The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) announced today that Germany-based Ritz Instrument Transformers is expanding the company’s product line and plans to create 50 new full-time positions, doubling its current workforce.

“Georgia continues to appeal to international manufacturers such as Ritz who are looking to expand their U.S. footprint,” said GDEcD Commissioner Chris Cummiskey. “Our ongoing focus on workforce development, providing a business-friendly environment, and Georgia’s logistics network make our state a welcoming location for growing industry.”

Ritz Instrument transformers  will invest $1 million in expanding its U.S. presence by installing new medium-voltage instrument transformer production and an epoxy resin mixing plant in its Hart County, Ga. factory, located on Interstate I-85. The facility, which located in Georgia in 2008, also serves as North American corporate and sales headquarters.

“With the support of county and Georgia state officials, Ritz has become firmly rooted in Hart County. The availability of a motivated and trainable workforce has allowed us to start up manufacturing non-traditional Ritz products and to quickly carve out a respectable market share,” said Dave Dearlove, CEO of Ritz USA. “We anticipate that organic growth in the types of products we currently manufacture will create an even larger demand for workforce expansion, and the Work Ready program will help us locate the people we need.”

“The Hart County Board of Commissioners is very pleased to see Ritz Instrument Transformers aggressively growing its business and workforce,” said R.C. Oglesby, Hart County Board of Commission Chairman. “Ritz was one of Hart County’s first German-based companies, and it has continued to be an outstanding member of our business community.”

“This expansion represents a significant commitment by Ritz in Hart County and we are excited by the positive impact these job opportunities have for our local area citizens,” said Douglas Cleveland, Chairman of Hart County Industrial Building Authority.

Suzanne Browne, Region 2 Project Manager for the Georgia Department of Economic Development, assisted with the company’s expansion.