Four economic development projects in Southeast Michigan representing~ $55 million in capital investment and 167 jobs in Wayne and Oakland counties were announced today by Governor Gretchen Whitmer. The are: 3E Nano Inc, dba NxLite is a company providing nano-thin energy and solar control coatings for the polymer, glass, and window industries. Robert Bosch LLC., part of the Bosch Group intends to create a Regional Hydrogen Research and Development Hub at the company’s Farmington Hills headquarters. Envergia recovers minerals and metals from recycling of industrial lithium-ion and EV batteries. Software company dSPACE. (read AutoInformed.com on: Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer Defends Auto Industry)
“Today, we are investing in advanced manufacturing companies across Southeast Michigan to create 167 good-paying jobs and build on our work to grow Michigan’s economy,” said Governor Whitmer. “From battery recycling to software testing to research and development, we are bringing good-paying, high-tech jobs home to Michigan, creating opportunities for our workers and securing the automotive supply chain.”
NxLite
NxLite’s products – it’s claimed – use earth-abundant materials, are air-stable, and can be applied to light-weight polymers as well as glass, providing optimal control of thermal energy flow in and out of a building, while improving optical performance. The company is establishing its U.S. headquarters and manufacturing facility in Canton Township, Wayne County. It will be called NxLite’s AIM Center.
“This manufacturing facility allows us to apply our advanced energy coatings to both glass and polymeric substrates using the latest nano technology,” said David Mather, CEO of NxLite. “The opening of the AIM center couldn’t have come at a better time given the increased demand for our solutions.”
The company is expecting to create 39 new jobs with a capital investment of $8,858,746 for the project with the support of the Michigan Strategic Fund through a $1,000,000 Michigan Business Development Program (MBDP) performance-based grant. Newly created jobs will have starting wages at or above $24 per hour, all of which will be above the regional median wage.
“The company’s current alternative is to build a manufacturing facility in Canada, and not open a U.S. headquarters. Remaining in Canada offers significant cost advantages in the form of an R&D tax credit, lower wages, and lower healthcare costs. However, the company decided as part of their Global Strategy to expand into the U.S. and chose to locate this facility in Michigan as the state has the skilled talent pool and business support resources needed to grow. This investment will continue to stimulate the local region with immediate job growth and additional long-term growth potential as the company continues to expand,” the release said.
Robert Bosch
Robert Bosch intends to create a Regional Hydrogen Research and Development Hub at the company’s Farmington Hills headquarter facility. The project will require extensive upgrades and restructuring of 2200 square feet of existing space to support further development of the fuel cell power module.
“Hydrogen will play a role in a diversified mix of powertrain options in the future,” said Peter Tadros, regional president of Power Solutions for Bosch in North America. “Our work at the Farmington Hills location underscores our commitment to advancing hydrogen technology, enabling us to deliver innovative solutions that support our customers’ needs and drive progress toward the hydrogen economy.”
Today’s announcement is anticipated to generate capital investment of $13,768,412 in the city of Farmington Hills, Oakland County with the creation of 28 new jobs. Jobs will be in the mechanical, electrical and chemical engineering fields with an average wage of $48.84 per hour plus benefits, more than double the regional media wage of $23.26 per hour. The investment comes with the support of the MBDP performance-based grant in the amount of $500,000 through the Michigan Strategic Fund.
Envergia
Envergia Incorporated, an industry leader in lithium-ion and electric vehicle (EV) battery recycling, is announcing plans to build out a 115,560-sq.-ft. facility in Detroit to house and operate the machinery and equipment required to recycle batteries into black mass materials. This investment will contribute to lowering the carbon footprint of the battery supply chain and the demand for new raw materials.
Envergia has an extensive history in Europe, particularly within the United Kingdom, where it has demonstrated industry-leading standards and key performance indicators in the critical mineral and metals recovery from recycling industrial lithium-ion and EV batteries. This investment is anticipated to result in $32,667,000 in capital investment and create 52 new jobs with the support of a MBDP performance-based grant in the amount of $750,000. The jobs being created average $37.68 per hour plus benefits throughout the ramp up period of five years which represents nearly $14 per hour above the regional media wage of $23.73.
“Detroit is the perfect home for Envergia’s expansion into North America. This was abundantly evident from our first visit to the city. This city embodies resilience, innovation, and opportunity,” said MJ Chandilya, Envergia Founder & CEO. “By partnering with the City of Detroit and MEDC, Envergia is not just scaling our vision for clean energy—we are investing in Michigan’s future, creating jobs, and ensuring that Detroit continues to lead in building a sustainable economy.”
