Asahi Kasei America Inc., the regional headquarters of the Asahi Kasei Group for North America, is relocating its corporate office from to Novi from New York starting on Nov. 1.
Asahi Kasei, based in Japan, is a producer of chemicals and materials. The consolidation of its North American operations in a 14,403-square-foot facility in Novi is intended to streamline processes, leverage existing resources, and enhance the company’s ability to provide “exceptional services” to its partners.
“Transitioning our headquarters to Novi represents more than an address change,” says Takuma Miura, president of Asahi Kasei America. “This move will empower us for future growth, as we’ll be better situated in the center of the country to reach our growing client base in the material, homes, and health care sectors nationwide.
“Our headquarters in Novi will be a place for creativity, a launchpad for groundbreaking ideas, and a single home where we will continue to focus on delivering for our partners.”
The Novi headquarters will function as a hub for administrative services across sectors for various departments, including communications, human resources, auditing, corporate planning, and finance.
Asahi Kasei’s journey in America began in New York in 1959, where it established its initial operations. Recognizing the strategic importance of the Midwest, particularly its proximity to major OEMs in the automotive sector, Asahi Kasei America opened an office in Novi in 2019. Following an expansion of the Novi facility in 2023, the company says it’s ready to centralize its North American headquarters in this location.
In Related Development News: The Michigan Strategic Fund on Tuesday approved investments in Detroit and Grayling Township that will build on the state’s leadership in the automotive and defense industries.
German auto parts manufacturer Laepple Automotive is establishing its new U.S. headquarters and main operations at the historic Mount Elliott Tool and Die facility in Detroit with a $3.5 million Michigan Business Development Program (MBDP) grant and approval of a five-year, 100 percent State Essential Services Assessment (SESA) exemption.
“Detroit is the origin of the American automotive industry, and we are excited to open a new chapter in our company’s history here,” says Oliver Wackenhut, CEO of Laepple Automotive. “With our expertise and passion for body-in-white manufacturing, we will not only bring the plant to life, but also offer our customers new opportunities for their projects by expanding our international footprint.”
The state also announced that Swedish auto and aviation manufacturer Saab is establishing an integration and weapons assembly facility in Grayling Township in the northern Lower Peninsula. The project is being supported by a $3.5 million MBDP grant and approval of a 15-year, 100 percent SESA exemption.
“Given current global security challenges, it is critical the United States strengthens our national defense capacity,” says Erik Smith, president and CEO of Saab in the U.S. “We are proud to partner with the state of Michigan and the local community to establish a world-class facility that, with Saab’s range of products, will increase and modernize the domestic production of munition systems.
“We are making a long-term commitment not only to the U.S. defense industrial base, but to the local community as well. Saab plays a positive role in the communities where we live and work, creating jobs and investing in the local community, and we look forward to joining the Grayling community.”
