SWJ Breaks Ground on New NAFTA Headquarters
News Coverage here: WVTM 13
As we have eagerly anticipated, we are initiating the process of building our state-of-the-art Technology Center in Alberta, AL. On November 8th, 2019, SWJ’s top management team and owners will gather to celebrate the Groundbreaking for the Alberta Technology Center.
The Alberta Technology Center will be the NAFTA Headquarters for SWJ’s unparalleled engineering services and operations, which SWJ delivers to Automotive OEM’s and their Suppliers throughout the United States and Mexico.
SWJ TECHNOLOGY’s delivery of superior engineering services has fostered SWJ’s tremendous growth over the last 5 years. Under the leadership of Dr. Wolfgang Kneer, President of SWJ’s North American Operations, SWJ has grown more than 20% in each of the last five years. SWJ is the automotive industry’s choice for innovative customer solutions, Engineering, Planning and Project Management Services.
The Alberta Technology Center will not only host SWJ’s NAFTA Headquarter, but it will offer various training opportunities, rapid prototyping, measurement services and assembly of innovative special tools, equipment and handhelds, which will support and integrate into manufacturing operations. At the Alberta Technology Center, SWJ will expand its footprint in online systems, providing value-added technologies to SWJ’s traditional industrial engineering services.
Picture Above : President Dr. Wolfgang Kneer pitching his vision for the new Tech Center, which led to the company being awarded the $200K Innovate Tuscaloosa Grant |
SWJ decided to build in Tuscaloosa for numerous reasons. First, Tuscaloosa is strategically located in the heart of America’s Southeastern Cluster of Automotive OEM’s. Second, the unique opportunity to work with University of Alabama’s impressive engineering, IT and Business Program in developing innovative technologies and recruit the University’s exceptional students and alumni. Third, Tuscaloosa’s welcoming business climate dedicated to improving the lives of its citizens and community through white- and blue collar economic development. Fourth, the City of Tuscaloosa’s genuine desire to help SWJ earn success and spark a renaissance in tornado-ravaged Alberta City. The City, under the leadership of Mayor Walt Maddox and City Councilor Kip Tyner recruited SWJ with the enthusiasm and dedication as if Coach Nick Saban, himself, was recruiting SWJ like a five-star quarterback.
“How many times have you heard about high-tech jobs, retaining the best and the brightest? That’s exactly what this company is going to be able to do.”
– Councilman Kip Tyner
The Alberta Technology Center is a major investment for SWJ TECHNOLOGY. In fact, it will be SWJ’s largest investment since its inception. The Alberta Technology Center will strategically propel SWJ forward and make SWJ Group a leading force and GO-TO company in Engineering Services, as well as an extremely attractive employer for exceptional graduates from local colleges.
Dr. Kneer has long dreamed of building an advanced facility like the Alberta Technology Center. In fact, almost a decade ago, Dr. Kneer and Mayor Maddox discussed the need and benefits of locating such a facility in Tuscaloosa during an industrial recruiting trip to neighboring states and Stuttgart, Germany.
“The Alberta Technology Center is a very special project in that we can create a center of technological excellence which offer shared engineering services and continuous innovation to the manufacturing, which will help Tuscaloosa and all of Alabama to recruit, grow and retain most advanced manufacturing industry.“
– President Dr. Wolfgang Kneer
Dr. Wolfgang Kneer, CEO of SWJ TECHNOLOGY, Stefan Hartmann, Managing Member of SWJ Group, and Founding Partner and Managing Member of SWJ, Markus Jurditsch, as well as every member of the SWJ Team feel truly honored to be a part of this project aimed at building the future together with the Tuscaloosa County Community.
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