New industry locating in Limestone

Published 8:18 pm Monday, January 7, 2008

A U.S. Army defense contractor has brought operations to Limestone County.

DHS Systems, a subsidiary of DHS Technologies of Orangeburg, N.Y., is consolidating several of its operations in SouthPoint Industrial Park off Bibb Garrett Road.

Company officials will hold a ribbon cutting and reception Jan. 23 in the industrial park built by Joe Hollingsworth.

Brig. Gen. Jerry McAbee, USMC (Ret.), Huntsville Operations general manager, said Monday that the company operated two facilities in Madison off Cochran Road called Southeast Industries, which manufactures trailers and chassis with its main contracts being with the Army.

According to the company’s Web site, they manufacture “total shelter system” for the combat field.

“At our new facility we will be manufacturing chassis and enclosures, deployable command and control equipment,” said McAbee. “It will be the integration of systems that were in Orangeburg.”

McAbee said the company currently employees 120 workers in the 130,000-square-foot SouthPoint building. He said that at full employment, which is predicted by summer, the company should employ 150 to 155 workers.

McAbee said the location in SouthPoint represents an $8 million capital expenditure.

Limestone County Economic Development Association President Tom Hill said the DHS Systems move to SouthPoint has been in the works about two years.

“We have been working with Hollingsworth’s local manager Ralph Edwards and Steve Finnell of the Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce,” said Hill. “A couple of years ago we were at the Huntsville Chamber and learned there was a company in Madison that wanted to expand.

“It’s been a partnership effort between the Limestone Development, Joe Hollingsworth and the Huntsville Chamber. The company appears to be good and produce a good product for the military. From what we see, they provide a good working environment that provides good pay for our citizens.”