JR Automation Plans $73 Million Global Headquarters in Zeeland
Lakeshore manufacturer JR Automation Technologies LLC is set to break ground on a $72.8 million headquarters in Zeeland that will bring together about 350 employees at multiple West Michigan locations to one facility. The company plans to break ground on Sept. 17 at 800 E. Riley St. in Zeeland for the new 286,000-square-foot facility that will include 76,000 square feet of office space and 210,000 square feet for assembling automation projects. The project on the 45-acre campus is expected to be completed in fall 2026. The company purchased the property for its new headquarters on Jan. 23 for more then $5 million from an entity tied to Ben Sietsema, owner of Honeycrisp Ventures development firm.
Strategic Vision and Campus Design
“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,” Dave DeGraaf, CEO of JR Automation and general manager of Hitachi’s Automation Division, said in a statement. The facility is designed to empower our teams, inspire our partners, and deliver transformative solutions to our customers worldwide. Regarding the site features, the headquarters will include an on-site fitness center as well as walking and bike paths on an “ecologically restored native prairie landscape,” according to an announcement. Furthermore, the campus is being designed to support carbon neutrality goals.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer commented on the expansion, stating, “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.”
Historical Growth and Financial Milestones
Established in 1980, JR Automation is a leading provider of intelligent automated manufacturing and technology solutions that solve customers’ key operational and productivity challenges. Over the past 45 years, it has grown into an Industry 4.0 powerhouse along the lakeshore. The following timeline outlines the company's significant financial trajectory:
- 1995: Huizenga Group acquired JR Automation, growing annual revenue from $14 million to about $180 million by 2015.
- 2015: The company was sold to New York City private equity firm Crestview Partners.
- 2019: Crestview sold the company to Japanese conglomerate Hitachi for $1.42 billion, at which point sales had grown to more than $600 million.
Global Operations and Market Expansion
JR Automation now employs more than 2,000 people across 21 global locations. Over the past year, JR Automation has eyed growth in the medical technology space with the $76.4 million acquisition of German robotics and automation firm MA micro automation, which also helped it gain a stronger foothold in Europe. The company serves customers all over the world in a variety of industries, helping to transform how the world’s leading aerospace, automotive, e-commerce and life sciences companies make and distribute products.
Looking ahead, Bryan Jones, CEO of JR Automation, noted that, “As we look to the future, we see the opportunity that exists in bringing the cyber world to the physical world and integrating Hitachi’s digital solutions into the systems that we produce.” This partnership with Hitachi is going to allow the organization to do considerably more for its customers.
