Hart County manufacturer to add two production lines

ATLANTA, November 20, 2007 – A Hart County manufacturer that got its start in the trampoline business is set to add 15 jobs and invest $500,000 after landing two major contracts.

'Supporting our Georgia-grown businesses is one of the most important things that we do,' said Ken Stewart, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. 'Fabritex is an asset to Georgia's manufacturing industry and we are proud to help them grow.'

Fabritex Inc., a family-owned manufacturer of custom metal components, is in the process of adding two new production lines to its Hartwell facility. The company recently won a five-year contract with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to manufacturer non-corrosive wire mesh for an erosion control project on the Mississippi River. Fabritex will use 10 million pounds of stainless steel over the course of the contract.

The second new production line, which resulted from a contract with a South Carolina company, will manufacture main entry doors for electrical cogeneration plants and air scrubbers. These two new production lines represent 270 percent growth for the company, according to Fabritex president Lee Adams.

'Cooperation from Athens Tech, Georgia Tech, QuickStart and the Georgia Department of Economic Development has been instrumental in helping Fabritex to expand,' Adams said. 'We're excited to be able to bring more jobs to Hart County.'

'We really appreciate what Fabritex is doing to support the local economy in Hart County,' said Doug Cleveland, chairman of the Hart County Industrial Building Authority. 'Our existing industry is so important to the job base here.'

Carole Ciriacks was project manager for the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD).

GDEcD is the state's sales and marketing arm, the lead agency for attracting new business investment, encouraging the expansion of existing industry and small businesses, locating new markets for Georgia products, attracting tourists to Georgia, and promoting the state as a location for film, video and music projects, as well as planning and mobilizing state resources for economic development.