Sandler Nonwoven Corporation in Perry, GA, USA – first overseas subsidiary of German nonwovens manufacturer Sandler AG – was formally inaugurated with a ribbon cutting ceremony and a proper Bavarian evening termed the Sandler Oktoberfest last week.

In the afternoon, around 80 guests attended the ribbon cutting ceremony at the Perry plant, among them representatives of the community, Houston County and the state of Georgia.

State Governor Nathan Deal addressed the audience: “Thank you is all we can say. This is another great German company. Germany is one of the three leading investors in the state of Georgia.  […] And you are an important part of continuing that tradition.” He also emphasised the team effort involved in setting up a new plant: “All of you are an important part of what allowed this to come to its fruition.”

Marathon

On his part, Dr Christian Heinrich Sandler, President & CEO of Sandler AG, thanked the Sandler teams in Perry and Schwarzenbach/Saale, as well as the regional partners in Georgia, who actively supported the establishment of the new facility.

“When the decision to build a plant here in the US was finalised, I told my management team: We are facing a marathon”, said Dr Sandler. “At that point we did not know where in the US our finishing line would be. […] In Perry, we found people eager to welcome us as part of their community and new team members eager to take part in building up Sandler Nonwoven Corporation. [...] And yet, the plant here in Perry is but one stage of our marathon.”

Together with Governor Deal, Dr Sandler cut the ceremonial ribbon, officially inaugurating the facility. During their visit, Governor Deal and his wife Sandra also got a first-hand look at nonwovens production during a tour of the plant.

Dedication and support

Tobias Baumgaertel, President of Sandler Nonwoven Corporation, thanked his team, Sandler AG and the local partners for their dedication and support, without which setting up the new manufacturing plant would not have been possible. Tobias Baumgaertel emphasised the warm welcome Sandler had received in Perry and summarised that the nonwovens manufacturer could not have found a better location for its first overseas plant.

Dr Christian Heinrich Sandler took a moment to reflect on the beginnings of the company, which had been founded by his great-grandfather in 1879, and milestones on the road that led the German nonwovens manufacturer to Perry.

Dr Sandler expressed his sincere thanks to Tobias Baumgaertel and his team, the staff of Sandler AG, and his own family, who hold various positions within the company and continue to shape the family-owned business. Representatives from the political sphere and regional organisations in Georgia had extended a friendly welcome to the Sandler team and lent strong support.

Significance of investment

The significance of Sandler’s investment to the region was emphasised by the ensuing speakers. Houston County Commission Chairman Tommy Stalnaker, Angie Gheesling, Executive Director of the Houston County Development Authority, as well as Jimmy Faircloth, Mayor of the city of Perry, thanked the company for deciding to invest in Perry and for the contribution to the region’s development.

On this occasion, Jimmy Faircloth presented the German guests with special gifts: Matching the evening’s motto, they received personalised beer mugs and the symbolic key to the city.

www.sandler.de