Gentex agrees to purchase electronics plant in Holland, Michigan

Gentex Corporation, a Zeeland, Michigan-based manufacturer of automatic-dimming rearview mirrors and camera-based active-safety systems for the automotive industry, commercial fire protection products and dimmable aircraft windows, on November 23 announced that it has entered into an agreement to purchase an existing, 108,000-square-foot electronics manufacturing facility at 11768 James Street in Holland, Mich. The facility is approximately three miles from the company's headquarters and other automotive manufacturing facilities in Zeeland.

"Our product mix has become increasingly more complex with our new technologies, and the number of manufacturing lines and jobs are increasing," said Gentex senior vice president Enoch Jen. "The recovery of the automotive industry has been faster than expected, so there is less room for flexibility. We are large enough now that a 20 percent increase in production means a new facility as opposed to simply adding a shift like we formerly were able to do."

Jen said that the company is pleased that it found an existing, cost-effective local facility that was previously used to manufacture electronic components, resulting in fewer required renovations. The building previously was occupied by Invensys Controls, an electronics company that provides controls for home appliance manufacturers.

"Placing Gentex equipment and employees in that building will bring new life to that facility, and we're happy that we can continue to offer more jobs in the Zeeland/Holland areas," he said.

Gentex currently is seeking to fill approximately 140 manufacturing positions and nearly 100 engineering and software positions companywide in Zeeland and Holland. Interested parties should either apply online or attend the company's next job fair on December 8 at the Doubletree Hotel in Holland, Mich. For more information, visit www.gentex.com/careers.