Schletter Inc., a German-based manufacturer and distributor of solar mounting systems, announced it will open its first U.S. operations center in a 22,000 square-foot facility at 2520 N. Jackrabbit Ave., off Grant Road, west of Interstate 10.

Three employees have moved from Germany to set up the Tucson plant, which it plans to have operational in June, according to Martin Hausner, CEO of Schletter.

The company said it hopes to hire 10 to 15 manufacturing employees by the end of this year and up to 40 people by the end of 2009. Those positions will also include sales and marketing.

Schletter, founded in 1968, has 620 employees in Germany. Its main manufacturing facility is in Haag.

Hausner said Schletter looked at locations elsewhere in Arizona, as well as California and Colorado, "but we found Tucson most appealing based on living costs, taxes and shipping costs."

Officials at Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities (TREO) said the Arizona Global Network marketing alliance to promote foreign direct investment in the state played a major role in attracting Schletter. That, along with the partnership known as Global Advantage, between the University of Arizona, TREO and other international business partners.