Envergia has developed proprietary technology for this process that increases capacity and has less intense capital expenditure per processing plant than competitors. The company has been engaged with the City of Detroit as well as the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to identify, apply for, and obtain the appropriate permitting for the project to ensure a seamless and successful launch.
Michigan competed with South Carolina for the investment, which remains a viable option due to its cheaper cost of labor, making this incentive necessary to ensure the project moves forward in Michigan. State support will help offset the cost of renovating the project site, allowing the company to establish its lithium-ion battery recycling facility and become a strong employer in the region.
dSPACE
dSPACE engineers and designs products that allow automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to use this technology in its development processes to test vehicle software before being installed in the vehicle. This technology identifies glitches prior to the installation which saves both time and manpower.
It was founded in Germany in 1988 and established its North American headquarters in the city of Novi in 1991 and then moved to Wixom in 2007. dSPACE Inc. quickly grew and in 2018, dSPACE added a production, testing, and shipping facility in New Hudson to meet customer demand. The company has 2800 employees globally, with 111 Michigan residents.
“We very much appreciate the great support we received from the State of Michigan and MEDC. Together with the City of Wixom and Oakland County, MEDC worked with us successfully, right from the beginning of our expansion project. The highly skilled talent in Michigan and the mid-west, the great infrastructure and the collaborative partnership with MEDC were the main reasons to increase our footprint here in South-East Michigan.” says Dr. Peter Waeltermann, CEO of dSPACE Inc.
The project is anticipated to generate $3.1 million in capital investment and create 51 new jobs in the next 3 years, at an average wage of $49.82 per hour plus benefits, over $16 dollars above the regional media wage. The company chose Michigan over other competing sites due to the dedicated and skilled workforce available and the local partnerships it has fostered over the years. This investment comes with the support of a $408,000 MBDP performance-based grant.
The proposed project involves extensive renovations to maximize facility space and the addition of machinery and equipment to allow for additional production at its headquarters. This expansion aligns with the company’s long-term strategy to provide innovative technology to the increasingly growing mobility industry. The company partners with Oakland County Michigan Works! and Oakland Community College to attract, manage, and retain talent and offers on-the-job training.
More Green Economy Jobs Coming to Michigan
Four economic development projects in Southeast Michigan representing~ $55 million in capital investment and 167 jobs in Wayne and Oakland counties were announced today by Governor Gretchen Whitmer. The are: 3E Nano Inc, dba NxLite is a company providing nano-thin energy and solar control coatings for the polymer, glass, and window industries. Robert Bosch LLC., part of the Bosch Group intends to create a Regional Hydrogen Research and Development Hub at the company’s Farmington Hills headquarters. Envergia recovers minerals and metals from recycling of industrial lithium-ion and EV batteries. Software company dSPACE. (read AutoInformed.com on: Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer Defends Auto Industry)
“Today, we are investing in advanced manufacturing companies across Southeast Michigan to create 167 good-paying jobs and build on our work to grow Michigan’s economy,” said Governor Whitmer. “From battery recycling to software testing to research and development, we are bringing good-paying, high-tech jobs home to Michigan, creating opportunities for our workers and securing the automotive supply chain.”
NxLite
NxLite’s products – it’s claimed – use earth-abundant materials, are air-stable, and can be applied to light-weight polymers as well as glass, providing optimal control of thermal energy flow in and out of a building, while improving optical performance. The company is establishing its U.S. headquarters and manufacturing facility in Canton Township, Wayne County. It will be called NxLite’s AIM Center.
“This manufacturing facility allows us to apply our advanced energy coatings to both glass and polymeric substrates using the latest nano technology,” said David Mather, CEO of NxLite. “The opening of the AIM center couldn’t have come at a better time given the increased demand for our solutions.”
The company is expecting to create 39 new jobs with a capital investment of $8,858,746 for the project with the support of the Michigan Strategic Fund through a $1,000,000 Michigan Business Development Program (MBDP) performance-based grant. Newly created jobs will have starting wages at or above $24 per hour, all of which will be above the regional median wage.
“The company’s current alternative is to build a manufacturing facility in Canada, and not open a U.S. headquarters. Remaining in Canada offers significant cost advantages in the form of an R&D tax credit, lower wages, and lower healthcare costs. However, the company decided as part of their Global Strategy to expand into the U.S. and chose to locate this facility in Michigan as the state has the skilled talent pool and business support resources needed to grow. This investment will continue to stimulate the local region with immediate job growth and additional long-term growth potential as the company continues to expand,” the release said.
