LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — The Michigan Economic Development Corporation announced on Thursday that forty-nine small manufacturers around Michigan have been awarded a total of $1.15 million to help them adopt Industry 4.0 technologies.
23 companies were awarded a total of more than $500,000 in grants in July through the first round of funding, making a total of 72 companies receiving $1.67 million to date through the program.
Michigan Strategic Fund approved $3 million in awards in April for six nonprofit organizations to administer the implementation grants statewide.
Grants are set to be reimbursement-based and will cover up to 50 percent of eligible technologies, including additive manufacturing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, robotics and automation, and more.
Betz Machine is a Climax, Mich.-based supplier of automated assembly machines, quality inspection machines, and other diverse machining services. The company was awarded a $25,000 I4.0 grant that it will use to build an automated bin-picking system that can be integrated alongside its full-turnkey automation equipment. The grant will help facilitate growth in the automation machine tending capabilities, according to Betz Machine Operations Manager Jaymes Kyle.
“We as a team are thankful for the consideration by the MEDC in this opportunity for Betz Machine and while we are a small company, this money will help us do big things where companies really need us right now. Companies that are looking for employees can now look to us for a solution for pick and place applications,” said Kyle.
LTW Inc. is a Lawrence, Mich.-based global provider of ergonomic workspaces and operator platforms. The MEDC $25,000 I4.0 grant will empower LTW Inc. to become the recognized leader and manufacturer of quality MTO (Made to Order) and safest industrial ergonomic platforms, workstations, bases, and tables for ergo operators around the world, said LTW General Manager Tony L. Francis.
“LTW is honored to receive the 2022 Industry 4.0 Grant from Michigan Economic Development Corporation. MEDC and LTW business leaders collaborated, identified, and selected an ERP system which will significantly transition LTW into greater market segments with its internal and external technological advancements,” said Frances. “Additionally, the new ERP system will strengthen and improve LTW’s business processes and systems, enabling robust on-time data and employment growth.”
To learn more about the requirements of the program and to view the grant application, visit: michiganbusiness.org/
