German automotive supplier to create 178 jobs in Dublin

Erdrich Umformtechnik to invest $39 million in Laurens County, Deal reports

Gov. Nathan Deal announced today that Erdrich Umformtechnik GmbH & Co.KG (Erdrich), a German-based automotive supplier, will construct a state-of-the-art metal stamping facility in Dublin in Laurens County. The company will create 178 jobs and invest $39 million in the construction of this plant.
 
“Automotive industry suppliers find in Georgia the logistics infrastructure, skilled workforce and overall business environment necessary for them to compete globally while meeting the needs of their customers,” Deal said. “I am also encouraged to see yet another German company call Georgia home, indicating even further that our efforts to build and foster international relationships are yielding positive results. Georgia proudly welcomes Erdrich to our state.”
 
Erdrich is a midsized family-owned company that produces complex metal parts and subassemblies for the automotive industry, and has been in the metal stamping business for more than 50 years. The company has two plants in Germany, one in the Czech Republic and another in China that supplies parts to other automotive supplier companies as well to BMW, Mercedes and Volkswagen. 
 
“Following an extensive multistate search for the right U.S. business location for our company, we were delighted to find the right fit in Dublin, Georgia,” said CEO Georg Erdrich. “This very pro-business community met our requirements with respect to logistics to our customers, access for our suppliers, operating costs, workforce and quality of life. The economic development leadership at the state and local level worked closely with us to make our decision based on confidence in the data, the business analysis and the leadership.”

Erdrich’s Laurens County operation will be its first U.S. location and will be a 130,000-square-foot metal stamping facility on a greenfield site in Dublin. The company expects its Georgia plant to mirror the size and importance of its German operations in supplying its North American customers. 

“By the end of 2013, we will have capabilities to supply quality products ‘Made in the USA’ to our customers across the United States,” said Walter Huber, who is responsible for Erdrich’s U.S. operation. “We are anxious to grow our customer base in Georgia and the Southeast, and we’re confident in the continued support from the State of Georgia and Laurens County during the construction of the facility and the establishment of our first U.S. location. This will result in the success of our new location and jobs for the citizens of Laurens County.” 

Erdrich will collaborate with Quick Start, Georgia’s nationally recognized workforce training program, to train the company’s workforce on a range of advanced manufacturing applications. Quick Start provides tailored and industry-specific training resources free of charge to qualified new, expanding and existing companies creating new jobs in Georgia.
 
“We are extremely proud to have a proven company like Erdrich choose Dublin and Laurens County,” said Jimmy Allgood, chairman of the Dublin-Laurens County Development Authority. “Nicolas and George Erdrich are the type people we love to welcome to our community. We look forward to many successful years ahead with Erdrich and our community.”

Georgia’s international office in Munich, Germany, developed the relationship with Erdrich to initiate this business opportunity for the state. Jim Blair, GDEcD director of Foreign Direct Investment, managed this project on behalf of the state, in partnership with the Dublin-Laurens County Development Authority.

“Georgia has a range of assets for advanced manufacturers that keeps our state top of mind for international companies and others deciding to expand or set up new locations,” said Chris Cummiskey, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. “These companies require a well-trained workforce and the ability to efficiently reach customers. They find that and much more in Georgia.”

As positions become available at Erdrich, interested applicants can apply and get additional information at the Laurens County Department of Labor office.