Eight months after Rinnai America Corporation announced its plans to start manufacturing its products domestically, it has produced its first tankless water heater manufactured in the United States.
The first unit was a Rinnai HE+ Series, RL model, non-condensing Wi-Fi compatible tankless water heater, which will be commemorated in the main lobby of the Rinnai America Manufacturing facility in Griffin, Georgia. The upcoming 300,000 square foot manufacturing center is currently under construction, with completion slated for 2020.
“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,” says 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.”
Last summer, Rinnai America announced that it would also be building a new two-story North American headquarters building and launching a North America Innovation and Training Center.
The manufacturer has also announced a training partnership for the new facility with Georgia Quick Start and with Southern Crescent Technical College. Georgia Quick Start’s workforce training program will provide training for the factory’s new assembly processes with an investment of $70 million. Southern Crescent Technical College will serve as Rinnai’s long-term partner for ongoing technical training.
“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,” says Frank Windsor, COO of Rinnai America Corporation.
