It’s another move to the Sunbelt. This time it is Hagerstown, Maryland-based Pangborn Corp. that will be relocating to Fairburn. The company is a manufacturer of surface preparation systems, equipment and services.

Pangborn Vice President of Quality Mike Giroux said Thursday the company will begin its warehouse operations in January with offices opening in February. Though currently unknown how many Hagerstown employees will be relocating, Giroux said the Fairburn operation is expected to eventually employ 75 people.

Fairburn city administrator Jim Williams said the company had applied for an occupancy permit at a facility on Coates Drive off Oakley Industrial Boulevard, indicating its intent to utilize approximately 87,000 square feet of manufacturing space and approximately 19,000 square feet of office space.

Giroux cited several reasons for the move to the south Fulton area. Fairburn’s close proximity to Atlanta-Hartsfield Airport was a primary consideration, he said, along with Georgia Tech’s engineering school. Rounding out the motivation is the cost of living and the cost of office space, both of which are much lower than in the Baltimore and Washington, D.C. areas, Giroux said.

Industries served by Pangborn include automotive, foundry, steel, construction, aluminum and aerospace. Pangborn was founded in 1904 when Thomas Pangborn developed the sandblasting process. Originally located in New York City, the company moved to Hagerstown in 1912.

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