Georgia's industrial growth is on the rise once more with Governor Brian P. Kemp announcing that Ritz Instrument Transformers, a notable player in the utilities and OEM sectors, is set to enhance its presence in the Peach State. The international manufacturer is investing $28 million in a new facility situated in Waynesboro, Burke County, bringing 130 new employment opportunities to the area, according to the Governor's Office on Monday.
The move by Ritz to expand operations is not just a nod to Georgia's business climate but also to squarely position themselves in the throes of an evolving electrical grid. Ritz's decision comes after a "face-to-face meeting with Ritz during our travel to Germany in 2023," as stated by Governor Kemp in the press release. American energy needs are diversifying rapidly, with influences ranging from electric vehicle adoption and artificial intelligence-powered data centers to the surging renewable generation and manufacturing sectors.
According to Scott Flowers, CEO and General Manager of Ritz USA, the investment aids in the establishment of their most advanced high-voltage instrument transformer factory in Waynesboro. He emphasized the importance of the area's trained workforce and the support from local and state entities in their decision-making process. Flowers openly shared, "The U.S. electrical grid is undergoing rapid expansion and transformation," which Ritz seeks to actively support through this expansion, as noted in the same press release.
Burke County Industrial Park will be the site for the new Ritz facility, focused on the production of high-voltage instrument transformers. Operations are expected to begin in late 2025, with the company looking to fill various positions from management to technicians, which it has started to promote through its career page. It's evident that Ritz is aiming to swiftly capitalize on the state's bolstered energy capacity, including the added output from the recently completed Plant Vogtle Units 3 & 4. Georgia Power notes that these nuclear units are expected to churn out enough carbon-neutral energy to power over 500,000 homes and businesses.
Local officials like Austin Stacy, Executive Director of the Development Authority of Burke County, see Ritz's investment as a pivotal step in sealing the final phase for the Industrial Park and spurring further development. Detailing their building plan, Stacy underlined the significant place Ritz will have within the community, tapping into a strong workforce and having a solid presence with their customers. Senior Regional Project Manager Adela Kelley, alongside partners from the State of Georgia Europe Office, has heralded Ritz's presence as a testament to beneficial international relationships for Georgia's economy.
In this context, Georgia has been a flourishing ground for industrialization and technological advancements for more than a century, with investments surging especially in the e-mobility sphere. In the past five years, the state has racked up an impressive $27.3 billion in investments targeted at greener transportation solutions. Ritz Instrument Transformers originates from Germany and has been expanding its global footprint across nine facilities with more than 1,300 employees worldwide.
