US subsidiary · Industrial automation
Hitachi's JR Automation to build a $72.8 million global headquarters in Michigan
- Parent
- Hitachi (Tokyo)
- New US unit
- JR Automation global headquarters, Zeeland, Michigan
- Value
- $72.8M investment; 150 new jobs
- Status
- Under construction. Ground was broken on September 17, 2025; reports put completion in late 2026 or early 2027. Michigan approved a $1.6 million grant.
- Date
- 2025-09-03
JR Automation, a factory-robotics company Hitachi bought in 2019, will combine three Michigan sites into one global headquarters campus in Zeeland, with a 40,000-square-foot office and a 210,000-square-foot production building. The $72.8 million project adds 150 jobs. Governor Whitmer announced it in Tokyo after meeting Hitachi and JR Automation leaders, and Michigan won it over South Carolina.
Why it matters
It shows Hitachi building out the US companies it bought rather than just owning them. Demand for factory automation in the US is rising as manufacturers bring production home.
About JR Automation
JR Automation was founded in 1980 and builds automated production lines for automotive, life sciences, electric vehicle, energy storage and other customers. It has more than 20 factories in North America, Europe and Asia and employed 941 people in Michigan. Some Hitachi staff from around the world are also expected to work at the new campus.
How the deal came about
Michigan officials first heard about the project at the SelectUSA investment conference in 2024. Chief executive Dave DeGraaf said the company needed a place to host customers, show its technology and attract talent. The campus is planned with native prairie, solar panels and a goal of running its basic operations fully on renewable power.
Sources
Kakehashi M&A News home
