ATLAS North America moving one product line from Germany to Virginia Beach

Published December 17, 2013 by Robert Powell, III

ATLAS North America, a subsidiary of a German producer of military equipment,  will open a manufacturing facility in Virginia Beach.

The North American subsidiary focuses on remotely operated autonomous underwater vehicles with products names such as Seafox, Seacat and Sea Otter.

ATLAS North America will move the manufacturing of its Seafox product line from Germany to Virginia Beach.

The move will create five full-time jobs with average salaries of $112,000 over the next 36 months.

Additionally, the company will invest $506,000 in capital improvements, $392,500 in training and $250,000 for research and development for this new manufacturing capability.

“We have a spike of international businesses moving to and expanding in Virginia Beach,” Warren D. Harris, director of Virginia Beach Economic Development, said in a statement. “We have had much success in recruiting new businesses from Germany. This company will find proximity to its largest clients, a highly skilled workforce and several friends in the advanced manufacturing community to support this strategic location.”         

ATLAS North America , a subsidiary of ATLAS Elektronik GmbH of Bremen, Germany, has eight employees located at 208 Golden Oak Court in the Lynnhaven section of Virginia Beach. The company also has an office in Panama City, Fla.

The company’s largest clients are the U.S. Navy and Lockheed Martin, both of which have a significant presence in Virginia Beach.

The Virginia Beach Development Authority has awarded ATLAS North America an Economic Development Investment Program grant of $20,000.