NEWS RELEASE
IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION
CONTACT:
Melissa George Bowman
Director, Marketing & Communications
Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce
www.montgomerychamber.com
mbowman@montgomerychamber.com
Office: 334-230-8300 ● Cell: 334-207-3197
July 12, 2016
Montgomery lands first North American facility for Gerhardi
German automotive supplier to invest more than $37 million and bring 235 new jobs to area
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Joined by Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce officials and state and local leaders at a groundbreaking ceremony, German automotive supplier Gerhardi Kunststofftechnik GmbH announced today that it has selected Montgomery for the location of its first North American facility. The company will invest $37,865,000 in the new facility and will employ 235 workers.
“This is a great opportunity for Gerhardi and we are very excited,” said Gerhardi Managing Director Reinhard Hoffman. “Montgomery Industrial Park offers a great infrastructure, attractive support and is located close to many OEM’s. These benefits convinced us that this is the best place for our new facility.”
“Alabama’s leading advance industry is the automotive industry, and it’s closely followed by the aerospace industry which has grown tremendously thanks to Alabama’s involvement in the Farnborough Airshow this week and others in previous years,” Alabama Governor Robert Bentley said. “This week while I’m continuing Alabama’s aerospace mission in London, I’m honored to welcome Gerhardi’s first U.S. automotive supplier plant to Montgomery. We look forward to forging a strong and lasting partnership with the company.”
Gerhardi, founded in 1796, originally manufactured brass and copper buckles. Over the years it expanded to production of tea and coffee sets. By 1952 it began to focus on production of components for the automotive industry. Today the company is known for its innovation in developing and producing superior interior and exterior plastic automotive parts. Using such technologies as injection molding, advanced electroplating and hot stamping, Gerhardi manufactures a variety of products including radiator grilles, handles and chrome trims for its clients worldwide.
“This is a company that has both a rich history and a solid reputation for being on the cutting edge of the future. Their investment in the River Region speaks volumes about what we have to offer,” said Montgomery County Commission Chairman Elton N. Dean Sr. “We are able to land projects of this magnitude because we work together as a community. Now Gerhardi is part of that community and we will do everything we can to support our new friend and partner.”
Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange added, “This is a tremendous win for Montgomery. Gerhardi could have chosen any place in North America to locate this facility and they chose the Capital of Dreams. This shows that we are not only excelling nationally, we are also continuing to boost our global presence. Gerhardi has seen that great things happen when you do business in Montgomery, and we are honored to welcome this world-class organization to our community.”
Gerhardi’s Montgomery facility will be located at Montgomery Industrial Park. Construction will begin in 2017 and start of production is estimated to occur in 2019.
“It goes without saying that in terms of economic development this is a victory for Montgomery, but equally significant is why we were chosen,” said Montgomery Chamber Chairman A. Bruce Crawford. “In Montgomery they saw a place that could uphold their high standards of excellence. It is certainly exciting to know that we are part of an organization so firmly rooted in the future.”
“Montgomery has assembled a robust network of Asian auto suppliers to service the Hyundai assembly operation,” said Greg Canfield, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. “As a German company, Gerhardi adds another dimension to Montgomery’s auto supply chain, along with 235 new jobs.”
Gerhardi is headquartered in Lüdenscheid, Germany. It employs approximately 1,400 workers at four production plants throughout Germany with annual sales totaling approximately $200 million. For more information visit www.gerhardi.com
###
Committed to exceptional service, the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce works to improve the economic well-being of the business community and enhance the quality of life of the area through the creation and preservation of jobs.
www.facebook.com/montgomerychamber
www.twitter/mgmchamber www.linkedin.com/companies/montgomery-area-chamber-of-commerce
A special thank you to the Chamber’s Imagine a Greater Montgomery II Investors
LEGACY: City of Montgomery | Montgomery County Commission | Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, LLC | Alabama Power Company | Regions Bank | The Colonial Company | Alabama Gas Corporation | Aronov Realty Management, Inc. | Baptist Health | Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood, Inc. | Hodges Warehouse + Logistics | Larry Puckett Chevrolet | SABIC
SUSTAINING: BBVA Compass | Advertiser Media Group | Alfa Insurance Companies | Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, PC | Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama | Barrie and Laura Harmon | Information Transport Solutions, Inc. | Jackson Hospital & Clinic, Inc. | Jerry Kyser Builder | Merchant Capital Investments, a division of Stifel Nicolaus | Montgomery Industrial Development Board | Montgomery Water & Sewer Board | Rheem Water Heaters | ServisFirst Bank | Southeast Alabama Gas District | Stivers Ford Lincoln Mazda
