Arrival of a final — and largest — piece of manufacturing equipment for Kia’s startup was a newsmaking event in 2008
In October of 2008, as the grim news of the Great Recession monopolized the headlines, Georgia had something to celebrate. Kia was expecting delivery of 3,500 tons of equipment needed to assemble the presses need to make components of the all-new Kia Sorento.
One of the largest pieces was the Rotem 5, a 5,400-ton transfer press. The ship carrying the equipment was the M/V Leopold Staff, which had made the journey across the Pacific, through the Panama Canal, around Florida, and up the Savannah River to the Georgia Ports Authority. The press would be riding on the back of a 16-axle trailer, and it would require stopping traffic at every bridge and overpass along the way to its West Point destination.
To document the event, Quick Start’s team coordinated with Kia, the Ports Authority and the Department of Transportation. The event marked a turning point in the efforts to revive manufacturing in Georgia.
Seoul, South Korea
Movement that inspires
This represents Kia’s aim to change the future for the better and not only be a respected company but a company that people feel inspired by and want to work for.
West Georgia Technical College