German Transport and Aviation Equipment Manufacturer to Establish First North American Production Facility and US Headquarters in Hickory
- Catawba County EDC
- 19 minutes ago
- 3 min read
June 30, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HICKORY, N.C. — Goldhofer AG, a globally recognized German manufacturer of specialized heavy transport and airport ground support equipment, announced today that it will establish a new North American production facility and United States headquarters at Trivium Corporate Center in Hickory, North Carolina. The company plans to invest more than $20 million and create up to 80 new jobs by the end of 2030.
With roots tracing back to 1705 and formal establishment in 1946, Goldhofer has grown from a small forge operation into an internationally recognized leader in premium transport solutions. Headquartered in Memmingen, Germany, the company employs approximately 1,000 people globally and generates annual revenues of approximately €300 million, with manufacturing, service, and sales operations spanning Europe, North America, India, and the Middle East. Goldhofer’s product portfolio includes heavy-duty mechanical and self-propelled trailers for demanding industrial loads, as well as a leading line of airport technology products - including towbarless aircraft tractors used by major airlines worldwide.
The new Hickory facility will be constructed on Lot 5 at Trivium Corporate Center, with an initial 80,000-square-foot production hall. Additional phases of development are anticipated, as the company continues to expand its presence in the North American market.
"When we thought about where Goldhofer needs to grow in North America, North Carolina kept rising to the top. Skilled people, solid infrastructure, and a business environment that supports manufacturing. We're committing to the US for the long haul, and Hickory is where we will start the next chapter," said David Weinmann, CEO of Goldhofer Inc.
"Welcoming Goldhofer to Catawba County means welcoming a company with deep roots in a manufacturing tradition that our community knows well," said Randy Isenhower, Chair of the Catawba County Board of Commissioners. "Goldhofer joins a strong and growing family of European-headquartered companies that have chosen to invest here, and that is no accident. It reflects the quality of our workforce, the strength of our infrastructure, and the relationships we have built with international industry over many years."
Mayor Hank Guess of the City of Hickory added, “When Hickory voters approved the 2014 Bond Referendum, they made a statement about the kind of community we wanted to become. Goldhofer’s arrival — as the project that completes Trivium Corporate Center — is the fulfillment of that vision. This is exactly the kind of advanced manufacturing investment that strengthens our community and creates real opportunity for our residents, and we look forward to a long partnership.”
"There is simply no company quite like Goldhofer anywhere in our region," said Jeff Cline, Chair of the Catawba County EDC Board of Directors. "This is the world leader in the design and production of some of the most specialized and extraordinary vehicles on earth — from the heaviest industrial transport equipment to the aircraft tractors that move planes at the world's busiest airports. For our citizens, that means career opportunities that didn't exist here before, and we couldn't be more proud to call them neighbors."
A public hearing for local incentive consideration is scheduled for today, June 30th at 2:00pm by the Catawba County Board of Commissioners and the Hickory City Council.
In addition to Catawba County and the City of Hickory, other key partners in the project include the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, NC Department of Commerce, NC Community College System, Catawba Valley Community College, David E. Looper & Company, Ardurra, Parker Poe Consulting, Kohlbecker, Gray AES, Engineering Consulting Services (ECS) and Catawba County Economic Development Corporation.
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For further details, please contact:
Nathan Huret, Vice President
Catawba County EDC
(828) 267-1564