GIW Industries, Inc., the leader in the design, manufacture, and application of heavy duty, centrifugal slurry pumps, is honored to be named the 2014 Company of the Year in Manufacturing by the Development Authority of Columbia County, Georgia. The award, which recognizes the efforts and contributions of local businesses in the community, was presented to GIW for its support of county growth through the company’s large-scale foundry expansion project.

As a division of the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce, the Development Authority promotes and works towards future business development, new business development, and the expansion of existing businesses. The organization connects businesses with project resources to ensure projects go smoothly, benefit the community, and provide opportunities for the local workforce.

GIW reached out to the Development Authority as it worked on a project to widen about 1,500 feet of Wrightsboro Road, east of Grovetown. “Due to the expansion, traffic will really increase to our facility and we need wider roads,” says Thomas Mueller, P.E., Vice President of Operations at GIW. “It is a safety concern.”

The Columbia County Development Authority was able to connect GIW with grant opportunities through the state of Georgia to assist with the road-construction funding. The connection brought attention to the level of care GIW has exercised in managing community impact and employee safety during its expansion. That, in addition to GIW’s leadership in the community, environmental stewardship, and ability to provide stable employment in the community led to its selection as the 2014 Company of the Year in Manufacturing.

Gary Holley, Director of Human Resources at GIW, said, “This is a recognition of those companies that are proving their support by investing in the community in significant ways. Our local community provides an environment that draws high-quality employees to the area, and we then provide high-quality employment for those workers. We both win.”

As the company closes in on its 125th year anniversary, GIW continues its long legacy of excellence while furthering its total corporate responsibility. “Maybe 20 or 25 years ago, customers chose their suppliers based on only quality,” says Mueller. “Now, [customers] want to have a quality product but also want to make sure the company works safely and responsibly in every area.”

This focus on being a contributing member of the community is what has made GIW a successful — and growing — business throughout the years. “It’s something we do to keep our customers happy, to keep our employees happy, and to give back to the community,” Mueller says.

About KSB and GIW® Minerals
GIW Industries, Inc. was established as a small, privately owned foundry and machine shop in 1891. By 1914 the company was supplying slurry pumps to the Florida phosphate industry. Over the years, GIW became a fully-integrated company from design, manufacturing, selling, and servicing severe abrasive handling pumps, and began a century of facility expansion and technology growth. In 1996 GIW became a full subsidiary of KSB and in 2014 the GIW® Minerals brand was established.

Through the GIW® Minerals product brand, KSB strives to be an innovative partner that provides you with the best and longest wearing slurry solutions. We are your partner, today and in the future.