New Georgia Facility Will Produce Low, Medium and High Altitude Airships

Techsphere Systems International (TSI), a Georgia-based manufacturer of low-, mid- and high-altitude spherical airships, has announced the opening of a new production facility in Columbus, GA.

The 42,000 square foot manufacturing facility marks the first in a series of planned expansions for TSI, and is the first stage in a series of future expansions, including a payload integration production facility in Reno, Nevada, slated to open in 2005. Both facilities are needed to accommodate the growing demand for TSI's state-of-the-art, multi-use airships. A grand opening event will be held soon to recognize the introduction of the Columbus facility.

"This opening demonstrates TSI's rapid growth and the relevance of our technology to this country's defense and communications needs," said Mike Lawson, President, TSI. "The facility will bring redevelopment and new employment opportunities to Columbus."

"It is exciting to see Columbus South continue to grow," said Mayor Bob Poydasheff, Columbus Consolidated Government. "TSI will be a great addition to the employment base of the area."

"TSI is one of the kinds of business that we actively seek -- high technology driven manufacturing with 'value added jobs,'" said Mike Gaymon, president and CEO of the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce.

Immediate market opportunities for Techsphere's airships are in homeland security, defense and telecommunications. As a homeland security or defense tool, the ships can be equipped to perform high-level research, superior intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance applications and secure communications. In telecommunications, they provide a viable alternative to cell towers and satellites. TSI's airships can be launched inexpensively and from virtually any location. In addition, they can be returned to land so that payloads can be recovered and exchanged allowing for technological updates or equipment replacement.

TSI is recruiting and training its initial workforce with the assistance of the Georgia Department of Labor and the State's Quickstart program.

TSI airships are unique in that they are spherical in shape, which makes it easier to reach higher altitudes than traditional "cigar" shaped ships. Different models will be able to fly in both manned and unmanned modes through a range of altitudes, and can be continually retrofitted to accommodate new technology. The engineering, design and early production for Techsphere's first high-altitude, unmanned test flight is scheduled to be completed before the end of 2005.

FMI: www.techspheresystems.com