Governor Perdue Welcomes Heckler & Koch to Georgia

Atlanta - Governor Sonny Perdue today welcomed Heckler & Koch's (HK) decision to build a new factory in Columbus, GA to manufacture firearms for the United States Military, law enforcement, and commercial markets. The factory will create approximately 200 new jobs initially with additional jobs forecasted. The company may also shift some of its design and engineering components to Columbus.

"I am pleased to announce more jobs for Georgians," said Governor Sonny Perdue. "Heckler & Koch's decision to locate a new manufacturing facility in Columbus is good news for this region of our state."

Heckler & Koch expects to formally break ground on the new factory this fall. The new facility should be operational by the end of 2004. The factory will incorporate technologically innovative manufacturing processes including the cold hammer forging of barrels, advanced polymer molding, and CNC machining.

Heckler & Koch, Inc. - the U.S. based company for Heckler & Koch GmbH based in Sterling, VA - has been developing, supplying, and supporting state-of-the-art small arms to the U.S. Military, law enforcement agencies and sportsmen since 1975. Heckler & Koch was originally founded in Germany in 1949.