Briggs' new location in Atlanta

Briggs International Inc moved its operation in the Atlanta, Georgia market over the weekend of 16-17 November.

"The new facility was needed due our growth in the Atlanta market," says Mike Winemiller, president. "The new facility is 123,000 sqft. (11,427 sqm) and sits on 7 acres. This is nearly three times the size of our current facility."

Briggs Equipment purchased the facility in early 2013 and recently finished remodeling the premises. The investment is about USD7 million.

The highway-accessible location in north-west Clayton County near Hartsfield International Airport is about 12 mi. (19 km) from the previous site in the Fulton industrial area of Fulton County. Briggs has had a presence in the Atlanta market for 15 years.

Briggs transferred about 100 staff and projects hiring up to 30 individuals over two years. Darrell Williams is the regional vice president.

Briggs in Atlanta distributes Hyster and Yale forklifts from Hyster-Yale Materials Handling Inc and Ottawa spotting tractors from Cargotec Oy's Kalmar unit. "The new facility also allows us to expand our product line," Winemiller says.

"We built a products demonstration and conference facility that will hold over 125 people for customer and sales conferences," he notes. Briggs will also make the conference facility and board room available to county and community groups and organisations.

Briggs held a 15 November ribbon cutting with county officials and representatives of the Clayton County Chamber of Commerce.

Dallas, Texas-based Briggs International is a unit of Sammons Enterprises Inc.