Nifco KTW Hosts Grand Opening

An international company that is bringing jobs to Toccoa-Stephens County had a huge celebration at their location on Friday.

Nifco KTW America held a grand opening/ribbon cutting at their location in the Haystone-Brady Industrial Park on Friday.

Nifco KTW’s Toccoa plant makes injection-molding parts for BMW and Mercedes-Benz plants.

In attendance for the special event was Georgia Governor Nathan Deal.

“This is an international occasion. This is a situation where cultures have come together and will continue to do so. Nifco-A Japanese company, KTW-A German company, and here in the heart of Northeast Georgia with North Georgia residents supplying the labor and other things it takes to make a company successful,” said Deal.

The Georgia Economic Developers Association recognized the Stephens County Development Authority last November with its “Deal of the Year” award for small communities for the agreement that was put together to bring Nifco KTW to Stephens County.                               

Deal said it takes a total team effort to get a company such as this to the community.

“I commend the community for your foresight, cooperation of city and county working together. For having the vision to know that having a facility like this with your industrial park is what it takes to attract industries such as this one,” he said.

Nifco President Yamamoto said that the factory in Stephens County is in an ideal location for business.

“Through this factory we are able to support our main client BMW and some other auto dealer here in the state of Georgia” said Yamamoto.

Nifco KTW America is beginning production with around 200 employees, but Karsten Schmidt of the company says that they are already expanding.

“Due to the good reaction and response of our customers BMW Diamler we are sure we can fulfill our capacity here in the future. In fact, it is quite opposite to meet the demands of our customers that raise the volume day by day. So we have to start our first expansion. What you see here today will change on Monday to start on expansion and make the company bigger,” Schmidt told the cheering crowd.

Nifco KTW America’s Andy Hall said starting a new plant can have challenges, but this one has worked smoothly.

“I just want to say a personal thanks to all of the people that worked on this. A new program is never easy,” said Hall. “I have been doing this for 30 years and there is always friction. No matter what there is always concern. The team works well in this plant. We have great support from local authorities and we are really looking forward to a great future in this plant.”

As Governor Deal mentioned this was an international occasion, but there was some local flavor too with a State official from Northeast Georgia. Pat Wilson is the Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

“Guys this is exciting to be home. I am from Franklin County, right next door. My mom taught high school at Stephens County,” said Wilson. “This community has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I’ve seen some rises and falls in Toccoa, but now I see a new rejuvenation in this community.”

Recruitment for the company is being held tomorrow from 1-5 p.m. at The Pointe Church’s Family Life Center located at 111 Fieldcrest Drive in Eastanollee.

The company is recruiting assembly operators, injection molding operators, internal transport/packing/forklift operators, maintenance associates, paint line operators, paint systems technicians, production planners, quality associates, robotic automation technicians and tool setter/set-up technicians.