A German-based manufacturer of automotive service equipment, Nussbaum Lifts, will invest $7.6 million to locate a new facility in Gastonia, North Carolina, with plans to create 83 jobs over the next three years.

The new facility will produce automotive service lifts and house engineering, sales and service operations for the company. Salaries will vary by job function, but the average annual wage for the new jobs will be $51,875. The Gaston County average annual wage is $34,112.

“The opening of our new Nussbaum facility offices is a major step towards providing local service and support for our United States and North American customers,” said Nussbaum’s President Steffen Nussbaum. “It is also a very significant milestone towards transforming Nussbaum from a primarily European company to a true multinational enterprise. This new location will enable us to support our growing list of North American customers with the latest automotive service technology.”

The project was made possible in part by a $137,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund, which requires a local match, said Gov. Bev. Perdue. “Our top-notch business climate continues to attract manufacturers to North Carolina. These companies know our customized job training programs will provide a highly-skilled workforce that’s essential to competing in a global economy, she said.