Herrmann Ultrasonics Inc. has opened a 2,700-square-foot technology center in Troy, Mich., that offers technical support capabilities to the automotive industry.
The center houses operations for sales, service, inventory management, an application lab and seminars. It currently has two full-time employees, according to company spokeswoman Cassandra Emery.
Additional employees, including account managers, service engineers and the business unit director for its newly developed metal division, will also have offices at the center, she said in an email to Plastics News.
The company declined to say how much it invested in the facility.
"The technology center will be the prime focus of automotive applications for us," Uwe Peregi, Herrmann's executive vice president and general manager, said in a statement. "We are committed to supporting the innovative developments and push for lighter materials/products within the automotive industry."
Peregi added: "Ultrasonics plays a large role in making the automotive 'wants' achievable. As just one example, we offer the ability to reduce material thickness in the fascia through advanced distance control during the weld cycle, thus reducing weight and cost."
The company said the Michigan facility also allows it to offer more local seminars and feasibility tests to customers.
Herrmann is hosting an Automotive Technology Day event on Sept. 10 to celebrate the tech center's grand opening. The event features four ultrasonic workshops and hands-on demonstrations.
Herrmann, based in Bartlett, Ill., makes ultrasonic welding machines and components for the medical, automotive, consumer, electronics, food and hygiene industries. Parent company Herrmann Ultraschalltechnik GmbH & Co. KG is headquartered in Karlsbad, Germany.