State Lands Another German Jobs Commitment
Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA third German company in less than a week has announced Indiana expansion plans. DOT GmbH is planning to launch DOT America Inc. in Columbia City, which could mean up to 20 new jobs by 2016. Governor Mike Pence has been leading an economic development mission in the European nation since last weekend. April 17, 2014
News Release
BERLIN, Ger. – Governor Mike Pence joined executives from DOT GmbH, a medical coating technology provider, to announce the company's plans to establish DOT America, Inc. (DOT) in Columbia City, Ind., creating up to 20 new high-wage jobs by 2016.
The Rostock, Germany-based orthopedics company is investing approximately $4.5 million to lease, renovate and equip a 17,520 square-foot facility in Columbia City's Blue River Industrial Park. The facility, the company's first location outside of Germany, is enabling DOT to fill a gap in the supply chain to its North American clients.
“For their first facility outside Germany, DOT's leaders embarked on a search for the best stable and affordable business climate,” said Pence. “Though still in its early stages, DOT has already found that and more in Indiana, the worldwide center of the orthopedics industry. With our skilled Hoosier workforce behind them, we are pleased that more and more German companies like DOT continue to select Indiana as their North American home.”
DOT currently employs more than 290 full-time associates in Germany. It has already begun hiring engineers and technicians at its Columbia City location, which opened in November 2013.
“DOT offers valuable surface treatment services to the orthopedic and medical industry in Indiana and the United States. Although business relations with U.S. customers are already well established, the generation of further growth needs direct market presence,” said Hans Eifeler, managing director of DOT. “DOT chose to establish its North American operations in Indiana primarily because the world’s leading orthopedic companies are located here. In addition, Indiana has a positive, welcoming business climate for foreign investors.”
Founded in 1992, DOT develops and supplies medical coating treatment technology for implants and instruments for the orthopedics industry under the name DOTImplantSource. In addition, under the name DOTbiomaterials the company develops and manufactures regenerative medicine products for the dental and orthopedic industries. With customers around the world, DOT also maintains a research and development team for the improvement of existing coatings and developing new coatings.
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered DOT America, Inc. up to $50,000 in training grants based on the company's job creation plans. These incentives are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. Columbia City will consider additional property tax abatement at the request the Whitley County Economic Development Corporation.
“We are pleased to welcome DOT to Columbia City,” said Columbia City Mayor Ryan Daniel. “DOT joins a growing number of companies in our community involved in the medical device supply chain.”
DOT is the third German company this week to announce plans to add jobs and invest in the Hoosier State, reaffirming Germany's strong impact across Indiana. Earlier this week, NORRES, a German industrial hose manufacturer, announced plans to base its North American operations in South Bend and German extrusion manufacturer J?ger Group made plans to expand its subsidiary Jaeger-Unitek Sealing Solutions in La Porte.
This week, Pence is leading an economic development and jobs mission across Germany, sharing why Indiana is a state that works for German companies to grow and thrive. More information about the governor's job-hunting trip can be found at: http://in.gov/gov/Germany2014.htm.
About DOT America
DOT is one of the leading companies in the field of medical coating technology for implants and instruments and also their cleanroom packaging. The development and manufacture of “regenerative medicine” products for dental and orthopedic applications are further fields of activity where DOT employees make their committed contribution to a better quality of life.
About IEDC
Created in 2005 to replace the former Department of Commerce, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation is governed by a 12-member board chaired by Governor Mike Pence. Victor Smith serves as the Indiana Secretary of Commerce and Eric Doden is the president of the IEDC.
The IEDC oversees programs enacted by the General Assembly including tax credits, workforce training grants and public infrastructure assistance. All tax credits are performance-based. Therefore, companies must first invest in Indiana through job creation or capital investment before incentives are paid. A company who does not meet its full projections only receives a percentage of the incentives proportional to its actual investment. For more information about IEDC, visit www.iedc.in.gov.
Source: The Indiana Economic Development Corp