New jobs announced for Commerce, Gwinnett

UNDATED - Two northeast Georgia plants are expanding... a move that will create about 100 new jobs. <br /> <br /> Roper Industries Inc. is expanding in Commerce, creating 60 jobs, and a Chinese appliance and electronics giant is adding to its Gwinnett operations and will be creating 35-40 new positions.<br /> <br /> Lanier Technical Collge in Oakwood will train the new Roper employees in an agreement involving Georgia Quick Start.<br /> <br /> Announcement of the Gwinnett project came during a business recruitment trip to China by a Gwinnett County chamber of commerce delegation.<br /> <br /> Hisense Corporation USA - a division of China's largest manufacturer and distributor of flat-panel screens, Hisense Company Ltd. - is expanding its North American headquarters operation in Gwinnett. The expansion will produce $800,000 in capital investment for Gwinnett and Georgia and create 35-40 new high-wage jobs (average salary of $55,000+ per year) for research & development and its call center over the next 3-5 years.<br /> <br /> ROPER INDUSTRIES<br /> <br /> Hansen Technologies, a manufacturer of components for industrial refrigeration systems, is relocating its production facility to Commerce. About 60 positions are being created, and Monday, the company formalized an agreement with Georgia Quick Start and Lanier Technical College to provide state-of-the-art training for the new employees.<br /> <br /> Illinois-based Hansen Technologies, a subsidiary of Roper Industries, is bringing its manufacturing into the Commerce facility currently occupied by Roper Pump, another Roper Industries subsidiary. Combining these operations, Hansen says, will result in increased efficiency and purchasing power. The company's extensive line of industrial refrigeration components includes sealed motor valves, pressure-relief valves, refrigerant pumps; defrost controls and liquid level controls.<br /> <br /> "This is a strategic decision to better position us for our future growth plans," said Hansen's president, Jeffrey Nank. "The move will allow Hansen access to the state-of-the-art quality control equipment, manufacturing expertise and lean techniques at the Commerce, Ga., and manufacturing complex. Hansen remains committed to the highest quality products and outstanding customer service that will not change, regardless of its location."<br /> <br /> Quick Start is Georgia's internationally acclaimed economic development program that provides customized workforce training at no cost to qualified new, expanding and existing businesses in Georgia. Since 1967, Quick Start has trained more than 600,000 employees through 5,100 projects with a broad range of industries. <br /> <br /> "At Quick Start, we're extremely pleased to offer Hansen Technologies strategic workforce solutions to help the company thrive in Georgia," said Jackie Rohosky, assistant commissioner of economic development programs for the Technical College System of Georgia and head of Quick Start. "Hansen Technologies has made a commitment to providing good jobs in Georgia, and we're proud to be the company's partner in that effort."<br /> <br /> The training program involves three distinct partners: Hansen Technologies, Lanier Technical College and Quick Start. Each partner will be responsible for the successful completion of this program. The partnership will not end when the Quick Start training is completed. Lanier Tech will be available to assist Hansen with ongoing training programs.<br /> <br /> "Lanier Technical College has enjoyed a long standing relationship with Roper Pump that dates back nearly 30 years said Russell Vandiver, vice president of economic development at the college. "Roper has been a pillar of the Jackson County manufacturing community and the addition of Hanson Technologies is a continuation of the long term commitment Roper Industries has made to Jackson County. The college is pleased to partner with Quick Start and Hansen Technologies to bring 60 new jobs to Georgia. Today is a great day for manufacturing in Jackson County given the state of the economy." <br /> <br /> For information regarding employment at the Commerce plant, contact the Georgia Department of Labor's Athens Career Center at (706) 583-2550.

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