German IT company lands in city

A Wolfsburg, Germany-based information technology services company has leased office space in downtown Chattanooga with plans to hire 30 people within 12 months and up to 100 in two to five years.

Honigsberg & Duvel Corp. is seeking work from Volkswagen and other companies, said Claudia Raabe, vice president of the Chattanooga office.

"Our main focus is automotive services," said Ms. Raabe. She said between 60 percent and 70 percent of the company's work in Germany is for VW, which is also based in Wolfsburg.

Steve Hunt of Berry and Hunt said Honigsberg & Duvel Corp. is leasing space at One Central Plaza, 835 Georgia Ave.

"We're excited to have H&D here in downtown Chattanooga and in our building," Mr. Hunt said. He said the building is owned by Chattanooga businessman Jim Berry, and Brenda Purcell of Re/Max Renaissance Realtors assisted Honigsberg & Duvel Corp.

VW is building an auto assembly plant in Chattanooga with plans to hire over 2,000 workers and start production in the first part of 2011.

Ms. Raabe said her company has its own IT training center in Germany, and officials hope to develop something like that here over the next five years.

"We do a lot of desktop services and office maintenance in the IT business," Ms. Raabe said. She said company officials plan to open the office later this month.

Ms. Raabe said the business works for VW affiliates Skoda in the Czech Republic and Audi in Ingolstadt, Germany.