Manufacturing

New Eagle expands staff at new facility in Ann Arbor

By Newsroom

●

March 11, 2015

New Eagle moved into a new office in Ann Arbor last year and has been growing its staff and bottom line since. The automotive, energy-efficiency company took over a 21,000-square-foot space on the city's western outskirts. It has spent equal parts of the last few months working on its hybrid technology and modernizing its new home. "We took it from an old, dingy commercial space to a collaborative office," says Rich Swortzel, president of New Eagle. "It's open. It’s a fun environment." The 6-year-old company specializes in hybrid technology for the automotive sector. Its recently released Raptor platform helps create fuel-savings for heavy vehicles like garbage trucks. It accomplishes that with a connected and distributed control system that is advanced, scalable, self-diagnosing, and remotely controllable. "The goal is to mature it and grow it," Swortzel says. New Eagle has enjoyed growing sales of technology both domestically and internationally recently. International sales accounted for half of the company’s revenue over the last year. That has allowed the company hire a handful of people over the last year. Source: Rich Swortzel, president of New Eagle Writer: Jon Zemke

Latest in Manufacturing

Current Motor launches new product line, Mini-fleets-in-a-Box

By Newsroom

●

Economic Development

●

February 11, 2015

Current Motor Co is launching a new product line this winter, expanding on its core offering of electric scooters. The Ann Arbor-based company's Mini-fleet-in-a-Box product consists of four Current Motor Co’s new Nb Electric Cargo Motorcycles inside a shipping container that also acts as a solar charging station. That way the patent-pending product can be transported to remote locations with everything from a train to a helicopter. The standard Mini-fleet-in-a-Box comes in a standard 20-foot shipping container but can be made to fit a larger container as necessary. "We can do a large one as well," says Lauren Flanagan, executive chair of Current Motor Co. "It's not a problem. I like to say they work outside of the box." Current Motor Co is targeting customers that need self-supportive transportation options in remote locations, such as international mining and manufacturing companies. The 5-year-old firm has completely redesigned its electric scooter to create the Nb Electric Cargo Motorcycle, a 100-percent electric vehicle. The Nb Electric Cargo Motorcycle is advertised as very low maintenance requirements because it has no belts, chains or gears. It has a top speed of 70 mph, and can go up to 50 miles per charge. The motorcycle’s frame has been made stronger to carry more cargo (a driver and substantial cargo or two passengers and light cargo) through the use of high-strength Niobium (Nb) micro-alloyed steel. Current Motor Co's Nb Solar Charging Station can easily fit in a standard shipping container, allowing it to house four Nb Electric Cargo Motorcycles. The station can charge the bikes in five hours with its solar-powered 22-kilowatt-hour battery. The whole package starts retailing at $130,000 and can reach as much as $300,000 depending on the extras. "It really depends on what you put on it," Flanagan says. She adds, "We build it out to fit that need." Current Motor Co has hired five people over the last year. Those new jobs include business development professionals, technicians, engineers, and skilled labor. The company currently has a staff of 17 employees. That team is looking to start shipping the first orders of the firm’s Mini-fleet-in-a-Box this month. "I think we’re going to have a very good year," Flanagan says. Source: Lauren Flanagan, executive chair of Current Motor Co Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Sight Machine to close on multi-million-dollar VC round, grow staff

