Thursday March 28th, 2024 5:09PM

ZF Industries to mark 30 years in Gainesville Saturday

By AccessWDUN staff

ZF Industries will mark the 30th year of its Gainesville operations Saturday with ceremonies that will also honor 14 employees who have been with the company since it opened its first Gainesville plant.

ZF currently has four locations in Hall County, two in Gainesville and two in Oakwood, employing more than 1,000.

The ceremonies will be held at 10:30 at the ZF plant on Palmour Drive and at 12:30 at Chicopee Woods Agriculture Center.

Scheduled speakers include Dr. Franz Kleiner, Member of the Board of Management, ZF Friedrichshafen AG;  Elizabeth Umberson, Head of Materials Management, ZF North America, Inc., and former plant manager for ZF Gainesville ; and Brandon Loftus, Head of ZF Gainesville, ZF Gainesville LLC.

 “We are proud to have ZF as a partner participating with the Chamber in our economic development initiatives,” said Kit Dunlap, President and CEO of the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce.  “Thank you ZF for 30 years of providing good jobs.”

Gainesville and Hall County Development Authority Chairman Philip Wilheit reflected on efforts to recruit ZF to the community. 

“At the time, ZF was one of the first major international companies recruited to Gainesville-Hall County; today there are more than 50 international companies, including 18 German-owned businesses,” said Chairman Wilheit.  “ZF needed a facility to supply a key customer, and their search ended here in Gainesville over a dinner and a hand-shake commitment between two great gentlemen, Pat Pattillo (Pattillo Construction) and Colonel Braun (ZF), to deliver a new building in a new business park on time.  The community and their developer worked together to deliver a building in record-time.” 

“There are 14 employees who were hired 30 years ago and still work at ZF Gainesville,” said Loftus. “I think that really speaks to the longevity of the business and how we are seen as a stable company in the area.”

“ZF Gainesville’s past 30 years have been defined by its strong history of growth and investment,” Umberson said. “This is truly a unique site for ZF, as it has developed to host a number of business units all in one location.”

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