FeedsNew firm brings jobs, investment to Northville
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The former OIS building on Five Mile Road near Beck Road will soon house the American headquarters of Techno SemiChem, a Korean-based firm that supports the emerging battery industry.A long vacant research and development building in Northville Township will soon see new life.
Township officials said Techno SemiChem, (TSC) will move into the former OIS building located on Five Mile Road, just east of Beck Road. It will bring an investment of nearly $50 million to the community.
“This is huge for us,” said Township Supervisor Mark Abbo. Abbo and the township board members have long had the goal to diversify the township tax base by bringing in more research and development firms.
The building had been vacant for more than seven years. One of the features that helped keep it vacant-a dedicated ‘white’ or ‘clean’ room-was one of the selling points for the company.
Techno SemiChem was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in South Korea. The Northville facility will be the North American Headquarters. TSC is recognized as an industry leader in chemical and electronic materials in the semiconductor industry.
At the new Northville Township facility, TSC will engage in research and development activities and the testing and compounding of advanced materials. The product will be the creation of electrolytes, anodes/cathodes and separators for use in battery cells for hybrid and electric vehicles. For many battery cell manufacturers in Michigan, having a local supply of the electrolytes is essential.
Jennifer Frey, director of community development for Northville Township, said the firm plans to invest about $16 million in real property and another $31 million in personal property in the site. About 279 jobs are expected to be created there within the next five years.
“These will be new jobs,” said Township Manager Chip Snider. “These are not employees that will be transferred from another facility.
“Everybody is very pleased to have them here,” he added of the company.
“I’m pleased that they decided to come to Northville Township-for the sake of the township and for the sake of the State of Michigan,” said Abbo.
