Manufacturing

Tree Fort Bikes continues expansion in Ypsilanti

By Newsroom

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May 2, 2012

Tree Fort Bikes isn't just the little dream of a couple of guys who wanted to own a bike shop. The Ypsilanti-based business is growing into a sizable online retailer of bicycles, aggressively adding people and building out the company infrastructure. "Over the past year there have been a lot of changes," says Dante Tucker, HR & logistics manager for Tree Fort Bikes. "Our shipping method has changed. We have developed a new training program." That has allowed Tree Fort Bikes to almost double in size over the last year. And that's after it doubled in size the year before. Over the last 12 months, the company has hired nine people, expanding its staff to 17. Driving all of this growth is the online sales of its bicycles. That has pushed not only its web sales numbers but also traffic through its retail store. The company is now looking at a new home to accommodate its expanding customer base while still maintaining its core mission of being a community bike ship. "We're trying to be the bike shop that people can go to have their needs provided for," Tucker says. Source: Dante Tucker, HR & logistics manager for Tree Fort Bikes Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Latest in Manufacturing

k-Space doubles Dexter facility size, will add 10-12 jobs

By Tanya Muzumdar

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Development News

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April 4, 2012

k-Space Associates, Inc., a maker of diagnostic tools for the semi-conductor industry, is capitalizing on burgeoning demand for solar power and LED (light-emitting diode) lighting by doubling the size of its manufacturing and R&D facility in Dexter. "We are currently supplying diagnostic tools for the people that make LEDs; that market is growing, and hence we need additional capacity to both develop the diagnostic tools for the LED market and to manufacture them," says Darryl Barlett, owner of k-Space. Additionally, "we've again adapted our tools to monitor the production of solar panels, and that's a large market as well." The expansion of the facility, located in the Dexter Research and Development Park at 2182 Bishop Circle East, from 7,000 to 14,000 square feet is nearly complete and should be ready for use by mid-April. The R&D labs will remain in the original facility, while the new space is to be used primarily for manufacturing, Barlett says. The firm employees sales reps abroad and has several distributors worldwide. There are now 21 employees in Dexter, and another 10-12 positions will be added there over the next 18 months as a result of the expansion, Barlett says. Source: Darryl Barlett, owner, k-Space Associates, Inc. Writer: Tanya Muzumdar

The Eternal Entrepreneur: A Conversation with Mike Burns

By Jon Zemke

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Economic Development

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February 22, 2012

Mike Burns is a born entrepreneur, and at 58, he could easily run rings around guys half his age. Or fly rings around them, as the case may be (he pilots WW2 era P-51 Mustangs). More importantly, Burns is an entrepreneur who believes in doing business in Michigan. It's why he sources nearly all the components to his iPad accessory, the Handeholder, locally. And it's not just a recession thing. It's part of his overall business philosophy.

Coherix hires 15 as it lines up growth capital investors

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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February 22, 2012

Coherix is hiring new team members and raising tens of millions of dollars in growth capital to help it reach the next level. The Ann Arbor-based firm creates high-speed, high-definition 3D visualization and inspection software designed to improve the management of manufacturing processes. Its high-tech optical-based measurement and inspection products help find efficiencies in the automotive and semiconductor industries. The seven-year-old start-up now employs about 50 team members and a few interns after adding 15 people over the last year. The company has also been raising a round of growth capital to help fund its latest expansion, most of which appears to take place overseas. "Over 70 percent of our advanced manufacturing work goes to Asia," says Dwight Carlson, chairman & CEO of Coherix. "It will only increase over time. That tells you a lot right there." Most of the capital Coherix has raised comes from Asian funders focused on advanced manufacturing. Carlson says most of his experience with U.S. investors reveals they are more digital-tech oriented while manufacturing is put on the back burner. Does that mean Ann Arbor is in danger of losing Coherix? Carlson puts it this way: "Coherix China will be much bigger than Coherix Ann Arbor." "Asia is interested in manufacturing," Carlson says. "From my perspective America is not. How are you going to be globally competitive if you don't?" Source: Dwight Carlson, chairman & CEO of Coherix Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Maker Works: The Revolution Will Be Robotized

By Richard Retyi

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Community Development

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October 19, 2011

Maker Works is the future of manufacturing. Tom Root, managinmg partner of Zingerman's Mail Order, has help found the ultimate D.I.Y. workshop, a place where members can access high-tech machines and learn to bring their designs to fruition.

