WIKA Instrument, LP to Add 250 Employees in Gwinnett County, Metro Atlanta

(GWINNETT- METRO ATLANTA) September 13, 2013 – German-based WIKA Instrument, LP joins with Gwinnett Chamber Economic Development in announcing its plans to add a projected 250 employees over the next five years in Gwinnett County, metro Atlanta. A global leader in pressure, temperature, and level measurement instrumentation, WIKA currently employs more than 600 full-time employees at its U.S. headquarters. With this expansion, WIKA Instrument, LP will become one of Gwinnett's top three manufacturing employers and one of the County's top ten private employers.

'WIKA Instruments' decision to expand in Georgia highlights once again the importance of maintaining a healthy business climate for manufacturers,' said Chris Cummiskey, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. 'Our skilled workforce, world-class logistics system, and low-cost, high-value environment provide a competitive advantage to international companies seeking proximity to their customers.'

The Lawrenceville area facility, located at 1000 Wiegand Boulevard, houses the company's U.S.-based manufacturing, sales and ordering, and customer and technical support services, as well as an in-house engineering team for product customization and innovation. A frontrunner in lean manufacturing, WIKA develops and produces pressure gauges, diaphragm seals, pressure transmitters, and thermometers worldwide for a variety of industries across the globe.

'We have called Gwinnett County and metro Atlanta home since 1990, and have found the community to be a great place to do business, in addition to meeting our workforce demands,' said Brent Shadix, executive vice president of Human Resources for WIKA Instrument, LP. 'We remain committed to giving our clients quality products and customer service, both in the United States and around the world, and look forward to continuing to grow our operations in the region.'

This announcement is one of several recent global business wins for Gwinnett County. The list of internationally-based businesses located in the community exceeds 500, and more than 70 of those are companies based in Germany.

'During a Partnership Gwinnett-led trade mission trip to France and Germany in December 2012, we had the opportunity to visit WIKA's headquarters in Klingenberg, Germany. The visit helped us further appreciate WIKA's role in the global market and its essential presence in our community. They are continuously refining their production while simultaneously focusing on R&D to ensure their presence in future markets. We are thrilled that they have now decided to increase their Gwinnett workforce by nearly 50 percent,' stated Gwinnett County District 2 Commissioner Lynette Howard.

'Gwinnett Tech has partnered with WIKA Instruments for more than 20 years, supporting their workforce development initiatives and providing customized training solutions for their employees at a variety of levels. From day one, WIKA's commitment to workforce development has been a vital element in their success and we congratulate them on their expansion,' said David McCulloch, vice president, Economic Development, Gwinnett Tech.

The public and private partners of Partnership Gwinnett, the community and economic development initiative, support and encourage local business expansion efforts. Partnership Gwinnett's efforts have facilitated more than 140 relocations or expansions and 12,220 jobs since its inception in 2007.

'Our team is consistently focused on the recruitment and expansion of global manufacturing companies,' commented Troels Adrian, Senior Project Manager for Advanced Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management for Gwinnett Chamber Economic Development and Partnership Gwinnett. 'WIKA's vote of confidence in our community is further proof of Gwinnett's status as metro Atlanta's premier location for internationally based businesses.'

For nearly 70 years, WIKA has developed a broad selection of stock and custom instrumentation solutions and professional services to support plant safety, productivity, and profitability. WIKA operates engineering centers and manufacturing facilities across the world, with locations in Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, India, South Africa, Switzerland, and the United States. This results in the delivery of more than 43 million products in more than 100 countries each year. The company's corporate headquarters are located in Germany.

To learn more about WIKA Instrument, LP, please visit www.wika.us.