JR Automation, a Hitachi Group company and global automation specialist, has unveiled plans for a new global headquarters in Zeeland, Michigan. The project is expected to cost $72.8 million.
The announcement follows a strategic meeting in Tokyo between Hitachi executives, JR Automation leadership, and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, underscoring the company’s commitment to innovation, global collaboration, and investment in Michigan’s advanced manufacturing sector.
JR Automation will officially break ground on the new headquarters September 17, 2025, with construction expected to be completed by late Fall 2026.
This milestone honors the visionary legacy of Ken Assink, founder of JR Automation, whose pioneering spirit helped establish West Michigan as a hub for advanced automation.
It also reflects Hitachi’s dedication to preserving that legacy by keeping the global headquarters rooted where it all began.
Charlie Takeuchi, president and CEO, Hitachi America, says: “This investment reflects our long-term commitment to shaping the future of Integrated Industry Automation and Lumada through sustainable innovation.
“By strengthening JR Automation’s capabilities in Michigan, we are creating a One Hitachi hub for breakthrough technologies featuring the convergence of digital twin, edge computing, and AI to create intelligent manufacturing ecosystems that deliver lasting value to our customers, partners, and shareholders.”
The 286,000-square-foot facility will include 76,000 square feet of office space and 210,000 square feet dedicated to the assembly of customer automation projects.
The headquarters will bring together approximately 350 employees from several West Michigan locations into one state-of-the-art campus.
The move comes as JR Automation continues to grow its global footprint through the acquisition of MA micro automation in Europe and an expansion in Singapore.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer says: “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.
“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.”
Dave DeGraaf, CEO of JR Automation and general manager of Hitachi’s Automation Division, says: “The launch of our new global headquarters marks more than a change in location, it’s a bold step forward in our journey to shape the future of automation.
“The facility is designed to empower our teams, inspire our partners, and deliver transformative solutions to our customers worldwide.”
The new headquarters will feature modern spaces for collaboration with global customers and demonstrations of the latest automation technologies.
Designed with employee experience in mind, the headquarters will include amenities such as an on-site fitness center and workspaces that inspire sustainable practices and connection to the outdoors, all to help attract and retain leading talent.
The 45-acre campus will also feature walkable, bikeable paved paths integrated into an ecologically restored native prairie landscape.
The new headquarters also represents a significant step toward JR Automation’s goals of carbon neutrality and zero landfill waste by 2030 as the company advances its sustainability practices.
These efforts include cultivating native biodiversity across the campus and meeting non-production electricity needs with on-site renewable energy, demonstrating a commitment to environmental stewardship and the local community.
Founded in 1980 as a family-owned business serving the automotive industry, JR Automation has grown into a global leader in industrial automation and smart manufacturing technology.
As the company rapidly grew, it attracted investment from two private equity firms before Hitachi acquired it in 2019.
Today, the company employs over 2,000 people across 21 global locations and serves industries including aerospace, automotive, consumer goods, energy, life sciences, warehousing, and more.
