Rinnai America Corporation, manufacturer of the No.1 selling brand of tankless gas water heaters in North America, announces it has manufactured its first unit in the United States, just eight months after it announced plans to start manufacturing domestically.
The first unit was a Rinnai HE+ Series, RL model, non-condensing, Wi-Fi-compatible tankless water heater. It will be commemorated in the lobby of the Rinnai America Manufacturing facility in Griffin, Georgia.
“This initial unit from our temporary manufacturing location is the completion of the inaugural step on our path to establish the first major U.S. manufacturing site for tankless water heaters. This location, in Spalding County, is the foundation for completing our Greenfield manufacturing and distribution site,” said Derrick Black, vice president of operations for Rinnai America Corporation. “By creating a manufacturing capability based on the belief that Quality Is Our Destiny, we will surely be able to captivate customers.”
Rinnai previously announced its plans to build a North American manufacturing facility in Griffin, Ga. A new 300,000-square-foot facility is currently being constructed with completion slated for 2020. Rinnai will produce both residential and commercial products at the new manufacturing site.
In addition, in July 2017 Rinnai America announced it would expand its North American headquarters by building a new two-story headquarters building and by launching a North America Innovation and Training Center.
New Training Partnership
Rinnai is also announcing a training partnership with Georgia Quick Start and Southern Crescent Technical College. Georgia Quick Start, the No. 1-ranked workforce training program in the U.S., is providing customized training to support Rinnai’s manufacturing efforts in North America with an investment of $70 million. The Quick Start project focuses on training for the new assembly processes that will be implemented at the upcoming facility.
“Rinnai’s vision is to enhance lives by changing the way water is heated,” said Frank Windsor, chief operating officer of Rinnai America Corporation. “We have built our brand by providing the highest quality products to the market. We firmly believe that quality is our destiny, and as we expand our manufacturing capabilities, it is critical that we recruit top-tier talent and train all our team members to have that same focus on quality. Our partnership with Georgia Quick Start and Southern Crescent Technical College will help us to quickly train new employees and ensure that our quality standards are never compromised.”
Quick Start will deliver training during the expansion, and Southern Crescent Technical College will be Rinnai’s long-term partner available for ongoing training, providing a pipeline of qualified graduates to meet future workforce needs.
About Quick Start
Quick Start is Georgia’s internationally acclaimed economic development program that provides customized workforce training at no cost to qualified new, expanding and existing businesses in Georgia. Since 1967, Quick Start has trained more than 1.25 million Georgians through nearly 7,000 projects.
About Southern Crescent Technical College
Southern Crescent Technical College, a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, is an institution of higher education that delivers relevant technical education at the associate degree, diploma and certificate levels and workforce training programs via traditional and distance learning formats. Southern Crescent Technical College is structured through ongoing assessment and strategic planning to emerge as the preeminent technical college that develops students to become globally work-ready employees through the unification of focused instruction, access to industry-relevant technology and facilities, and a culture of engagement, communication and support.
About Rinnai
Rinnai America Corporation, a subsidiary of Rinnai Corporation in Nagoya, Japan, was established in 1974 and is headquartered in Peachtree City, Georgia. Rinnai Corporation manufactures gas appliances including tankless water heaters, a wide range of kitchen appliances and heating and air conditioning units. As the technology leader in its industry, Rinnai is the largest gas appliance manufacturer in Japan and is the number-one selling brand of tankless gas water heaters in North America. Annual corporate revenues, including those of its subsidiaries, are in excess of $3.1 billion. With a global perspective to create 21st century products for the home and business, Rinnai Corporation commits itself to safety and the pursuit of comfortable lifestyles. For more information about Rinnai’s entire product line, visit rinnai.us.