Dalton facility to add more jobs

Published 11:42 pm Monday, May 15, 2006

SW Manufacturing officials said Monday the company will expand its Dalton facility on Smith Industrial Boulevard and add 60-70 jobs. That’s on top of 150 jobs the company is currently in the middle of adding.

“We expect to break ground in the next couple of weeks, and to finish everything in November or December. We’ve got equipment coming in in December,” said Ginger Self, assistant general manager for human resources at SW Manufacturing.

When the expansion is finished and all the positions are filled, the Dalton facility will employ approximately 600, up from about 470 now.

SW Manufacturing, a division of Shiroki Corp., makes seat adjusters, door frames, window regulators and other automobile parts for Toyota Motor Corp., Mitsubishi Motor Corp. and other automobile companies. It recently added Nissan Motor Co. to that list.

“SW Manufacturing recently celebrated its 10th anniversary in Dalton. It started with less than 100 employees, and, after the expansion, it will employ around 600 people. That growth is not only a testament to the company, but also to this community and to its work force,” said George Woodward, president of the Dalton-Whitfield Chamber of Commerce.

Entry-level general operator jobs as a result of the expansion will start at about $10.60 an hour and go to $11.05 after 90 days.

“The finishing job, which is the more skilled job, starts out at $11.90. After 90 days it goes to $12.75, and goes to $14.35 after a full year,” said Self.