An increase in its core machine tool business, plus growth in its new tooling and automation divisions, led Yamazen to initiate an eleven-month process to find the best location for its vision of growth. They focused on the I-90 corridor between O’Hare and Elgin, which positions them near customers and competitors, and worked directly with Elk Grove Village’s economic development team to secure the perfect undeveloped property in Northwest Point to expand its three main divisions; machinery, tooling and automation. Joining Yamazen in this new facility will be Plustech Inc., its joint venture company that sells and supports plastic injection molding equipment.

“Location and visibility, with easy access to our customers are the key reasons we chose Elk Grove,” noted James Hansen, Executive Vice President and COO of Yamazen Inc. “The Chicago area is the epicenter of our industry and being centralized on this important corridor makes it easier for us to reach new customers and establish a greater presence.”

Without the additional time and investment needed to remove or retrofit an existing building, the company was able to break ground and develop the previously vacant land into their exact specifications with a quicker timeline.

When completed in June 2020, Yamazen’s new 137,000 sq. ft. facility will serve as their North American headquarters and will feature a 13,000 sq. ft. showroom; an 18,000 sq. ft. assembly facility for robotics and automation; and a stocked warehouse to support the company’s future launch of its e-commerce channel for tooling and manufacturing products. The showroom alone will be home to 20-30 machine tools and injection molding machines and will be used primarily for live demonstrations and to educate customers about the latest manufacturing innovations. The facility will also become a turnkey integration and automation facility for robotic systems, and will house ample technology to support, customize and enhance automation products.

With a larger space and a multi-country focus, the company plans to add even more jobs during the next several years, increasing the local employee count from 65 to an estimated 85 people. Yamazen operates 16 support facilities in the United States and Mexico, and employees more than 200 people.

True to their Beyond Business Friendly approach, Elk Grove Village staff were heavily involved in helping Yamazen have a seamless transition to their new headquarters. “From re-interpreting the zoning code and assisting us with the Class 6B application, the economic development team made the process very easy,” said Hansen. “They have continued to go above and beyond to ensure Yamazen and many other companies find success in the Village.”

Want to learn more about doing business in Elk Grove Village? Discover what a village committed to being “Beyond Business Friendly” can do for your company at MakersWanted.org.