Ann Arbor's Thixomat looks to add 20-30 people within 3-5 years

Wednesday, October 1, 2008 | Source: Concentrate

Thixomat has always been known as a research and development company, not a manufacturer.

That could soon change for the Ann Arbor-based firm if it capitalizes on its plans for growth. The company of eight people (and the occasional intern) licenses molding technology.

However, it is now looking at spinning out a couple of new joint ventures that could mean big growth in Ann Arbor. How about 20-30 new jobs within the next 3-5 years, and possibly between 50 and 100 new jobs in the foreseeable future?

Thixomat is looking to form a joint partnership with a Jackson manufacturer that would allow it to create prototypes and short runs of its products. This would help the firm spread its innovations around the world.

Thixomat is also working on an agreement with the University of Michigan for a new version of its bread-and-butter molding technology. It's investing $750,000 of its own money to scale up the technology that has attracted the attention of the U.S. Department of Defense.

"The marketing opportunities of this technology are in the eight-figure range," says Steve LeBeau, president of Thixomat. "It's very exciting."

Source: Herb Pritzker, director of marketing of Thixomat and Steve LeBeau, president of Thixomat
Writer: Jon Zemke