Company makes materials for vehicle batteries, plans to create 111 jobs in Adrian

ADRIAN — A company that researches and manufactures special polymers for batteries and is “heavily involved” in the growing electric vehicle market will bring its manufacturing operation to Adrian.

The $12.3 million investment is expected to create 111 jobs, news releases from Lenawee Now and state Sen. Dale Zorn, R-Franklin Twp., said.

Daejin Advanced Materials USA Inc., which is a subsidiary of the South Korean firm Daejin Advanced Materials, plans to establish operations in North America. Being in Adrian will allow Daejin to support other companies throughout the Midwest, Zorn said.

Zorn and Lenawee Now said Adrian was chosen over sites in Ohio and Tennessee.

While an exact location of the project has not yet been announced, online property records for the city of Adrian state the manufacturing operation will be housed in Adrian’s industrial park. Property records show building permits for mechanical and electrical work have been pulled for the former Venchurs Vehicle Systems plant at 100 Industrial Drive since Dec. 28. Garden State Tanning previously was in the building.

The building was bought for $2.7 million by Industrial Drive Investments LLC, which is also known as Industrial Adrian LLC and has its office in Ferndale. Daejin Advanced Materials’ name is listed on the parcel’s water and sewer bill account. A Google search for the manufacturing firm lists its location in Adrian at 100 Industrial Court as a plastic products supplier.

Zorn applauded an announcement from the Michigan Strategic Fund, which approved a $500,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant to establish new manufacturing operations in Adrian.

“This grant will help bring new investment and jobs to Adrian and also strengthen Michigan’s leadership role in the growing advanced battery and electric vehicle industries,” Zorn said in the release. “Michigan has long been the home of automotive manufacturing in America and projects like this one are critical to ensuring that we remain an automotive leader long into the future. I applaud everyone involved in this project for their work in making this opportunity a reality for the people of Michigan.”

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Adrian Mayor Angie Sword Heath said the city is excited to bring a new business into the area that will create more jobs for the community.

“It’s great to have a vacated building in our city have new purpose and vitality brought to it, and we look forward to all the opportunities that Daejin Advanced Materials USA will bring,” she said.

“We are incredibly excited to see new electric vehicle-related projects realize the benefits of a Lenawee County facility,” Lenawee Now Executive Director Jim Van Doren said. “We heartily welcome Daejin Advanced Materials to our community and Lenawee Now is offering the local support for this project by providing Daejin Advanced Materials with assistance in recruiting their staff by promoting the job openings through all of our social media platforms and hosting job fairs in conjunction with Michigan Works Southeast.”

Van Doren, in the release, said the project will bring immediate advanced manufacturing jobs to the area and “further boosts Michigan’s expertise within the advanced battery and electric vehicle industry.”

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Company plans $12.3M plant in Adrian to make vehicle battery materials