At a time when many companies are fighting to stay afloat, a Conyers-based company is investing and expanding its facilities.
Haver Filling Systems held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday and two-day technological symposium to mark a $2.5 million expansion of its facility by 8000 square feet of office space and 9000 square feet of warehouse space.
In the immaculate warehouse space, which was decked with showroom lights and stations demonstrating various equipment and processes, about 200 people gathered to mark the occasion.
The $2.5 million expansion, which began in July 2009 and finished in June 2010, was designed and built by Architektengruppe Spangemacher, Award Associates, Ten-Fifty Design in Conyers and Sunbelt Builders.
With the expansion, the company can potentially add up to 50 new positions, said Vice President Thomas Reckersdrees.
Conyers Rockdale Chamber of Commerce President Fred Boscarino said, "We are fortunate to have Haver in our community. It is comforting to see one of 'our own' doing so well while giants are falling all across the country.
"We anticipate seeing Haver continue this path of excellence through the years, continually being a source of pride for Conyers and Rockdale County," he said.
The decision to expand had been made before the economic crisis hit, but Haver’s owners came together and decided to go ahead with the expansion."The founders said we need to invest in bad times. So we received the okay to go ahead," said Reckersdrees. "The company has been around for 125 years. They have gone through a couple of crisis."
The company, which relocated to Conyers from New York State in 1989, specializes in filling technologies, equipment and solutions. It is one part of the family-owned German company Haver & Boecker group, a $410 million company which has about 2,200 employees worldwide.
The ribbon cutting ceremony highlighted the company’s family-owned roots, tracing a history that started with founders Carl Haver and Edward Boecker in 1887. Dr. Reinhold Festge, managing partner in Haver & Boecker and a member of the fourth generation of the family described the guiding principals of the company, including remaining family-owned and investing in research and development.
"It’s a day to say thanks, thanks to all of you and to our customers that bought many machines," he said.
Haver employees and engineers from as far away as Brazil, Germany, Venezuela and Canada also came for the company’s two-day technological symposium, the fourth such symposium it has held.
