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Atlanta Journal
Maker of airships to hire 250 workers
After two years of reasearching for the heavens, a Columbus-based airship company is closer to getting off the ground.
Techsphere Systems International LLC said Tuesday it will build two manufacturing plants in Columbus, creating 250 jobs.
The airships, which resemble giant beach balls, are being marketing to industries including wireless telecommunications and defense.
The privatly held company, which is making an investment of $20 million, expects to begin production by July, said Techsphere President Mike Lawson. The project also calls for construction of a hangar to accomodate airship up to 300 feet in diameter.
About 70 percent of the jobs - those related to construction of the airships - will pay between $25,000 and $30,000 a year, lawson said. high-tech and airship design positions will pay up to $200,000 annually.
The airships use reaserch anbd development from the Georgia Tech development from the Gerogia Tech Research institute and 21st Century Airships Inc.
Techsphere is amrketing low-, mid- and high-altitude unmanned airships for uses such as filling in wireless phone "dead zones" and for agricultural and geographical research, Lawson said.
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