announced it would build a plant in West Point to supply Kia Motors. The plant will manufacture seats for the new Kia Sorento.
The Hyundai Dymos plant is expected to be completed by July, and the company will begin hiring the 350 workers needed in January. Production is expected to begin in November 2014.
Both Hyundai Dymos and Kia are also South Korean companies.
