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 (Fort Wayne, Ind., U.S.) has announced the significant expansion of its Innovation Center in Minnesota, to take on additional projects and accelerate the design and development cycle for customers. The Innovation Center — currently in the city of Plymouth — will concurrently move to a new purpose-built space in nearby Delano.

As described upon the company’s opening of the center announced in June 2024, the facility’s core competencies include “design, consultation, toolmaking (metal), prototyping, high-precision machining, silicone molding, thermoset elastomer molding, thermoplastic molding (including thermoplastic composites molding), automation, assembly and secondary operations.” It also offers advice on design for manufacturability (DfM), mold flow analysis, build to 3D CAD models, raw materials traceability and more.

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“We know that speed to market and high quality, reliable supply are critical factors in our customer partnerships,” says Mel Melehes, regional sales director for North America. “With increased capabilities, the Innovation Center is a dedicated space with personnel possessing decades of combined experience. It enables customers to work with design, materials and quality experts throughout the entire life cycle of a project.”

This project involves a remodel of the tool shop and room for expansion, 6,000 square feet/557 square meters total. It also includes nearly 40,000 square feet/3,716 square meters of new construction comprising a visitor center, additional high-end Swiss machining, injection molding and increased space for the automation laboratory.

“The visitor center will be a collaborative, high-tech meeting area where customers can brainstorm on project ideas alongside our experts,” notes Chris Tellers, Innovation Center and new product development director. “The additional Swiss machining and injection molding will enhance our in-house capabilities to provide the highest quality components fast without relying on outside shops.

“The increased automation space provides scalability to support future projects,” Tellers continues. “We continually hear from customers that they choose us for our expertise in tooling, technical solutions and ability to assist with everything from prototyping to serial production enhanced with automation. This remodel and expansion project enables us to continue doing that but on a larger scale, using more equipment and experts added through our new apprenticeship program.”

The Innovation Center move and expansion project is scheduled to start in  spring 2026 with a scheduled completion date of early 2027.