JR AUTOMATION CELEBRATES OPENING OF NEW LAKE ORION FACILITY

Holland, MI – May 25, 2023 – On Friday, May 18, JR Automation employees, customers, community members, and local officials gathered at 1427 Brown Road in Lake Orion, Michigan to celebrate the grand opening of the company’s new primary facility in Metro Detroit.  The opening of the new site helps to meet growing demand for the company’s services while consolidating a number of smaller locations previously occupied in the area.  The facility, which was first announced in November 2022, includes over 227,500 sq. ft. of manufacturing space and is down the street from the other remaining JR Automation location in the area.   

The employee-only event included a presentation featuring key company leadership including Masakazu Aoki, Executive Vice President and Executive Officer, Hitachi, Ltd.  “I am very happy and very proud of this new facility,” said Aoki in his speech.  “I was a mechanical engineer and a factory manager in manufacturing, and space is indispensable to growth.” 

JR Automation was represented by CEO Craig Ulrich, COO Kevin Whaley and division Vice President Brian Rogus.  “Without this team, this building doesn’t exist,” said Ulrich.  “It’s your hard work and it’s your dedication that made this possible.” 

Also in attendance were representatives from the community partners that helped to make the project possible.  This included Orion Township Supervisor Chris Barnett, Detroit Regional Partnership President & CEO Maureen Krauss and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation CEO Quentin Messer, Jr.   

“The MEDC is proud to celebrate the hard work and continued successful perseverance of JR Automation with the grand opening of their largest-ever facility in Michigan,” said Messer. “This company is a wonderful example of Michigan’s success in securing foreign direct investment across multiple industry sectors, as well as the state’s historically strong relationship with Japan. I commend everyone who has been a part of the JR Automation story and look forward to celebrating many more milestones for years to come.” 

The event also featured United States Representative Lisa McClain and Yusuke Shindo, Consul General of Japan in Detroit.  “This is an example of everything that is right with our state, our community and our government,” said McClain during the presentation. 

Following the ceremony, guests and employees were treated to tours of the new facility, games and lunch.