Moll Systems, a German company that will install auto conveyors for Volkswagen's new assembly plant, has leased space in the Ooltewah area where it will employ up to 50 people.

Bernhard Zeigler, chief operating officer of the company's U.S. facility in Greenville, S.C., said plans are to be open locally by the end of the year.

He said the company will be in Chattanooga at least until the VW plant is up and running in early 2011, and he hopes Moll can stay longer. He said employment will range from 10 to 50 people depending on the workload.

Jeff Jennings of Charter Real Estate Co. said Moll is leasing 38,000 square feet at 8920 Transport Lane just off Mountain View Road.

Mr. Jennings, who represented the landlord, said Moll is "one of the first substantial VW-related real estate transactions in the area."

Bryan Rudisill, who represented Moll and also works for Charter, said the business is leasing about 35,000 square feet of space for warehousing and the remainder for offices.

He said there will be minor changes to the building in an industrial park just off Interstate 75 and not far from the VW plant site.

The city's Industrial Development Board in October approved a $1 million contract with Moll Systems related to equipment for VW's training center.

Moll was started in 1918 and has annual sales of over $110 million, according to Charter. Moll focuses in the field of conveyor systems, custom-built machinery and process engineering.

Mr. Zeigler said Moll has worked with VW before and he called the Chattanooga plant "an advantage for the region."

VW's 2 million-square-foot factory is expected to employ 2,000 people and produce 150,000 vehicles a year.

MOLL JOBS

The company has worked for auto companies such as Volkswagen, BMW, and General Motors.