JR Automation, a Hitachi Group company and global automation provider, plans to build a new global headquarters in Zeeland, Michigan. The announcement follows a strategic meeting in Tokyo between Hitachi executives, JR Automation leadership and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
JR Automation will officially break ground on the new headquarters on September 17, with construction expected to be completed by fall 2026.
“This investment reflects our long-term commitment to shaping the future of integrated industry automation and Lumada through sustainable innovation,” said Charlie Takeuchi, president and chief executive officer, Hitachi America. “By strengthening JR Automation’s capabilities in Michigan, we are creating a One Hitachi hub for breakthrough technologies featuring the convergence of digital twin, edge computing and AI to create intelligent manufacturing ecosystems that deliver lasting value to our customers, partners and shareholders.”
Lumada is a collective term for products, services and technologies based on Hitachi's digital technologies.
The 286,000-sq-ft facility will include 76,000 sq ft of office space and 210,000 sq ft dedicated to the assembly of customer automation projects. The headquarters will bring together approximately 350 employees from several western Michigan locations into one campus. The move comes as JR Automation continues to grow its global footprint through the acquisition of MA micro automation in Europe and an expansion in Singapore.
“JR Automation’s new global headquarters is a powerful example of what’s possible when we invest in innovation and build strong partnerships between Michigan and global leaders like Hitachi,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “This project will retain and create good-paying jobs, strengthen our advanced manufacturing sector, and reinforce Michigan’s position as a hub for cutting-edge technology.”
“The launch of our new global headquarters marks more than a change in location, it’s a bold step forward in our journey to shape the future of automation,” said Dave DeGraaf, CEO of JR Automation and general manager of Hitachi’s automation division. “The facility is designed to empower our teams, inspire our partners and deliver transformative solutions to our customers worldwide."
The new headquarters will feature modern spaces for collaboration with global customers and demonstrations of automation technologies. Designed with employee experience in mind, the headquarters will include amenities such as an on-site fitness center and workspaces. The 45-acre campus will also feature walkable, bikeable paved paths integrated into an ecologically restored native prairie landscape.
The new headquarters also is designed to take a significant step toward JR Automation's goals of carbon neutrality and zero landfill waste by 2030. These efforts include cultivating native biodiversity across the campus and meeting non-production electricity needs with on-site renewable energy.
Founded by Ken Assink in 1980 as a family-owned business serving the automotive industry, JR Automation attracted investment from two private equity firms before Hitachi acquired it in 2019. The company employs more than 2,000 people across 21 global locations and serves industries including aerospace, automotive, consumer goods, energy, life sciences and warehousing.
