ByoPlanet International To Expand Athens Operations

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Gov. Kemp at a recent economic development announcement.

Credit: File photo

A leading producer of electrostatic spray technology based on research conducted at the University of Georgia will expand its Georgia manufacturing operations, Gov. Brian Kemp announced Friday.

Sunrise, Fla.-based ByoPlanet International will create 250 jobs in Athens with a $7 million investment.

“It’s a pleasure to see ByoPlanet International continue to grow their footprint in Athens,” Kemp said. “ByoPlanet International is continuing to play a critical role in keeping schools, airlines, hospitals, and many other indoor spaces safe and sanitized so we can keep our economy open and protect lives and livelihoods as we fight COVID-19.”

Last spring, as Georgia and the rest of the nation began to feel the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, demand for ByoPlanet International’s disinfectant products grew sharply.

As a result, ByoPlanet contracted with The Classic Center in Athens to use additional space on a temporary basis while the facility was nearly vacant due to virus-related closures. The company also hired about 30 Classic Center employees who would have been furloughed otherwise due to the lack of arts and entertainment events at the venue.

 “With all of the changes that have happened in the world since the onset of COVID-19, ByoPlanet has experienced unprecedented growth in our revenue, number of employees, and facility size and capacity,” said Peter Johansson, the company’s president and chief operating officer. “ByoPlanet has been present in Athens since 2010, and we see the area as the ideal location for our continued growth and development.”

In addition to maintaining their existing 5,500-square-foot facility near Athens-Ben Epps Airport, a new 40,800-square-foot building is expected to open by the end of this year.

As part of the expansion, ByoPlanet is planning to bring more than 200 advanced manufacturing, engineering, management, and office staff positions to the Athens area. The company has added more than 100 new positions since March. 

“It has been wonderful to have ByoPlanet in Athens as their work has expanded, and we could not be happier to see them establish a permanent footprint in Athens,” Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz said. “It is exciting to see them utilize cutting-edge technology that creates healthy spaces as they create high-wage jobs at this critical time.”

For information on career opportunities with ByoPlanet International, go to https://byoplanet.com/.

ByoPlant is planning to introduce two new product lines next year.

The Georgia Department of Economic Development’s Global Commerce division partnered on the project in partnership with the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government Economic Development Department and Georgia Power.

This story comes to GPB through a reporting partnership with Capitol Beat News Service.