Rochester Hills, MI- Otto Bock, headquartered in Duderstadt, Germany, announced its plan to invest $13.3 million in a 53,000-square-foot facility it plans to open in Rochester Hills, Michigan.
We are expanding our automotive footprint to produce sound deadening and absorbing materials for underhood applications,” said Otto Bock’s Senior Technical Sales Representative, Mr. Tom Matwiczyk.
The company has been supplying its polyurethane-based materials for Jaguar, Mercedes Benz, BMW, and Opel in Europe and expects to capture additional market share in the United States because of the new facility. The a
utomotive industry continues to develop new engine technologies in order to reduce fuel consumption of its cars and trucks. Otto Bock’s unique chemistry allows it to produce polyurethane parts that absorb noise and vibration.
In addition to its investment, Otto Bock plans to create 98 new jobs over a five-year period, having just received a MEGA tax credits in support of its project. It previously considered a site in Minneapolis, Minnesota where it currently has a facility for its orthopedics division.
“We are very pleased to welcome Otto Bock to the Rochester Hills SmartZone,” said Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan K. Barnett, who attended the MEGA Board meeting. “Otto Bock’s project is the culmination of a very good year for the city’s economic development program, and brings new jobs to Michigan.”
Otto Bock is the 24th new company to locate in the community in 2010. Together, these projects represent a projected 1,180 new jobs and nearly $60 million in investment this year alone.
Otto Bock is a third generation privately held company that was founded in 1919 in Berlin, Germany as an orthopedics company. It has sales and manufacturing facilities in 40 countries, with 4,400 worldwide employees. Its global sales in 2009 topped $850 million.
Established in 1984, the City of Rochester Hills supports more than 200 tech-savvy businesses and offers a complete and diverse community. Recently voted one of the top 100 best places to live (2009) the City of Rochester Hills is committed to being the preeminent place to live, work and raise a family. For more information on City Planning and Development contact Dan Casey, Manager of Economic Planning & Development.
About Tom and Ann Gendich