Representatives of JR Automation joined Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (center) and officials from Hitachi Ltd. in Japan to announce that the company will locate its headquarters in Zeeland. Lakeshore Advantage President Jennifer Owens (far right) was part of the delegation that met with Hitachi officials.
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
A West Michigan high-tech manufacturer will break ground next Wednesday on a new $72.8 million global headquarters in the city of Zeeland.
JR Automation received approval from the city’s Planning Commission last Thursday to move ahead with development of a 210,000-square-foot manufacturing plant and a two-story headquarters building with about 40,000 square feet on each level at 800 E. Riley St.
“It’s quite an addition to our industrial base,” Mayor Kevin Klynstra said.
The new headquarters will be built on a 45.5-acre parcel at the southwest corner of Riley and 84th Avenue that was rezoned I-2 industrial in 2022. City officials said it was one of the few large vacant industrial-zoned properties remaining in Zeeland.
“This has been probably been a year in the making, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working with the staff of the city of Zeeland, who have been nothing but professional,” said Joel Cooper, the company’s global director of facilities and safety, during the public hearing on the site plan.
The project is slated for completion next year, Cooper said.
The Sept. 4 Planning Commission approval came one day after an announcement from Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer from Japan about the project. JR Automation officials, along with representatives from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and Jennifer Owens, president of the Lakeshore Advantage economic development organization, joined the governor in meeting with officials from Hitachi Ltd., the parent company of JR Automation, in Tokyo to discuss the project.
“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,” Whitmer said in a press release. “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 new Zeeland headquarters will be home to 350 employees and is expected to create 150 new jobs, Lakeshore Advantage said in a press release.
The project was first introduced to Whitmer and MEDC chief executive officer Quentin Messer, Jr., at Select USA 2024 – an annual conference aimed at promoting foreign direct investment into the United States. Michigan was competing with South Carolina, where JR Automation has an existing facility, for the project, Whitmer said.
“JR Automation has become a truly global company, and we need a space that meets our needs for hosting customers, showcasing technology, and attracting the best talent,” said Dave DeGraaf, CEO of JR Automation and general manager of Hitachi Automation Division. “Our new headquarters places us at the heart of a thriving automation and advanced manufacturing cluster that deepens our industry connections and competitive advantages.”
Founded in 1980 out of a pole barn in Olive Township by Ken Assink, JR Automation expanded into the company’s first plant on Tyler Street in 1985. In 1995, the Huizenga Group acquired the company. In December 2019, Hitachi Ltd. purchased JR Automation.
The JR Automation facility in Zeeland will combine three existing facilities in the Holland area into one to boost efficiency and increase cohesiveness across employees both of JR Automation and Hitachi.
“This new headquarters reflects Hitachi’s commitment to advancing smart manufacturing,” said Charlie Takeuchi, vice president and executive officer of Hitachi, and president and CEO of Hitachi Americas, Ltd. “It will serve as a global catalyst for advancement of integrated automation worldwide.”
JR Automation will expand its diverse group of industries it serves, including medical, warehousing, energy, consumer goods and more. The project is also intended to serve as a talent attraction and customer acquisition tool, as it plans to develop a world-class facility showcasing how operational technology and information technology come together to help companies manufacture smarter products.
“Hitachi’s investment signals real confidence in our region’s fast-growing smart manufacturing capabilities,” Owens said in a press release. “We know investment decisions go beyond data —they’re built on relationships and trust. This mission is about building meaningful relationships and a deeper understanding of the people, partnerships, and innovation culture that make West Michigan a smart place to grow. I’m proud to represent a region that’s rapidly emerging as a global hub for smart manufacturing and excited to keep building momentum together.”
The new site will have a focus on sustainability elements, including native prairie for biodiversity, on-site solar panels, and a goal to have baseline facility operations fully powered by renewable energy.
“The city of Zeeland is excited to be the new home of JR Automation’s global headquarters,” Klynstra said in a press release. “West Michigan has a great potential to serve as a catalyst for smart manufacturing, and it starts with significant investments like this one. We stand ready to help the business and community come together in unison over a shared vision of prosperity.”