By Newsroom

●

Economic Development

●

January 21, 2015

Sight Machine doesn't have to look too far down the road to see some big things are on the horizon. The manufacturing software startup is poised to close on a big venture capital round in a few weeks, move into a new home in a few months, and exponentially grow the business this year. The Ann Arbor-based startup is in the final stages of securing a seven-figure venture capital deal within the next couple of weeks. The deal is described as "less-than-$10-million" ...but not too much less than that. "It's still a multi-million-dollar deal," says Patrick Fetterman, vice president of marketing for Sight Machine. The 4-year-old company has been developing a software platform for manufacturers. It started out as a inspection technology but now has expanded to analyze a factory's entire operations. It’s being branded as manufacturing analytics that take up an enormous amount of computing power to operate. Sigh Machine launched its first product two years ago. Now it has two Fortune 1000 companies as customers and a number of medium-sized businesses. Fetterman expects that list to grow rapidly once the seed capital is confirmed and used to grow the business. It is already bursting at the seams in its current home in Ann Arbor's Maker Works. "We're looking for additional office space because we have outgrown it," Fetterman says. "We plan to double the size of the business." Sight Machine has expanded its staff to 22 people after making nine hires last year. Those new jobs included sales, marketing, engineers and executive team members. More hires are expected this year. "It's going to be a very exciting year for the company," Fetterman says. Source: Patrick Fetterman, vice president of marketing for Sight Machine Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Lansing and Ann Arbor, economic rivals as well?

By Newsroom

●

Economic Development

●

November 19, 2014

Oh, how the mighty might fall. Not only is U-M's football in decline, overshadowed by the green and white, Ann Arbor may soon see its economic dominance eclipsed by Lansing as well. Excerpt: "But if growth trends continue, perhaps Lansing is poised to take the lead here as well after trailing Ann Arbor for 13 years. In the Lansing region, which includes Clinton, Eaton and Ingham counties, GDP grew by 2.4 percent in 2013 over the previous year, with more growth expected from a series of recent plant investments by General Motors. But in the Ann Arbor region, which includes Washtenaw County, 2013 growth was an anemic .7 percent." Read the rest here.

Coherix growth continues on strength of global work

By Newsroom

●

Economic Development

●

October 8, 2014

Talk to Dwight Carlson about manufacturing for any length of time and he will tell you about how it has become a global venture. The founder & CEO of Coherix, which makes software for advanced manufacturing, knows because so much of the revenue for his Ann Arbor-based business comes from well-outside of its hometown's borders. "We are truly global," Carlson says. "More than 75 percent of our advanced manufacturing technology is shipped outside of the U.S., and that is only going to increase." Coherix's principal technology provides high-speed, high-definition 3D measurement and inspection services to manufacturers. The software is designed to streamline a manufacturer’s production capability by finding efficiencies through high-tech, optical-based measurement and inspection of the manufacturers assembly processes. The 10-year-old company has operations in China and Japan. It also has subsidiaries in Singapore and Europe, all of which have consistently grown in recent years. "Europe is starting to take off with sales to Opel and Ford," Carlson says. Coherix has hired five people in the U.S. over the last year. It currently has a staff of 40 employees and the occasional intern in Ann Arbor. To Carlson, there is no better place to do the white collar side of the business. "It's an excellent place to do high-tech R&D," Carlson says. "There is a reason why Toyota has $100 million invested in R&D here." Source: Dwight Carlson, founder, chairman & CEO of Coherix Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Hines Industries hires 5 engineers on 30% growth

By Newsroom

●

Economic Development

●

July 23, 2014

The last two years have been pretty kind to Hines Industries. The Ann Arbor-based manufacturing tech firm’s revenue has spiked 30 percent in each of the last two years. That has enabled it to hire five new people (engineers) over the last year, expanding its staff to about 40 people. "We have had an increase in the automotive section," says Dawn Hines, CEO of Hines Industries. "That is because the automotive sector was ordering less in 2010 and 2011." Hines Industries makes balancing equipment for manufacturers. Its standard dynamic balancing machine models and specialized balanced configurations for the automotive industry that improves manufacturing process efficiency. Hines points out that her company has invested in its own operations, including a new IT system, an improved website, and a better customer communication systems. She credits the rebounding economy and surging auto industry with the recent growth spike, but expects it to level out to low-double-digit growth in the next couple of years. "We think we will be growing something like 15 percent per year," Hines says. "We expected to do more business with existing customers and more business internationally." Source: Dawn Hines, CEO of Hines Industries Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Growing Hatch Stamping opens new Chelsea sales office

