Countinues investment in St. Clair
Photos by Graham Hadley
Eissmann Automotive’s new expansion makes the German manufacturing giant the largest single employer in Pell City.
The auto-industry supplier, which opened its first American operation here in 2005, specializes in interior fittings and parts for high-end automobiles, including Mercedes, Audi, Bugatti, Bentley, the Corvette Stingray, Tesla, Lamborghini and others.
Eissmann’s latest expansion means a $14.5-million capital investment in its facility in the Pell City Industrial Park and will bring 200 new jobs to the region.
The company held an official opening of the new section and ribbon-cutting Oct. 15.
During the ceremony, Pell City Mayor Bill Pruitt presented the key to the city to Claudia Eissmann, chairwoman of the Eissmann Automotive Advisory Council, before a large crowd of Eissmann employees, company representatives and local and state officials. Afterward, the new expansion was open for tours by the attendees.
“With this expansion, Eissmann has become the largest employer in Pell City, and we are excited to see them continue to grow in our community. We are very fortunate that they chose our community as their North American headquarters, and we hope they will continue to expand here,” Pruitt said.
“We are always excited to see our existing industries continue to expand in St. Clair County. The addition of jobs to St. Clair County allows our citizens to work closer to home and improves their quality of life,” said St. Clair Commission Chairman Paul Manning. “Eissmann is a tremendous community partner, and we look forward to growing with them in the future.”
The company already employs almost 400 workers at the Pell City facility and expects that number to reach upwards of 580 with the new expansion.
This adds to the growing number of foreign companies, like Eissmann and Honda, employing thousands of people in St. Clair and surrounding counties.
Alabama Department of Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield noted that, two decades ago, not a single major automobile manufacturer was operating in Alabama. Now the state ranks fourth in automobile manufacturing in the nation.
“Today is indeed a celebration of the present and of the future to come,” he said.
The company’s connection to the Mercedes Benz plant in Tuscaloosa County just off Interstate 20 was the driving force behind the expansion.
“Eissmann has been in Pell City longer than I have,” said St. Clair Economic Development Council Director Don Smith.
“Eissmann is a solid, family-owned company that has outperformed even our greatest expectation in Pell City. They pride themselves on the highest quality craftsmanship in the industry, which is a perfect fit for the high-end automotive customers they serve,” he said.
“They have incredible leadership in management in their Pell City facility and we look forward to working with them on future expansions.”
Eissmann agreed. “From the first investment Eissmann Automotive made in Pell City, the community and elected officials have made us feel welcomed and supported. Our facility has grown within the community, and we look forward to continuing to work with the City of Pell City, the St. Clair County Commission and the Economic Development Council for Many years to come,” she said.
