German manufacturer expanding Georgia operations with $28 million investment

A maker of instrument transformers for the utility and original equipment manufacturing (OEM) sectors is growing its footprint in Georgia.

Ritz Instrument Transformers will invest $28 million in a new plant in Waynesboro that will create 130 jobs, Gov. Brian Kemp announced Tuesday from Italy, where he is leading a weeklong trade mission.

“We’ve worked hard to bring opportunity like this to rural Georgia,” Kemp said. “We’re proud this project adds even more jobs to one of those target areas following our face-to-face meeting with Ritz during our travel to Germany in 2023.”

Ritz develops and produces instrument transformers from 600 volts to 500 kilovolts.

The Hamburg, Germany-based company operates two plants in Georgia. A temporary facility in Burke County currently supports 30 jobs, which will be transferred to the new plant in Waynesboro. Another Ritz plant in Lavonia opened in 2010.

“The investment in a new state-of-the-art factory for high-voltage instrument transformers in Waynesboro marks the single-largest investment to date for the Ritz Group and illustrates the commitment of the company to the North American market,” said Scott Flowers, CEO and general manager of Ritz USA.

“The availability of a well-trained workforce and the support extended by Burke County and the state of Georgia made Waynesboro the obvious choice for Ritz.”

The Georgia Department of Economic Development worked on the project in partnership with the Development Authority of Burke County and the state agency’s Europe office.