Steel firm to add jobs to supply Caterpillar plant near Athens, Ga.

Thursday, May 2, 2013

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. - A steel fabricator plans to add more than 150 jobs over the next three years at its Dawson County plant, company executives said, to supply parts for a new Caterpillar production facility near Athens.

The Times of Gainesville reported that Impulse Manufacturing will produce parts for several small excavators that will be produced at the new Caterpillar plant. The parts will be shipped by truck each day to the Caterpillar plant, where they will be assembled.

Karl Baysden, director of sales and marketing for Impulse, said the company was chosen after a nationwide search for fabricators as a supply source by Caterpillar.

"The business awarded to Impulse is important to our local community," he said. "It means more jobs for Dawsonville and a shot in the arm to (the) North Georgia economy."

Impulse invested several million dollars in manufacturing equipment in 2012 and plans call for further investment over the next 18 months, According to Baysden.

"We believe that our ongoing investments in technology, our continuous improvement programs and our active quality management systems are primary reasons Caterpillar chose to add Impulse Manufacturing to their supply base," he said.

Charlie Auvermann, executive director of the Development Authority of Dawson County, called the announcement another example of the community's ability to attract new business.

"Even within the last few days we had calls from people wanting to take a look at Dawson County," he said.

The 850,000-square-foot Caterpillar plant is expected to directly employ 1,400 workers once it is fully operational.