German manufacturer of large-scale industrial 3D printers voxeljet will be bringing its operations stateside. It’s state of choice? None other than the original hub of US auto manufacturing: Michigan. Though the state may be experiencing tough times (along with the rest of the world), including the bankruptcy of its largest city Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder hopes that the high tech manufacturer will help bring the state around.
voxeljet, which became publicly traded last year, is set to bring its large format 3D printing capabilities to the auto manufacturers of the United States by establishing its first US facility in Canton, Michigan. The company’s CEO, Dr. Ingo Ederer, explains, “The decision to place voxeljet’s first US service center in Michigan is based on the proximity of the site to potential customers in the Midwest region that form a significant part of the U.S. automobile industry and its supply chain. While voxeljet’s customers span a range of industries, the auto industry is currently the heaviest user of our 3D printing technology. We have extensive experience serving the 3D printing needs of European automakers and we look forward to serving manufacturers in the U.S.”
The service center should be up and running in the third quarter of 2014, bringing fifteen to twenty jobs to the region within the first three years. Upon its completion, voxeljet will have the capability to produce on-demand parts, moulds, cores, and models for a variety of industries. The state’s governor believes that the facility and investment from other foreign companies can help improve Michigan’s economy, saying, “The decision by voxeljet to locate its first U.S. facility in Michigan is good news that underscores our state’s attractiveness to leading-edge, global companies. As the global center of automotive technology, research and development with a greatly improved business climate, Michigan is the smart business location to grow a technology business and create high-tech manufacturing jobs.”
Snyder made the announcement while on a trip to Europe, where he met with executives from a number of companies, including ZF, which employs 1,350 workers at its driveline and chassis plant in Michigan. According to Snyder: “There are 350 German companies in Michigan. Total Michigan-Germany foreign trade for 2013 was nearly $5.9 billion” and “72,000 Michiganders are employed by German- and Italian-owned companies operating in the state. These companies represent a wide range of industries, but are heavily concentrated in advanced automotive manufacturing and research and development.”
2014 is an election year and the governor has already received a great deal of flak for signing the Right-to-Work law in 2012, which many have said weaken labour unions by creating a free-rider problem. Such foreign investment in the state, if it can turn around Michigan’s economic situation, may also aid the governor in seeking a re-election.
Source: Michigan.gov
