Hotset selects Swainsboro

A German company has selected Swainsboro as the site for its first North American plant operations. This announcement was made Monday afternoon by Will Donaldson, chairman of the Swainsboro/Emanuel County Joint Development Authorities. Attending the announcement were various city, county, Chamber of Commerce and state officials. 

According to Donaldson, the Joint Development Authorities and Hotset officials reached an agreement last week and have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding. The memorandum states the company will establish a sales, warehouse, distribution, and ultimately a manufacturing facility at property located at 713 Kite Road in Swainsboro.

Hotset has been developing and manufacturing heating elements for numerous industrial applications since it was founded in 1973. The company has seen tremendous growth and expansion within facilities located both in Ludenscheid, Germany and on the Island of Malta. Both operations have over 100 employees at their respective locations. 

According to Ralf Schwarzkopf. CEO of the company and Managing Director of Europe, Hotset has established itself as a worldwide leader with innovative products such as flexible tubular heaters and hotspring heating elements.

“These types of heating elements are used wherever industrial production process requires heat or certain components require a constant temperature. The Swainsboro announcement marks the company’s first venture into North America,” Schwarzkopf stated. 

“We are very excited about our move to Swainsboro and Emanuel County,” added David Cieslica, President and Managing Director for the Americas Hotset. “We have had the opportunity to visit here on several occasions. We have gotten to know your local leaders and to see everything your community has to offer. Your hospitality has been most generous. We expect to start small in our operations with eight to ten employees, but we expect sustained growth here. Swainsboro is an ideal location for us. It is located in one of the fastest growing regions in the United States.”

“What we’re doing is planning for the future,” said Swainsboro Mayor Charles Schwabe. “This is a company that has a great history and will grow. This is what we want to see – we want this community to have steady growth, and we want to partner with companies that we know are going to have good, solid, steady growth.”

The availability of easy access for air and ground transportation was one of Hotset’s primary reasons for selecting Swainsboro. 

“There are four things that brought Hotset here” said Bill Rogers, Jr., president of the Chamber of Commerce. “They are the available building, logistics of being located where we are, our team spirit that really got us over the hill and our excellent labor pool here in Emanuel County.” 

The Swainsboro/Emanuel County Joint Development Authorities and the Chamber of Commerce have been courting Hotset for the last year, according to Rogers. Hotset officials visited Swainsboro in April and September of last year, and again in past January.

“Getting to know both Ralf Schwarzkopf and David Cieslica over these past 12 months has been a real pleasure. We think Hotset’s future is very positive and bright. We look forward to having them here in Swainsboro and Emanuel County,” stated Mayor Schwabe.

Five states were in competition for the plant’s location. The 713 Kite Road facility has served as a state surplus warehouse for a number of years. After closing in 2009, the property reverted to the city before the JDA took ownership. The JDA has marketed the building as a speculative industrial site with airport access. The facility will undergo renovations to accommodate the company’s needs.

The company is expected to begin operations by midsummer.

(“The Forrest-Blade”; Volume 152 NO.15; April 6, 2011)