Dematic Opens Satellite Engineering Office In Houghton
HOUGHTON -- The Michigan Tech Enterprise Corp. SmartZone has earned the attention of the global logistics company Dematic, which has opened a satellite engineering office in Houghton.
What the MTEC SmartZone calls its "Fortune 500 Formula" is a proven satellite university sourcing system for large companies. The SmartZone offers affordable, high-tech and secure office space -- and access to talented Michigan Technological University students.
Ford Motor Co. and GE Aviation have already opened offices in the Houghton are and realize the many benefits of using Michigan Tech students for engineering work.
Dematic is headquartered in Luxembourg, with North American operations based in Grand Rapids. Dematic provides a comprehensive range of intelligent logistics and materials handling systems.
A growing company with annual revenue of approximately $1.3 billion, Dematic employs more than 4,000 people worldwide, with more than 1,000 in Grand Rapids. Major corporations such as Amazon, Wal-Mart and Coca-Cola are current customers of Dematic. It has offices and plants in major cities all over the world, from Australia and China to Brazil and Canada.
The Dematic MTEC SmartZone office will support the Grand Rapids engineering center. Michigan Tech students will perform work for the Dematic mechanical, software and electrical engineering teams. An intern team of 11 is already in place, including students from Michigan Tech's Computer Science, School of Technology, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering programs.
Dematic's engineering manager for the Houghton office is Jeff Lines. He is a Michigan Tech alumnus and former Team Leader for Ford Motor Co.'s Houghton IT office. He has more than 10 years of product development and IT experience and has worked with students for the past two years. Jeff knows the qualities to look for in a student intern and understands the academic programs and research capabilities at Michigan Tech.
"The Dematic team in Grand Rapids is excellent," Jeff stated. "Because Dematic is a major global player in the business of engineering, I'm very excited about the future growth of this new office and how we will be able to significantly contribute to the success of the company. Dematic designs and implements advanced, modern technology, and the alliance with MTEC SmartZone, Michigan Tech and the local community will serve as a strong foundation for future development and resource utilization in the Houghton office. As we launch the program, the student interns will be tackling many different projects working with a number of Software, Controls and Mechanical Engineering Teams from Grand Rapids."
While that's just the start for Dematic, they are committed to growing operations here in the coming years. For more information about Dematic, please visit www.dematic.com.
The mission of MTEC SmartZone is to provide technology-based facilities, resources and programs to high-growth entrepreneurs and companies that increase employment, income, wealth and recognition in the Upper Peninsula communities it serves. Its vision is having integrated economic development of the region that includes a vibrant technology sector, driving Michigan's technological leadership and economic growth with sustainable opportunities for companies and their employees to prosper.
More information is available at www.mtecsz.com
