VDL begins hiring for 120-job expansion near Buford

A south Hall County manufacturer has begun recruiting the first workers for a $77 million expansion expected to create about 120 jobs, opening another advanced-manufacturing option within commuting distance of Buford, Sugar Hill and Suwanee.

VDL Industries Gainesville is expanding its operation at 5459 Aloha Way in Oakwood. The company plans to purchase and enlarge the building it now leases, add large-scale milling equipment and expand its cleanroom for manufacturing systems used by the semiconductor industry.

Construction is expected to be completed in 2028. VDL currently employs about 70 people at the plant, so the full expansion would bring its local workforce to roughly 190 if all 120 planned positions are created. Those jobs will arrive in phases rather than as 120 immediate openings.

The first jobs are open

Recent recruiting activity shows that the hiring phase has begun. VDL’s careers page is the place to check current openings and application instructions. Hiring categories include production-floor, engineering, quality-control, purchasing, logistics and management work.

The company has recruited for technical buyers, manufacturing logistics engineers, metal-finishing associates, CNC machinists, press-brake operators, quality technicians, quality engineers, cleanroom assemblers, MIG welders and facilities construction managers. Supervisor positions in machining and welding have also been advertised.

Cleanroom assembler applicants need a high school diploma or equivalent; two years of manufacturing, assembly or cleanroom experience is preferred rather than required. Applicants must be able to follow blueprints and detailed assembly instructions, handle small components and lift as much as 50 pounds.

MIG welder applicants need at least two years of welding experience, with five years preferred. The work includes thin-gauge stainless steel and aluminum components rather than pipe welding. A welding certification is preferred.

Quality engineer applicants need either an associate degree and at least three years of relevant experience or comparable preparation. A bachelor’s degree and at least one year of experience are preferred.

These postings do not disclose base pay or application deadlines. Applicants should confirm that positions remain open before applying.

A different kind of North Gwinnett commute

VDL builds metal components, machinery and complete manufacturing systems for semiconductor equipment, mobility, food technology and infrastructure customers. Its expansion adds skilled production work to an area where many publicly advertised openings are concentrated in retail, warehousing, hospitality and health care.

Workers who need additional training can find related programs nearby. Lanier Technical College’s welding programs include diplomas and shorter certificates in metal fabrication and specialized welding. The college also offers precision-machining programs, including CNC training.

For North Gwinnett workers, the immediate opportunity is the first wave of posted positions. Additional hiring is expected as VDL installs equipment and moves toward completing the larger operation in 2028.

Featured image: CNC machining, illustrative photograph by aluminum Zheng ji / Unsplash. The image does not depict VDL’s Georgia plant.