When Denmark-based Kamstrup arrived in Georgia a little over a decade ago, it employed just four people selling its smart water meters to utilities around the U.S.
But a grand opening of its new headquarters in Cumming Thursday — attracting an array of dignitaries sharing a catered fried-chicken lunch with the company’s customers, employees and distributors — shows how even the smallest of international investments can blossom into significant job creators with the right support.
“It doesn’t matter to us where a company is headquartered, whether around the United States or around the world. If they have a facility that is in our state, we’re going to treat them like a Georgia-based company. And that is what we’ll do not only today, but also as you grow into the future,” said Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp in remarks to nearly 200 guests who dined under a tent set up beneath a clear blue sky.
Along with an assembly plant with significant space to spare, the 150,000-square-foot new facility at the Forsyth Commerce Center includes a warehouse, innovation showroom and pristine new offices with a stylish break room.
Four times bigger than its current location in Roswell, the expansion will enable the doubling of production to more than 3 million smart meters annually in the next five years.
“This really represents the future of Kamstrup,” said global CEO Søren Kvorning, who outlined how a small company from a nation of 5 million, founded nearly 80 years ago, is taking on a competitive market in the largest economy in the world.
“We see this only as the start of our ambitions in North America; we are here for the long run,” said Mr. Kvorning, who is just a week into his role as CEO. “The factory is designed for capacity expansion, and we intend to create many more local jobs in the years to come.”
With a presence in 20 countries and customers in 90, Kamstrup considered 13 cities around the U.S. for the new facility but stayed in metro Atlanta for its innovation ecosystem and the solid business environment offered by the state of Georgia, officials said.
Mr. Kemp added that the project is a testament to the partnership between the state and local officials to set the right conditions for investors, from cultivating a skilled workforce to cutting taxes and keeping ample electricity flowing.
“We cannot do these type of things without a great state and local partnership,” said the governor, who touted the state’s top business ranking for 10 years running by Site Selection magazine.
Danish Honorary Consul Christopher Smith, who is based in Macon but represents the country statewide, said Georgia has excelled not only in attracting new projects, but also making sure investors feel welcome and empowered long after their arrival.
“When you come to Georgia, the support is not just there when you start. They support existing industry, not only on the state side but on the local economic development side,” Mr. Smith said.
Forsyth County knows this well, he said — it’s home to another Danish company, Hydrema, where Mr. Smith was set to escort Ambassador Jesper Møller Sørensen later in the day.
The Danish honorary consulate, the ambassador said, was integral in helping Kamstrup set up in the state way back in 2013. Since then, the headcount has grown from four to 130.
“That’s a remarkable 33-fold increase in just a decade,” Mr. Sørensen said. “I wonder what that will be a decade from now.”
Kamstrup’s success is a testament to Denmark’s strong global position in water-management technologies and sustainable innovations that can help the world address climate change, the ambassador said.
“As the ambassador of Denmark to the U.S., I cannot express how much pride it is to witness a Danish company not only taking root but also flourishing here,” he said, adding that Kamstrup was founded just 20 minutes’ drive away from his hometown. “This sets a very strong foundation for future Danish investments as well. We will work together with you and your team to secure that.”
International companies often test the waters of the American market by opening modest sales offices in Georgia. Serving them well means the state will have a leg up when their growth necessitates a greenfield investment, boosters have told Global Atlanta. Expansions accounted for 71 percent of projects the Georgia Department of Economic Development worked in the last fiscal year, even as multibillion investments meant greenfield facilities generated nearly two-thirds of newly pledged jobs.
International investments in 2022-23, largely from South Korea, were responsible for about half of the expected jobs and 65 percent of the pledged investment capital in Georgia, the department said.
For its part, Kamstrup saw 29 recent revenue growth to 3.6 billion Danish kroner, or about $524 million, with gross profits before taxes increasing 69 percent to 514 million Danish kroner, about $74.8 million.
The company’s water meters rely on ultrasonic acoustic monitoring to precisely measure the flow of water, using radio waves or cellular connection to send data back to utilities. The meters are often sold with a software dashboard that allows customers’ teams to remotely read meters and monitor for water loss.
Watch the ribbon-cutting below:
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