A Michigan-based robotics and automation company has built a sprawling new technology center in Greenville, South Carolina, spanning more than 215,000 square feet and already employing about 100 people. JR Automation, headquartered in Holland, Michigan, has constructed the facility with room to expand its workforce further as the company deepens its footprint in the Upstate region.
The investment behind the project is reported differently depending on the source. According to Crain's Grand Rapids Business, the new center cost $15 million, while mlive.com reports that JR Automation said it invested $15.5 million into the facility. Either way, the build reflects a major commitment to the Greenville market, where the company has now constructed a new automation technology center, per mlive's reporting.
Inside the New Greenville Facility
Of the center's total footprint, 186,755 square feet is dedicated to automation build space, with another 28,996 square feet set aside for office and break room use, the same mlive report notes. About 100 employees currently work at the location, with room to expand, according to the outlet's account. The design brings together engineering, integration, project execution and customer collaboration in one location, consolidating functions that support complex automation programs for clients.
Hitachi Ltd., JR Automation's parent company, planned to host a grand opening for the site on Wednesday, Nov. 4, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, executive remarks and facility tours, per the same mlive account. The expansion reflects the company's broader shift from automation integration to a more comprehensive manufacturing operations partner, a transition the outlet frames as central to JR Automation's current strategy.
A Separate Pickens County Project Also Underway
JR Automation Technologies is separately expanding its existing operations in Pickens County, South Carolina, with a $3.4 million capital investment expected to create 56 new jobs, according to the South Carolina Department of Commerce. That project involves moving into a 50,000-square-foot build-to-suit facility in Pickens County Commerce Park, the agency states.
The commerce department describes JR Automation, established in 1980 and based in Holland, Michigan, as a provider of custom automated equipment and services for industries including automotive, aerospace, medical devices, pharmaceuticals and food processing, with more than 850 employees across eight locations. Alliance Pickens, a local economic development group, says the company cited technical education and workforce pipelines at the School District of Pickens County, Tri-County Technical College and Clemson University as factors in its decision to stay and grow in the county.
Part of a Broader Automation Buildout
JR Automation's South Carolina activity comes as the company also pursues a much larger project back home. It is constructing a $72.8 million global headquarters in Zeeland, Michigan, with completion now pushed to May 2027, according to mlive's reporting. That headquarters is expected to bring together roughly 350 employees and add at least 150 new jobs once finished.
Greenville's automation sector has drawn other notable investment in recent years. Idealworks, a global industrial automation company founded in Germany in 2020 as a BMW Group subsidiary with robotics roots dating back to 2015, has established its U.S. headquarters in Greenville, according to the Greenville Area Development Corporation. The agency notes that coordinated robotic fleets are critical to operational efficiency for manufacturing and logistics customers Idealworks serves.
Koops Automation Systems has also grown in the area, announcing a $10.2 million expansion in Greenville County expected to create 26 new jobs, including 12 engineering roles, 10 skilled-trades positions and four management roles, per the Greenville Area Development Corporation. That expansion involves moving from a leased 45,000-square-foot facility to a larger, 80,000-square-foot owned facility at 120 Elcon Drive. Together, the moves by JR Automation, Idealworks and Koops point to Greenville's growing pull as a hub for automation and robotics manufacturing investment.
