Italian boat, RV furniture company adding North American operations

An Italian manufacturer of boat and RV furniture will bring its North American headquarters and 130 jobs to suburban Grand Rapids, Mich.

The Michigan Strategic Fund on Sept. 20 approved a $750,000 performance-based grant for Bologna, Italy-based Tecnoform SpA, to establish its American home base in Cascade Township.

The project, which represents a $7.3 million investment, is Tecnoform's first North American location, will add 130 jobs to the area, already home to several West Michigan furniture manufacturers.

Technoform uses 3D printing, polypropylene, PET and other materials in its products, including more sustainable options using post-consumer PET foam.

The Right Place — the economic development organization overseeing greater Grand Rapids — connected the company with the MEDC and local resources to incentivize Tecnoform choosing West Michigan over competing sites in Indiana and Iowa.

West Michigan Works! and Grand Rapids Community College will support the project with a workforce training package.

The company has leased an existing facility and is starting to move in.

Tecnoform, a family-owned company, makes high-end furniture for motorhomes, campers and yachts. The parent company has about 175 employees and customers across the globe.

"As Tecnoform continues to expand our global operations, we found that West Michigan is an excellent location for our growth," said Renzo Kerkoc, CEO of Tecnoform, in a news release from The Right Place. "It's a welcoming and business-savvy environment, and we're happy to be here."

Kerkoc was not available for an interview Tuesday.

Brent Case, vice president of business attraction for The Right Place, in the news release called Tecnoform an "innovative" and "high-tech" manufacturer. (The organization earlier this month announced a 10-year plan to make Grand Rapids a tech hub.)

"After working with [Tecnoform] through the pandemic, we're thrilled they ultimately chose West Michigan as their first North American location, and we look forward to watching their growth here in the U.S.," Case said.

Cascade Township Manager Ben Swayze said in the release he's happy to welcome Tecnoform's first manufacturing facility to the township. Cascade is home to several other manufacturers, including Cascade Engineering and ADAC Automotive, as well as the Gerald R. Ford International Airport.

"This move affirms Cascade Township is open for business, and it will help fuel our local economy and bring great jobs to the community," Swayze said.