Portugal's EFACEC Group Opens First U.S. Plant in Georgia

ATLANTA - Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue and local dignitaries joined EFACEC Group CEO Luís Filipe Pereira, Portuguese Minister of Finance Fernando Teixeira dos Santos and a large delegation from Portugal today to celebrate the grand opening of the company’s Effingham County manufacturing facility, its first plant and the only one of its kind in the U.S. EFACEC Group, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of power substations, has invested $100 million in the new facility and will create up to 700 jobs.

“EFACEC’s position as a global industry leader in power generation industry adds to Georgia’s energy résumé,” said Governor Perdue. “The fact that Georgia can easily provide the highly-skilled workers EFACEC needs is a testimony to the state’s ability to host major investments in one of our economy’s most important industries.”

“With the opening of EFACEC’s Georgia plant, for the first time in more than two decades American utility customers will have access to the most reliable, highest quality, state-of-the art transformers in the world – made in the U.S.A. by skilled American workers,” said EFACEC CEO Luís Filipe Pereira.

The new facility makes core form, shell form and mobile substations to replace aging power transformers throughout the North American market and meet new renewable power mandates for the U.S. electric grid. By building and shipping its products from the Effingham County facility, EFACEC hopes to capture 11 percent of the North American market. The company will reach its markets quickly through Georgia’s comprehensive logistics system, including the Georgia ports, the fastest-growing in the U.S.; the Southeast’s largest network of rail lines at more than 5,000 miles; and 15 major interstate highways.

According to research from the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), EFACEC’s Effingham County facility could generate more than 1,500 direct and indirect jobs in the region by 2017.

Georgia Quick Start has worked in close partnership with the company to ready EFACEC’s workforce, providing training and simulations on site in both core skills and the highly-specialized technical skills needed to hand-build power substations. Quick Start has been recognized as the top workforce development program in the U.S, and is helping train skilled assembly workers, electrical engineering specialists and other high-tech positions.

“The international nature of the company, and its high-tech and high-wage attributes, have been a source of pride during the past 18 months, and have awakened the community to the great potential this sector holds for us,” said John A. Henry, CEO of the Effingham County Industrial Development Authority. “EFACEC has already stimulated reinvestment and economic activity in our local businesses, and is heavily involved in community activities as it establishes itself as a great corporate citizen in Effingham County.”

The company announced in 2007 its plans to build the facility in Effingham County, and broke ground September 25, 2008. EFACEC’s new facility is located in the Effingham County Industrial Park near Rincon.

About the company

Formed in 1948 in Porto, Portugal, EFACEC employs approximately 4,500 people in 65 countries all over the world. More than 90 percent of its revenues derived from its own technology.

EFACEC has a turnover of more than 800 million euros and orders of 1 billion euros and exports 60 percent of its production.

EFACEC’s business activities include Energy Products and Solutions (power transformers, medium voltage equipment, substations, automation, servicing), Transport and Logistics (transport systems, integrated solutions for transport, automated material handling, airport and industrial logistics) and Engineering Solutions and Services. EFACEC's strategies of an international market focus, investments in new technologies and reliance on traditional strengths have brought the company to the forefront of its industry.

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