Oct 18, 2010 10:33 AM

From left: David Holland, chairman, Development Authority of Bulloch County; Brandie Fuller, vice-president, marketing, Great Dane Trailers; Alan Whiten, manager, manufacturing engineering, Great Dane; Sam Gupta, senior vice-president, manufacturing, Great Dane; Rick Mullininx, vice-president, engineering, Great Dane; Jim Pines, executive vice-president, Great Dane; Georgia Gov Sonny Perdue; William “Bill” H Crown, chief executive officer, Great Dane Limited Partnership; Phillip Pines, president and chief operating officer, Great Dane; Garrett Nevil, chairman, Bulloch County Commission; Tom Czapka, vice-president, business development, Great Dane; Georgia state Sen Jack Hill; and Statesboro Mayor Joe Brannen.

Great Dane Trailers officially broke ground on the site of its new refrigerated trailer manufacturing plant in Statesboro GA, in the presence of more than 200 attendees. These included many local business representatives, state and local political leaders, and company executives.

During the morning program, Georgia Gov Sonny Perdue, Statesboro Mayor Joe Brannen, and Bulloch County Commission Chairman Garrett Nevil hailed the cooperation among state, local economic developers, and Great Dane as key reasons for the success of selection process that resulted in choosing the 118-acre Statesboro site.

They also echoed sentiments of company executives who were drawn to the location northwest of Savannah because it remained close to where Great Dane was founded in 1900.

“Just as important in our selection of this site was the opportunity to continue Great Dane’s legacy by keeping it close to the company’s deep roots in Savannah,” said Bill Crown, president and chief executive officer of CC Industries and CEO of Great Dane Limited Partnership. “Today we honor the heritage of excellence for which Great Dane’s trailers have become known, while breaking ground on a bright and innovative future for ourselves and the city of Statesboro.”

The plant, which will encompass 450,000 square feet, including office and show room space, will have the capacity to produce more than 5,000 trailers annually and will employ more than 400 people.

Speaking of this impact on the company and the city, Phill Pines, president and chief operating officer of Great Dane Trailers, said, “Our reputation rests firmly on the products we make. The refrigerated trailers that will be built here will be complex and detailed, and we are confident that the importance of this will not be lost on the workforce here.”

This reefer plant will feature the latest technology, according to the company. Construction is expected to get underway later in 2010 to bring the plant into production in 2012.

Great Dane Trailers has division offices in Savannah GA and Chicago IL, with manufacturing plants throughout the United States. Access it online at www.greatdanetrailers.com.