24 MiMfg Magazine September 2017
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Dow Opens New HQ and Breaks Ground on $ 100M Innovation Center
Dow Chemical Company recently celebrated the grand opening of its new global headquarters building in Midland , a state-of-the-art , 184,000 square-feet , sixstory building hosting nearly 500 employees .
“ This new , state-of-the-art facility is more than a new home for a new Dow ,” said Andrew Liveris , chairman and CEO for Dow Chemical . “ It ’ s a renewal of our commitment to Midland and the Great Lakes Bay Region . It ’ s going to enhance our ability to attract the best workers the world has to offer and encourage more of our incredible homegrown talent to come back home .”
The new headquarters features open workspaces to boost collaboration and inspire innovation while Dow products can be found from wall to wall and from floor to ceiling .
Dow , an MMA member since 1907 , also announced construction of a new , $ 100 million Innovation Center beginning this summer designed to boost research and development initiatives . The new facility will host approximately 200 R & D employees who will explore future technologies of silicone chemistry .
“ This world-class facility could have been located anywhere ,” added Liveris . “ We chose to invest right here in Michigan because both the U . S . and the state have a growing and vibrant research , development and manufacturing sector creating new opportunities every day .”
The new innovation center will complement the more than 1,200 Dow researchers and developers already based in the Great Lakes Bay Region and allow a greater focus on :
• Advancing technologies for home and personal care products
• Enhancing and broadening Dow ’ s energy-saving building technologies
Dow ground-breaking ceremony in Midland
• Advancing materials science for critical infrastructure
• Driving closer partnerships with customers and value chain leaders
Over the last decade , Dow has invested more than $ 400 million in the Great Lakes Bay Region and will have U . S . investments totaling more than $ 12 billion over a 10-year period .
Dart Expansion to Create 136 New Jobs
Mason-based MMA member Dart Container Corporation will invest $ 40 million into a new technical and innovation center which will increase the company ’ s ability to develop new and improved products .
Dart ’ s expansion is supported by a $ 1 million grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation ’ s Michigan Business Development Program , which provides economic assistance to businesses that create jobs and investment in Michigan . The project includes :
• Construction of a 250,000-square-foot facility on 38 acres adjacent to Dart ’ s existing corporate headquarters , devoted to the development and production of prototype packaging solutions
• Renovation of existing space to expand Dart ’ s tooling and machine manufacturing operations by more than 50 percent
“ We are excited that our continued growth has enabled us to invest another $ 40 million at our corporate headquarters in Mason and bring at least 136 new administrative , engineering , technology and skilled trade jobs to our region and state ,” Dart Container President Jim Lammers said . “ Our founders launched our company in Mason 57 years ago , and we remain committed to mid-Michigan
Dart headquarters in Mason