Buchanan manufacturer plans $9 million investment

Technology and automation, especially robotics, are driving the growth of Vickers Engineering.

 

The company that operates two facilities near the Michigan and Indiana border has seen rapid growth in the past 12 years. It has grown from 25 employees in 2000 to 175 employees today and expects to add 50 more in the next three years.

 

Vickers Engineering operates a 120,000-square-foot facility in New Troy, west of Buchanan, and a 50,000-square-foot facility in Buchanan.

 

President and CEO Matt Tyler says the company intends to continue its growth pattern.

 

“Automation and Robotics are not only allowing us to be more cost competitive," Tyler says. "As we grow our workforce, we’re now attracting younger people who recognize traditional industrial manufacturing is now a very high tech business, and will be a growth industry in this country for years to come.” 

 

The company plans to invest $9 million in CNC machining equipment and robotics that will be used to engineer projects for the automotive and oil and gas industries. Vickers Engineering is a supplier to Toyota and others.

 

"Most of the new opportunities awarded to Vickers have been programs typically made overseas, or in other regions of the country," Tyler says. "Robotics, and our skilled work force, has given us a tremendous competitive advantage.”

 

Earlier this year, Vickers Engineering's CEO was featured in a New York Times piece about job increases attributed to automation. Tyler was quoted as one of two chief executives of small American manufacturers who described how they had been able to both increase employment and compete against foreign companies by relying heavily on automation and robots.   

 

“Automation has allowed us to compete on a global basis," Tyler is quoted in the Times. "It has absolutely created jobs in southwest Michigan. Had it not been for automation, we would not have beat our Japanese competitor; we would not have beat our Chinese competitor; we would not have beat our Mexican competitor. It’s a fact.”