Southwest Michigan First

Regional Brands

From Fortune 500 companies to two-person start-ups, Southwest Michigan is home to some of the world’s most innovative companies and has been for more than a century. This is the place where the modern pharmaceutical pill was invented; where Dr. Homer Stryker imagined the oscillating device that easily cuts casts off; where the yellow-checkered cab first hit the streets; and where the first corn flake was first boxed.

Top Publicly-Traded U.S. Companies in Southwest Michigan

	Eaton Corporation, the world-wide diversified power management leader, makes the automotive, aerospace, electrical, hydraulics and truck industries go faster.
	Helping customers exceed the flow of materials, Flowserve Corporation is a global supplier of pumps, valves and seals automation to the power, oil, gas, chemical and other critical industries.
	Graphic Packaging International creates customized packaging solutions for some of the world’s best brands, like Kleenex and Kellogg’s.
	Kaiser Aluminum, a leading producer of fabricated aluminum products for high strength, industrial applications, employs engineers, designers and metallurgists to solve their customer’s needs.
	Kellogg Company's focus on health and wellness has made it the world's leading producer of cereal and convenience foods.
	PNC Bank's back office helps this financial holdings company, one of the nation’s largest, provide superior banking, mortgage financing and asset management services.
	The Hydraulic Pump Division of Parker Hannifin Corp. designs and innovative solutions set the standards for the mobile, industrial and truck markets.
	Perrigo Company is the world's largest manufacturer of over-the-counter pharmaceutical and nutritional products for the store-brand market.
	Pfizer is committed to help people and their valued animals live longer, more healthy and enjoyable lives through innovation in medicines and information on prevention, wellness and treatment.
	Always a good neighbor, State Farm has provided financial and insurance services since 1922 and insures more cars and homes in the United States than any other insurer.
	Stryker Corporation is a leader in the worldwide orthopedic and medical device markets dedicated to help people around the world lead more active and satisfying lives.
	As the spot for retail shopping, Target Corporation is committed to delivering design, style and affordability to the consumer; our regional distribution center gets products to you faster.
	Making people’s lives at home easier around the globe, Whirlpool Corporation is the leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances.

Foreign Direct Investment in Southwest Michigan

Southwest Michigan’s commitment to an innovation-based economy has long been an attractor for many foreign-based companies. In fact, almost 40 German-based companies have a Southwest Michigan location, as well as other numerous countries representing Asia, Canada and Europe. In confirmation to their commitment to our region, within the past two years, several of these companies have made significant investment here:

MANN+HUMMEL USA, Inc. made a $20 million private investment and created 210 new jobs, as it began making modular battery frame assemblies for electric vehicles at its North American headquarters, located in the city of Portage, MI, and consolidated many of their U.S.-based production activities here. The company also increased their distribution capacity by leasing 67,000 square feet at a second location, Midlink Business Park, to take advantage of the facility’s Renaissance Zone benefits.
J. Rettenmaier USA, a local company using science and innovation works to improve product properties, provide healthy ingredients and create marketing advantages, completed a $10 million expansion of their Schoolcraft, MI operations. In addition, the company consolidated operations between its Portage and Schoolcraft facilities, enabling the Portage facility to become its North American R&D, proto-typing and short-run headquarters.
Benteler Automotive Group added 30 engineers as it consolidated its engineering operations to its Galesburg, MI location. In addition, the company reduced utilities output to receive energy efficiency incentives from its local energy provider and made a $13 million investment on new equipment that resulted in the retention of 75 jobs.
Canadian-based J. Sterling Industries, Ltd. made an undisclosed private community investment as it leased 36,000 square feet and planned to hire 50 as it manufactures medical devices for regional companies within our nationally renowned medical device cluster.
In the fall of 2011, Zug, Switzerland-based WILD Flavors announced the acquisition of certain assets of the A.M. Todd Group, Inc., a leading provider of mint flavors and ingredients based in Kalamazoo, Michigan. A.M. Todd is globally recognized as the leader for natural mint flavors and value-added mint ingredients.

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