Tucker has long been a leader in industrial and manufacturing innovation, with companies creating goods and services right here in the City to be sold and distributed around the world. A new player is on that stage now, and they’re not shy about their goal: to change the way Americans power their lives.
German innovator sonnen opened up earlier this year in an industrial section of Weems Road. The Tucker facility is responsible for manufacturing all the company’s solar energy batteries being sold in the U.S. market.
“sonnen is a big believer in the U.S. market,” the company’s CEO Christoph Ostermann said. “Energy storage has a big future here. We see a huge market potential and see Georgia – and in particular the region around Atlanta – is for sure one of the most interesting economic areas with a lot of highly-skilled workers and engineers. This is why we decided to go to Tucker.”
Ostermann, who runs the company from its headquarters in Bavaria, flew in specifically for the ribbon cutting of sonnen’s Tucker facility on August 3. He pointed out some encouraging trends when it comes to alternative power in the United States.
“Ten percent of energy in the U.S. is renewable already,” Ostermann explained. “This goes together with the trend of decentralization and digitalization. I think that sonnen plays a very important role here because sonnen is literally the electronic centerpiece in the house managing energy.”
The facility, which will also house sonnen’s Research and Development team, has been welcomed with open arms by many in the business community.
“It’s exciting to have an innovative global leader like sonnen recognize the value in locating their North American Research and Development and manufacturing facility in Tucker,” said Matthew Lee, Executive Director of the Tucker-Northlake Community Improvement District (CID). “It’s indicative of what I’m hearing from other businesses: the decision to operate in Tucker is intentional. It’s not only because we are a regional sweet spot, but because we have the resources in talent and in relationships that enable businesses to thrive.”
Mayor Frank Auman, who has seen nearly 200 new businesses apply for licenses in the City of Tucker since the start of 2017 agrees.
“This is a big success for us,” he told the crowd at sonnen’s ribbon cutting.
Created in 2010, sonnen is still a relatively young company, but the innovative steps they’ve taken – and continue to take here in Tucker – promise to make a global impact for years to come.
