Eckhart Opens Advanced Technology Center

Eckhart, founded in 1958 as a supplier to global manufacturers, has opened a 47,000-square-foot Advanced Technology Center in Warren, Michigan. It will serve as a technology showcase, including engineering and assembly of Autocraft autonomous guided vehicles, which aim to transform manufacturing value streams worldwide, as well as an additive manufacturing laboratory.

The Advanced Technology Center currently employs 60. The company’s expansion plans call for the employment of more than 100 in the next two years to accelerate the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies. Its workforce is focused on enhancing the safety, productivity and reliability of employees who will be part of assembly processes connected to the smart factories of the future.

“Expansion into Southeast Michigan, where there is a concentration of talent in the global epicenter for automotive research and development, is a key component of Eckhart’s growth strategy,” says President and CEO Andrew P. Storm. “While the auto industry is focused on developing autonomous vehicles for use on the streets, Eckhart is accelerating the development of advanced technologies we believe will reshape the manufacturing ecosystem.”

The company’s services to global manufacturers include autonomous guided vehicles, collaborative robotics, flexible automation, 3D printing/additive manufacturing, assembly tooling and engineering services. In addition to the Advanced Technology Center, Eckhart operates locations in Algonac, Lansing, Marine City, and Rochester Hills.