Shelby Twp. Beats Other Mich. Cities for Kuka Robotics' Business

Shelby Township could soon attract high-tech international companies now that it has secured a deal with Germany-based Kuka Robotics to make the township the home of its new North American headquarters.

“We can improve the community by attracting other high-tech companies,” said Stuart Shepherd, president of the U.S. Kuka Robotics at a Shelby Township . 

Shepherd added that companies get excited about working with Kuka, and having the facility in the township will attract more Germany-based automation and robotics companies.

“We can help make the world aware of Shelby Township,” said Shepherd.

Kuka Robotics is a subsidiary or Kuka Systems and Kuka AG, which is one of the world’s leading suppliers of robots used in the automotive industry, aerospace, the solar industry and the entertainment sector, to name a few.  

Currently, the company has 68 employees in its headquarters located in Clinton Township. Shepherd said the building’s 60,000-square foot facility will no longer meet the growing company's needs. In the next five years, Kuka Robotics said it plans to hire another 25 positions. The average salary of a Kuka Robotics employee is $100,000.

On Tuesday, the board of trustees’ decision to approve Kuka Robotics' request for a 5-year tax abatement paved the way for the company to take over an empty 80,500-square foot building inside of an industrial park off 23 Mile Road.

In order for Kuka Robotics to take over the building, which was built in 2001 but never finished or occupied, the board also had to approve a request by the building’s owner, GS Rousslin LLC, to transfer the building on 51870 Shelby Parkway into an industrial development district.

The board agreed, and Supervisor Rick Stathakis thanked Kuka Robotics for making an investment in the township.

Bryan Cermak, general council for Kuka Robotics, said the company is hoping to get final plan approval for the site, build out the interior of the building and move in by the beginning of October. Kuka Robotics has estimated it will cost nearly $650,000 to finish the building.

The company said it intends to make a $3-million real property investment in Shelby Township. Kuka Robotics will continue to pay personal property taxes on the machinery it already has, but the tax breaks will cover the $2.45-million investment on the new equipment it plans to bring to the Shelby Township facility.

“It’s a win-win situation for everyone,” said James Ahee, director of the Macomb County Department of Planning and Economic Development. “Tax abatements are one of the things we can do at a local level to help move the economy forward.”

Shepherd told Patch that since the company decided to move it has considered sites in Michigan, Ohio and Georgia.

However, the three final choices were facilities in Auburn Hills, Rochester and Shelby Township.

“Shelby Township did a good job of matching up and competing head-to-head with other municipalities that were competing with our business,” said Shepherd.

Join the conversation on the Shelby-Utica Facebook page. Tell us what you think about Kuka Robotics coming to town.