By Natalie Burg

●

Development News

●

July 23, 2014

With two industrial facilities in Chelsea, plants in Fowlerville, Howell and Mexico, and new plant coming to Tennessee next year, Hatch Stamping Company is definitely growing. So much so, that the Chelsea-based company has opened a new local sales office to accommodate their growth. "We are bringing in new customers, and we are growing the customer that we do have," says Steve Emmert, director of sales for Hatch Stamping. "Also, the economy in the auto world is doing better." After running out of room in the Chelsea location that once held their sales staff, Hatch located a pair of office suites on Middle St. to dedicate to sales. Sixteen sales staff will work out of the 4,500 square foot office, of the 245 workers the business employes in Chelsea. Company-wide, Hatch Stamping employs 680 employees. Though the company's growth extends beyond state and even national borders, Emmert says Chelsea remains the best home base for Hatch Stamping. "The company has been here since 1952, and we have no plans of moving our our operations out of the Chelsea area," Emmert says. "It's a good place to pull workers from." Hatch Stamping moved into their new sales office in mid June and celebrated a grand opening on July 10. Source: Steve Emmert, Hatch Stamping Company Writer: Natalie Burg

TECAT Performance Systems triples revenue since 2012

By Newsroom

●

Economic Development

●

July 16, 2014

There is a lot of new over at TECAT Performance Systems. The Ann Arbor-based startup has some new staff, new markets for its principal product to explore, and a new name. The 2-year-old firm, which spun out of TECAT Engineering, changed its name to TECAT Performance Systems this summer. It also hired some new staff, including a new marketing person and CEO. The team of less than 10 people has been focused on growing the company’s revenue. It has added to its customer base and has tripled its revenue since 2012. "This year we have already exceeded last year's revenue," says Don Keating, vice president of business development for TECAT Performance Systems. "We have some exciting things in the pipeline for the rest of the year." TECAT Performance Systems is commercializing wireless sensor technology that collect environmental, motion and mechanical information and stream it wirelessly to a central control unit. These sensors, designed to be used in confined spaces, monitor and record live torque data from any rotating shaft. The company is now exploring options on using the technology to measure other things in other industries, such as defense. "The product itself has evolved so it can do multiple functions besides just measure torque," Keating says. In the meantime, TECAT Performance Systems is continuing to refine its sensor technologies with an eye for mass producing them on a much larger scale. However, such a increase in productivity is still a year or two away. "We're in the very early stages of those discussions," Keating says. Source: Don Keating, vice president of business development for TECAT Performance Systems Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

India-based scooter maker comes to Ann Arbor

By Newsroom

●

Economic Development

●

May 14, 2014

Why did a Mumbia-based scooter company lay down roots in metro Detroit? It's that word economic development folks like to endlessly toss around: "ecosystem." As in, Michigan has the right one for their product. Excerpt: "The Mahindra Group — based in Mumbai, India — inaugurated its North American Technical Center in Troy on Friday. The center will develop fully engineered vehicles for Mahindra Global Automotive and will employ more than 100 engineers. A separate manufacturing facility, Mahindra GenZe, will be located in Ann Arbor." Read the rest here. Here's what SPARK had to say about the company.

Saline Lectronics hires 18 on surging business

By Newsroom

●

Economic Development

●

April 2, 2014

A number of key numbers are spiking at Saline Lectronics. Think revenue and staffing levels. The Saline-based electronics manufacturer has watched its revenue rise 30 percent over the last year. It is coming off a record first quarter so far this year and it is set to exceed its revenue growth this year. "We have experienced a lot of continued growth with our existing customers," says Davina McDonnell, director of marketing for Saline Lectronics. Saline Lectronics does circuit board manufacturing and most other manufacturing functions in the electronic field. Some of its larger customers include the likes of Boeing and NASA. The growing business from them has allowed the 12-year-old company to hire 18 people over the last year, expanding its staff to 162 employees. It currently has three open positions for technicians and account managers. "We're definitely on track to continue our hiring streak, and keep training new staff," McDonnell says. She expects Saline Lectronics to hire up to another 20 people this year. Source: Davina McDonnell, director of marketing for Saline Lectronics Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.