By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw

WARSAW — Autocam Medical, a fast-growing med tech company, got a taste of the Warsaw workforce after it began using part of Medtronic’s local facility, and now it wants the full entree.

The company announced on Monday that it plans to construct a $70 million facility in Warsaw’s tech park and will hire up to 300 people over the next few years.

The company originally got its start in the auto industry, but branched out and has become a well-established contract manufacturer of precision-machined tools and items used in orthopedics.

Autocam Medical is headquartered in Grand Rapids and also has operations in two other states.

At the same time, the company already has a strong working relationship with Medtronic and other local orthopedic companies.

The appreciation for local workers, though, began to grow after it began using a portion of Medtronic’s facility as part of a long-term plan for Autocam to take the entire building while Medtronic began a planned phase-out of Warsaw.

But those plans changed after Medtronic had second thoughts and decided to stay.

As a result, Autocam decided to construct its own facility in Warsaw, said President and CEO John Kennedy.

Kennedy said they have come to realize the orthopedic capital of the world has become a great source of workers.

The company has other stateside operations in Plymouth, Mass., and Murfreesboro, Tenn., but the desire to expand to Warsaw began to emerge as it became more familiar with what the firm describes in its announcement as a “vibrant workforce culture.”

“When we put an ad in the paper, we had very highly qualified individuals — and a lot of them — relative to what we see in other markets,” Kennedy told News Now Warsaw Monday afternoon.

“We’ve really done well with people there,” Kennedy said. “It’s certainly a great workforce and a great opportunity for us.”

The company said it plans to break ground on the project this year, but construction could take upward of 18 months.

The company says most of the jobs will be high schooled and pay well.

Those include CNC machinists, engineers, and a wide range of technical and manufacturing roles.

“At Autocam Medical’s Michigan location, the average machinist’s salary exceeds $74,000 annually, and the company is looking at similar wage levels in Warsaw,” the company said.

The company has been one of the faster growing companies in the orthopedic sector, according to Kennedy.

“We’re almost double the size we were, pre-COVID,” Kennedy said.

The company constructed a new facility outside of Grand Rapids a few years ago and is still filling out the anticipated 300 or so positions.

Kennedy expressed appreciation for how the city of Warsaw has worked to accommodate the company’s expansion plans.

He and Jeremy Skinner, the director of community and economic development for the city of Warsaw, both see the expansion as a double victory for the city.

“Medtronic staying and them needing to find a new location really worked out for us,” Skinner said. “Obviously, having the tech park and the land available (that is) shovel-ready has been huge.”

Monday’s announcement was issued in a news release on Autocam’s website that area media groups quickly began to highlight.

Hours later, the city’s redevelopment commission, with very little fanfare, discussed Autocam and took the first step toward essentially giving the company 15 acres for the expansion at the corner of CR 200W and US 30. The land has already been appraised for  $521,000 but will be disposed of for $1, Skinner said.

Autocam mentioned in its news release a desire to be visible from US 30.

When construction is complete, Autocam and Medtronic facilities along US 30 will serve as bookmarks along the front of the tech park.

The park was established about 12 years ago. In the last eight years, the park has become home to three orthopedic firms: Banner Medical, Mentore Media and what is now known as Medartis.

Skinner said they continue to look for new opportunities to attract more firms and maybe eventually expand the park.

“We’re absolutely thinking about what’s next,” he said.

Over the years, the city has invested about $5 million into the park and has generated well over $50 million in corporate investments.

The 300 jobs with Autocam would mean the park will eventually be home to companies that employ some 800 workers.  

“The encouraging thing is the sheer amount of investment we’ve had out there based on what we’ve put out,” Skinner said.