Machining manufacturer Eckhart Inc. has opened a new facility in Warren with plans to hire dozens of new workers — if company officials can find them.
The company on Tuesday held a grand opening of a 47,000-square-foot Advanced Technology Center at 6115 13 Mile Road, east of Mound Road, with 60 current employees and hopes to hire more than 100 in the next two years.
Eckhart president and CEO Andrew Storm stated hiring qualified workers has become a ‘huge challenge’ facing manufacturing firms.
‘Across southeast Michigan and industrial America, there definitely is a shortage of skilled trades workers at all levels,’ Storm said.
He added the paradigm has changed as the image of manufacturing facilities have changed from the dirty, greasy perception of the past to today’s clean and bright image.
‘We are cutting edge,’ he said. ‘We are working with the latest advancements in technology in manufacturing.’
To that end, Eckhart has reached out to colleges as well as Junior Achievement and First Robotics competition to offer internships to students who may become future employees.
Based in Watertown Township near Lansing, the company has invested more than $1 million in constructing and equipping the technology showcase, which includes assembling of the Autocraft Autonomous Guided Vehicles, 3D printing laboratories, assembly tooling, and collaborative robotics.
In addition to the Advanced Technology Center in Warren, Eckhart operates locations in Algonac, Lansing, Marine City and Rochester Hills.
‘We wanted to locate in Warren because we feel it has a disproportionate concentration of engineering talent,’ he said, adding the talent pool in southeast Michigan is large.
Its industrial customers include General Motors, General Dynamics Land Systems, BAE Systems, and Disney, among others.
‘We want to make it easier on our customers when they come in from the airport to give them immediate access to showcase our advancements in technology,’ he said.
Storm said Eckhart’s objectives include building a highly skilled workforce who will contribute to local schools, roads and municipalities, thereby creating stronger communities. With annual revenues nearing $100 million, the company’s future expansion plans target the Chicago and South Carolina markets.
‘We’re very happy to be an American-owned, American-made manufacturing company,’ he said.
