The new Wacker facility was an investment of over $50 million. | Governor Gretchen Whitmer/Facebook
The new Wacker facility was an investment of over $50 million. | Governor Gretchen Whitmer/Facebook
The Wacker Chemical Corp. recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Ann Arbor for its new regional headquarters and innovation center.
The ceremony was led by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, along with state and municipal leaders, Whitmer's office said in a release.
"Michigan is, and has always been, a home for innovators of all kinds to experiment, discover and deploy new technologies and solutions that change the future — and today is no different," Michigan Economic Development Corp. CEO Quentin L. Messer Jr. said in the release. "We're thrilled to welcome this additional investment from WACKER as the company makes clear that Michigan's highly skilled workforce and strong advanced manufacturing ecosystem provide a winning combination for it's continued growth into the next generation and beyond."
The facility, which was an investment of over $50 million, will allow scientists who had formerly worked at three different facilities to instead work together in one location, Whitmer's office said. The new facility may also expand in the future.
"The Innovation Center will be WACKER's new North American headquarters for a diverse and broad workforce and be a workspace for 300 Michiganders operating on the cutting edge of manufacturing and high-tech innovation," Whitmer said in the release. "This facility is a talent magnet, showing other firms that Michigan is the obvious answer when deciding where to expand or move their business. Our position as a global epicenter for high-tech manufacturing and innovation is clearer than it has ever been thanks to companies like Wacker. Let's keep working together to grow the economy, create good-paying jobs, and conduct groundbreaking research that will define the future — right here in Michigan."
The governor's office reported that amenities at the facility include a cafeteria, fitness center, state-of-the art labs and workspaces designed with collaboration in mind.
"We are pleased to formally open this world-class Innovation Center today to our valued partners," David Wilhoit, Wacker's president and CEO, said in the release. "The site will serve as an important anchor for our growing operations across North and Central America. This area is home to dozens of research facilities and educational institutions, making it one of the leading communities in Michigan and the entire nation for R&D, enabling the company to network with, and recruit from among, the best high-tech talent in the nation."
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