JR Automation employs 941 people across all its Michigan sites and has more than 20 manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe, and Asia.
Zeeland Record
A West Michigan high-tech manufacturer will break ground next Wednesday on a new $72.8 million global headquarters in the city of Zeeland.
JR Automation received approval from the city’s Planning Commission last Thursday to move ahead with development of a 210,000-square-foot manufacturing plant and a two-story headquarters building with about 40,000 square feet on each level at 800 E. Riley St.
“It’s quite an addition to our industrial base,” Mayor Kevin Klynstra said.
The new headquarters will be built on a 45.5-acre parcel at the southwest corner of Riley and 84th Avenue that was rezoned I-2 industrial in 2022. City officials said it was one of the few large vacant industrial-zoned properties remaining in Zeeland.
“This has been probably been a year in the making, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working with the staff of the city of Zeeland, who have been nothing but professional,” said Joel Cooper, the company’s global director of facilities and safety, during the public hearing on the site plan.
The project is slated for completion next year, Cooper said.
The Sept. 4 Planning Commission approval came one day after an announcement from Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer from Japan about the project. JR Automation officials, along with representatives from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and Jennifer Owens, president of the Lakeshore Advantage economic development organization, joined the governor in meeting with officials from Hitachi Ltd., the parent company of JR Automation, in Tokyo to discuss the project.
“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,” Whitmer said in a press release. “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 new Zeeland headquarters will be home to 350 employees and is expected to create 150 new jobs, Lakeshore Advantage said in a press release.
The project was first introduced to Whitmer and MEDC chief executive officer Quentin Messer, Jr., at Select USA 2024 – an annual conference aimed at promoting foreign direct investment into the United States. Michigan was competing with South Carolina, where JR Automation has an existing facility, for the project, Whitmer said.
“JR Automation has become a truly global company, and we need a space that meets our needs for hosting customers, showcasing technology, and attracting the best talent,” said Dave DeGraaf, CEO of JR Automation and general manager of Hitachi Automation Division. “Our new headquarters places us at the heart of a thriving automation and advanced manufacturing cluster that deepens our industry connections and competitive advantages.”
Founded in 1980 out of a pole barn in Olive Township by Ken Assink, JR Automation expanded into the company’s first plant on Tyler Street in 1985. In 1995, the Huizenga Group acquired the company. In December 2019, Hitachi Ltd. purchased JR Automation.
The JR Automation facility in Zeeland will combine three existing facilities in the Holland area into one to boost efficiency and increase cohesiveness across employees both of JR Automation and Hitachi.
“This new headquarters reflects Hitachi’s commitment to advancing smart manufacturing,” said Charlie Takeuchi, vice president and executive officer of Hitachi, and president and CEO of Hitachi Americas, Ltd. “It will serve as a global catalyst for advancement of integrated automation worldwide.”
JR Automation will expand its diverse group of industries it serves, including medical, warehousing, energy, consumer goods and more. The project is also intended to serve as a talent attraction and customer acquisition tool, as it plans to develop a world-class facility showcasing how operational technology and information technology come together to help companies manufacture smarter products.
“Hitachi’s investment signals real confidence in our region’s fast-growing smart manufacturing capabilities,” Owens said in a press release. “We know investment decisions go beyond data —they’re built on relationships and trust. This mission is about building meaningful relationships and a deeper understanding of the people, partnerships, and innovation culture that make West Michigan a smart place to grow. I’m proud to represent a region that’s rapidly emerging as a global hub for smart manufacturing and excited to keep building momentum together.”
The new site will have a focus on sustainability elements, including native prairie for biodiversity, on-site solar panels, and a goal to have baseline facility operations fully powered by renewable energy.
“The city of Zeeland is excited to be the new home of JR Automation’s global headquarters,” Klynstra said in a press release. “West Michigan has a great potential to serve as a catalyst for smart manufacturing, and it starts with significant investments like this one. We stand ready to help the business and community come together in unison over a shared vision of prosperity.”
JR Automation employs 941 people across all its Michigan sites and has more than 20 manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe, and Asia.
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