Duckshin’s products on display at a trade show. Photo: Duckshin Housing
A Korean company making reinforced decking for concrete foundations is set to build a factor in Athens, investing $15 million and hiring 100 people.
Founded in 1980 and based in Seoul, Duckshin Housing picked Athens to be “closer to growing and new construction projects in Georgia and all states of the U.S.,” said Myung Hwan Kim, chairman of Duckshin Housing, in a release.
Despite the name, Duckshin’s products are used in both homes and factories like those that many Korean firms are building across the state.
Duckshin produces sheets of galvanized steel topped with reinforcing bars that can be laid out modularly and covered with poured concrete. After the floor dries, bottom sheets can be removed and recycled, reducing building weight and environmental impact. The company also says its decking enhances worker safety. Duckshin hit a record $200 million in sales in 2022, a growth rate of about 33 percent in one year, according to its website.
Construction on the new factory in the Athena Industrial Park is set to begin later this year. The company will be hiring for welders, forklift drivers, machine operators and other roles, according to a news release from Gov. Brian Kemp’s office.
Mr. Kemp said in a statement that Athens-Clarke County has seen investment announcements totaling $903 million and 3,400 jobs since 2019.