Governor breaks ground with TACG in Pendergrass

PENDERGRASS - Governor Sonny Perdue took part in the groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday morning for an auto compressor plant to be built by TACG, a joint venture between Toyota Industries and Denzo Corporation.

Originally announced in 2002, the plant was supposed to have already been completed. Shozo Nakayama, Executive Vice President of Toyota Industries Corporation, says that there should be no further delays. The plant is expected to be up and running by the end of next year.

Governor Perdue, along with the Georgia Consul General of Japan, spoke briefly before the gathering to express their appreciation to everyone involved with making the plant a reality.

"I guess we would think the longer the time a baby takes to be born, the better it will be," Perdue said. "This is going to be a great factory here."

Of his visit to Denzo and Toyota in Japan, the governor commented, "I was amazed and fascinated by their technology, by their efficiency and I am so honored that you all are bringing that technology, that efficiency and that productivity to Georgia, and I know that you'll find a workforce that will utilize and enable that, and make you very proud."

"This is my second time to see you all here. The last time two years ago, I came here to announce our plan of constructing a new factory in Jackson County," Nakayama says. "This time I return here for the celebration of starting the factory construction to run the compressor production in December 2005."

The first partnership between Denzo and Toyota, was a compressor plant in Michigan called MACI.

"In 2003 Denzo and Toyota Industries Corporation have produced 18 million units of compressors and here in North America we have sold 7 million units," Nakayama continued.
"Within that 7 million units MACI has produced 3 million compressors.

"In the future, the automotive market in North America will expand more and more, and many in the automotive industry wish to come to the southern part of the United States to make automotive factories," he added. "That's why we've decided to see the second plant, TACG, here in the state of Georgia to meet the demand of expanding markets."

Nakayama said TACG will invest $130 million to produce 2 million compressors and will create about 300 new jobs by 2009.

"I hope we will advance our own with the people of Georgia and the County of Jackson...I hope to enhance the development of the local communities and TACG."