Robert Bosch
Robert Bosch intends to create a Regional Hydrogen Research and Development Hub at the company’s Farmington Hills headquarter facility. The project will require extensive upgrades and restructuring of 2200 square feet of existing space to support further development of the fuel cell power module.
“Hydrogen will play a role in a diversified mix of powertrain options in the future,” said Peter Tadros, regional president of Power Solutions for Bosch in North America. “Our work at the Farmington Hills location underscores our commitment to advancing hydrogen technology, enabling us to deliver innovative solutions that support our customers’ needs and drive progress toward the hydrogen economy.”
Today’s announcement is anticipated to generate capital investment of $13,768,412 in the city of Farmington Hills, Oakland County with the creation of 28 new jobs. Jobs will be in the mechanical, electrical and chemical engineering fields with an average wage of $48.84 per hour plus benefits, more than double the regional media wage of $23.26 per hour. The investment comes with the support of the MBDP performance-based grant in the amount of $500,000 through the Michigan Strategic Fund.
Envergia
Envergia Incorporated, an industry leader in lithium-ion and electric vehicle (EV) battery recycling, is announcing plans to build out a 115,560-sq.-ft. facility in Detroit to house and operate the machinery and equipment required to recycle batteries into black mass materials. This investment will contribute to lowering the carbon footprint of the battery supply chain and the demand for new raw materials.
Envergia has an extensive history in Europe, particularly within the United Kingdom, where it has demonstrated industry-leading standards and key performance indicators in the critical mineral and metals recovery from recycling industrial lithium-ion and EV batteries. This investment is anticipated to result in $32,667,000 in capital investment and create 52 new jobs with the support of a MBDP performance-based grant in the amount of $750,000. The jobs being created average $37.68 per hour plus benefits throughout the ramp up period of five years which represents nearly $14 per hour above the regional media wage of $23.73.
“Detroit is the perfect home for Envergia’s expansion into North America. This was abundantly evident from our first visit to the city. This city embodies resilience, innovation, and opportunity,” said MJ Chandilya, Envergia Founder & CEO. “By partnering with the City of Detroit and MEDC, Envergia is not just scaling our vision for clean energy—we are investing in Michigan’s future, creating jobs, and ensuring that Detroit continues to lead in building a sustainable economy.”
Envergia has developed proprietary technology for this process that increases capacity and has less intense capital expenditure per processing plant than competitors. The company has been engaged with the City of Detroit as well as the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to identify, apply for, and obtain the appropriate permitting for the project to ensure a seamless and successful launch.
Michigan competed with South Carolina for the investment, which remains a viable option due to its cheaper cost of labor, making this incentive necessary to ensure the project moves forward in Michigan. State support will help offset the cost of renovating the project site, allowing the company to establish its lithium-ion battery recycling facility and become a strong employer in the region.
dSPACE
dSPACE engineers and designs products that allow automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to use this technology in its development processes to test vehicle software before being installed in the vehicle. This technology identifies glitches prior to the installation which saves both time and manpower.
It was founded in Germany in 1988 and established its North American headquarters in the city of Novi in 1991 and then moved to Wixom in 2007. dSPACE Inc. quickly grew and in 2018, dSPACE added a production, testing, and shipping facility in New Hudson to meet customer demand. The company has 2800 employees globally, with 111 Michigan residents.
“We very much appreciate the great support we received from the State of Michigan and MEDC. Together with the City of Wixom and Oakland County, MEDC worked with us successfully, right from the beginning of our expansion project. The highly skilled talent in Michigan and the mid-west, the great infrastructure and the collaborative partnership with MEDC were the main reasons to increase our footprint here in South-East Michigan.” says Dr. Peter Waeltermann, CEO of dSPACE Inc.
The project is anticipated to generate $3.1 million in capital investment and create 51 new jobs in the next 3 years, at an average wage of $49.82 per hour plus benefits, over $16 dollars above the regional media wage. The company chose Michigan over other competing sites due to the dedicated and skilled workforce available and the local partnerships it has fostered over the years. This investment comes with the support of a $408,000 MBDP performance-based grant.
The proposed project involves extensive renovations to maximize facility space and the addition of machinery and equipment to allow for additional production at its headquarters. This expansion aligns with the company’s long-term strategy to provide innovative technology to the increasingly growing mobility industry. The company partners with Oakland County Michigan Works! and Oakland Community College to attract, manage, and retain talent and offers on-the-job training.