Sany Corporation, which manufactures heavy construction equipment, is still working towards construction of its first assembly building in Peachtree City.

The global economic crunch has slowed the project’s pace, as the rough timeline to have the 360,000-square-foot facility operational is now targeted for the second half of next year, a Sany America official said this week.

The extra time has given Sany the chance to “value engineer” the project by making sure every necessary element is the best fit, from the type of roof and construction materials to the design of the project, said construction manager Kevin Woods.

The assembly building, once completed, will house five different production lines to assemble excavators, cranes and concrete pumper trucks, Woods said.

“Those are the products that are important to Sany America because of the market that we are in,” Woods said.

Construction of the building is projected to take eight months, Woods said, noting that he has been surprised by the interest from local contractors. Typically such a project is so complex that local contractors tend to shy away from it, he added.

All of the necessary engineering for site work have been completed, and the building has been redesigned after getting input from officials at nearby Falcon Field, Woods said. The project is close enough to Falcon Field to require a special permit from the Federal Aviation Administration, Woods said. Sany will apply for that permit once the project moves closer to fruition, he added.

Everyone at Sany America is excited about the project, Woods said. The company already has a sales and engineering force working in Peachtree City and a satellite office in Atlanta.

The company announced in September 2007 that it had chosen to locate its assembly buildings and a corporate campus in Peachtree City, representing its first American production venture. The company expects to bring 200 jobs to Peachtree City in its first five years with an average annual salary of $50,000. It hopes to expand to 600 jobs in future years while also relocating its U.S. headquarters here as well, officials have said.

The company has received a state and local property tax incentive totaling $1.2 million, all of which is tied to the creation of jobs. The state and local governments are foregoing that revenue over a 10-year property tax abatement that has already begun, officials have said.

The company sells its products in more than 60 countries, and it hopes by having a U.S. location it will be able to improve its service force. The company places a high importance on quality and tests each component of a product before it leaves the assembly plant.

Sany’s 180-acre location is adjacent to Cooper Lighting off Ga. Highway 74 South.

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