Hitachi subsidiary will open new HQ in west Michigan, Whitmer says
Posted By: Detroit News on September 3, 2025. For more information, please click here to read the source article.
JR Automation, a company with west Michigan roots that is now owned by Japanese conglomerate Hitachi Ltd., plans to build a new global headquarters in Ottawa County that will employ 150 people, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Wednesday.
The announcement of the nearly $73 million investment in Zeeland comes in the midst of a Whitmer trade mission to Japan and Singapore. Earlier this week, the governor announced that another company, Japanese auto components business Astemo Ltd., committed to a $95 million investment for a regional headquarters in Wixom that is expected to create 200 jobs.
JR Automation, a subsidiary of Tokyo’s Hitachi, offers custom automation solutions — such as robots and software — for all kinds of manufacturing, including automotive, aerospace, and food and beverage. The company was founded in 1980 in Holland, Michigan, where it has retained its home base, and it came under Hitachi’s ownership in 2019.
“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 the announcement.
She said the project would both help retain and create jobs in Michigan and reinforce the state’s reputation for cutting-edge technology. The Ottawa County facility will combine three existing JR Automation facilities into one and help the company work more closely with other employees at Hitachi, a news release said. Some global Hitachi employees are expected to work at the new facility.
“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,” Dave DeGraaf, CEO of JR Automation, said in a statement.
The announcement said the company has room to grow at the new Zeeland property, and the move will allow it to bring other industrial space online at its other local facilities. JR Automation employs 941 people across the state and has more than 20 manufacturing facilities across North America, Europe and Asia.
Jennifer Owens, the president of Lakeshore Advantage, the local economic development group in west Michigan, is part of the delegation traveling with Whitmer. She said her aim was to strengthen ties between her region and Japan’s smart manufacturing leaders.
“Hitachi’s investment signals real confidence in our region’s fast-growing smart manufacturing capabilities,” she said.
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