GRAND RAPIDS — Dytech Auto Group Inc., d.b.a. GreatWater 360 Auto Care, has acquired CARS of America Inc. and Clavey Auto Service, both located in Glenview, Ill.

GRAND RAPIDS — Private equity firm Auxo Investment Partners has added to a platform of manufacturing companies with a recent deal for Ohio-based Saylor Technical Products LLC.

NILES — A Southwest Michigan retailer and machine shop specializing in refurbished diesel engines has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy less than two years after incorporating, citing mounting warranty claims and broader supply chain disruptions. 

A West Michigan metal fabricator is making significant investments to bolster its presence in the electric vehicle battery production sector.

Mark White sees the massive disruption in the automotive industry caused by electric vehicles as an opportunity rather than a threat.

Gotion Inc.’s multibillion-dollar electric vehicle battery factory proposal near Big Rapids has swelled by 1 million square feet and 200-300 additional jobs despite lingering uncertainty that the project will even happen.

Ingrid Tighe brought more than a decade of experience in economic and workforce development to her new role as president of the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center, where she will help small and mid-sized companies adopt supply chain and automation strategies.

Gotion Inc. hopes to move forward with a $2.4 billion EV battery parts plant in the Big Rapids area, but it has a backup plan that could involve leaving the state if the deal falls apart, said Chuck Thelen, the company’s vice president for North American operations.

State officials are partnering with major universities and auto-sector employers on a new statewide scholarship program aimed at developing talent in the electric vehicle and mobility space.

ADA — Direct-selling giant Amway Corp. reported a slight sales decline in 2022 from the prior year, citing the strength of the U.S. dollar, the sale of an affiliated nutritional supplement company and the company’s withdrawal from Russia.

Chinese battery parts manufacturer Gotion Inc. is reassessing real estate plans for a $2.4 billion factory in the Big Rapids area after scrutiny from a township board.

HOLLAND — Furniture manufacturer Haworth Inc.’s global sales reached a record $2.5 billion in 2022, driven in part by new products designed to help employers bring people back to the office and accommodate hybrid and remote work models.

CASCADE TWP. — Fresh off a new round of fundraising, Buell Motorcycle Co. has unveiled a partnership with a well-known industry designer to launch a new Super Cruiser production concept for the West Michigan-based high-performance brand.

WALKER — Speedrack Products Group Ltd. has become one of the latest West Michigan companies to transition to employee ownership.

GRAND RAPIDS — Gentex Corp.’s recently announced plan for a satellite production facility in the city of Grand Rapids is the Tier 1 auto supplier’s latest phase of a multi-pronged effort at attracting talent.

Ford Motor Co. will announce Monday details of a massive electric vehicle battery plant it has decided to build in Marshall, two people with knowledge of the company's plans told Crain’s.

GRAND RAPIDS — Auxo Investment Partners has acquired two manufacturers that produce custom wire harnesses, cable assemblies.

ROCKFORD — Not even a multi-year sponsorship deal with pop megastar Taylor Swift could right the ship for Keds, a flagging lifestyle footwear brand that Wolverine World Wide Inc. has owned for the last decade. 

A valve supplier in Marshall is planning to lay off 81 employees through the end of September, according to a notice filed with the state.

GRAND RAPIDS — Grand Rapids Community College is building a first-of-its-kind automation and robotics manufacturing training center in West Michigan, thanks to a recently secured $1 million federal grant.

GRAND RAPIDS — Ottawa County’s largest employer is opening a satellite production facility on Grand Rapids’ south side in hopes of better attracting talent from the city and delivering economic benefits to a historically disadvantaged neighborhood.

The Michigan Manufacturers Association is continuing a partnership with The Nature Conservancy in Michigan that offers resources and workshops for companies seeking to adopt environmental and clean energy strategies into their operations.

CASCADE TWP. — West Michigan flat-rolled carbon steel distributor Mill Steel Co. is expanding into the stainless steel and aluminum metal markets following the acquisition of distributors in Ohio and Illinois.

Nelson Sanchez took the helm at Grand Rapids-area industrial power systems manufacturer RoMan Manufacturing Inc. this month as the first non-family president in the company’s 42-year history.

West Michigan’s manufacturing sector experienced a mix of highs and lows in 2022, as several major ventures plan to bring in billions of dollars in new investments while other companies contended with inflation, supply chain disruptions and labor availability.

MillerKnoll Inc. and Steelcase Inc. both expect flat to lower sales for the present quarter going into 2023 amid softer order rates.

A growing number of West Michigan manufacturers are having conversations about the role automation can play in helping mitigate their persistent and ongoing labor challenges, says Joe Dyer, president at Disher Corp., a Zeeland-based engineering, consulting and product development firm.

WALKER — Medical equipment manufacturer Tech Group Grand Rapids Inc. plans a $38.7 million expansion to “significantly expand production capacity” at its Walker facility.

CASCADE TWP. — The group behind the revival of high-performance brand Buell Motorcycle Co. continues to build out its team, add sales infrastructure and invest in new product engineering and development in West Michigan.

ROCKFORD — Wolverine World Wide Inc. will divest its Keds brand and Wolverine Leathers business, while also implement staff reductions, in an effort to drive cost savings in 2023.

ADA — Burke Porter Group is expanding its footprint to Ireland and bolstering its life sciences capabilities with the acquisition of a leading manufacturer of assembly products and storage solutions for the biomedical industry.

GRAND RAPIDS TWP.  — Diversified construction, packaging and industrial product manufacturer UFP Industries Inc. has expanded its packaging division with the acquisition of a Texas firm.