Ypsilanti’s Fusion Coolant Systems receives investments, adds jobs

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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October 12, 2011

Fusion Coolant Systems' rubber is hitting the road and gaining traction for its environmentally friendly cutting fluid. "We're getting our first sales revenue now," says Tom Gross, CEO of Fusion Coolant Systems. "We're getting tremendous opportunities in process development and research revenues. We have a couple of big deals out there right now." The graduate of Ann Arbor SPARK's East Incubator in downtown Ypsilanti is commercializing an environmentally friendly cutting fluid for industrial uses. That technology eliminates toxic cutting fluids in metal processing for industrial sectors such as aerospace. It also improves cutting tools performance while reducing the wear. The Ypsilanti-based start-up has received a shot in the arm from the Michigan Microloan Fund and the Detroit FIrst Step Fund worth five figures and is working on raising more money for product development and commercialization. The company, which employs four people and an independent contractor, is currently looking to hire business development specialist and a service technician. Fusion Coolant Systems, which recently made it to the semi-finals of the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition, is also planning to open a tech center in Detroit at the Focus: HOPE facility that specializes in advanced manufacturing and research and development. The company still plans to maintain its presence in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. Source: Tom Gross, CEO of Fusion Coolant Systems Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Last Ladder Standing

By Nicole Rupersburg

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General

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July 27, 2011

It was an economic development scheme that paid dividends and then some. Back in 1901, Ypsilanti deeded land to the Michigan Ladder Company in exchange for a hand full of jobs. One hundred ten years later, the company is still manufacturing their trademark wood ladders. And 95% of their business comes from outside the state.

American Broach & Machine shoots for $25M R&D center in Ypsilanti

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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February 16, 2011

Ypsilanti-based American Broach & Machine Co. is in the lead to land the research and development operations of its parent company with the help of a tax credit deal from the Michigan Economic Development Corp."If we can get these tax credits then it's a done deal," says Ken Nemec, president of American Broach & Machine Co.QC American, a subsidiary of China-based Qinchaun Machine Tool Group, owner of American Broach & Machine Co., is looking to invest $25 million in the new center, which will create up to 43 jobs over the next five years. It originally looked at setting up that R&D shop by one of its factories in Toronto or by its home base in China. Nemec made a pitch for to put it in Ypsilanti and won a tentative agreement."I thought we had enough room so we could expand in Ypsilanti," Nemec says. A final decision should be made by February, he adds, and work on the R&D center should begin shortly afterwards.The company got its start as a custom machine tool building company in 1919 in Ann Arbor. It has since consolidated its operations in Ypsilanti, where it employs 31 people full-time and another seven part-timers after adding half a dozen jobs in 2010. It also hired its last intern from ITT Tech and plans to bring another intern on later this year.American Broach & Machine Co. builds broaching machines, which are machine tools used in customized automated cutting processes in the automotive and defense industries. QC American acquired a controlling stake in the company in 2005 and the remaining shares last year.Source: Ken Nemec, president of American Broach & Machine Co.Writer: Jon ZemkeRead more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Concentrate Speaker Event: Think Local First

By Concentrate Staff

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Community Development

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February 9, 2011

What goes around, comes around. While much has been made of the locavore movement, the importance of buying local extends beyond food. This month, Concentrate's Speaker Series brings in Ingrid Ault, director of Think Local First, to talk about the implications of supporting and cultivating locally-owned, independent businesses. Sign up now for this February 24th event!

Ypsilanti start-up Fusion Coolant Systems enters market place

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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December 15, 2010

Fusion Coolant Systems expects to close its first sale this month and expects to begin generating enough revenue in 2011 to sustain itself.The downtown Ypsilanti-based start-up, which calls Ann Arbor SPARK's East Incubator home, is commercializing an environmentally friendly cutting fluid for industrial uses. That technology eliminates toxic cutting fluids in metal processing for industrial sectors such as aerospace. It also improves cutting tools performance while reducing the wear. It recently received a shot in the arm from the Michigan Microloan Fund. That bit of hard-to-find financing will help it tie up a whole host of business loose ends, such as product development, marketing, and sales development."It's difficult to get. There is tremendous competition," says Tom Gross, CEO of Fusion Coolant Systems. "Without this funding, this technology would still be sitting in a lab at the University of Michigan."The company has grown its team to seven people, adding one more since this fall. Source: Tom Gross, CEO of Fusion Coolant SystemsWriter: Jon ZemkeRead more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.