JR Automation Opens $15.5M Greenville Center
The new automation technology center brings engineering, integration, project execution and customer collaboration into one location.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Robotics
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JR Automation opened a $15.5 million automation technology center in Greenville, South Carolina, spanning more than 215,000 square feet. The company is also constructing a $72.8 million global headquarters in Zeeland, Michigan.
Why it matters
The expansion reflects the company's shift from automation integration to a comprehensive manufacturing operations partner. The Greenville facility gives the company a base for growing customer work in the Southeast.
The center includes 186,755 square feet of automation build space and 28,996 square feet of office and break room space. The Zeeland headquarters will add 210,000 square feet for assembling customer automation projects, though the source does not detail the specific equipment or systems to be used.
The players
JR Automation
A Holland, Michigan-based automation company that employs more than 2,000 people worldwide and is expanding its operations across the United States.
Hitachi Ltd.
A Japanese multinational conglomerate that announced a strategic partnership with Agile Robots in October 2026 and is involved in the Greenville opening ceremony.
The details
The Greenville facility was designed around employee workflows, bringing engineering, integration, project execution and customer collaboration together in one location. The company's Zeeland headquarters, at 800 Riley St., will include 76,000 square feet of office space.
Timeline
Monday, Nov. 2, 2026: JR Automation announced the Greenville center.
Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026: Hitachi holds a grand opening with ribbon-cutting in Greenville.
May 2027: Revised completion date for the Zeeland headquarters.
The Tech Race
The Greenville center reflects JR Automation's move from standalone automation integration toward a comprehensive manufacturing operations model, placing it in a competitive push among automation firms to offer engineering, integration and project execution under one roof. The company's described strategy shifts the emphasis from individual project delivery to ongoing operational partnership with its customers.
For local residents and job seekers in the Greenville area, the facility represents a new employer hub for engineering and automation roles, with about 100 employees already working there. The expansion also signals that the company expects to add at least 150 new jobs with the Zeeland headquarters project.
The takeaway
Companies building automation capacity near their customers are shifting from selling integration projects to running ongoing manufacturing operations. Job seekers interested in automation engineering should watch regional expansions like Greenville and Zeeland.
What happens next
Hitachi is scheduled to hold a grand opening with ribbon-cutting in Greenville on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, and the Zeeland headquarters' revised completion is set for May 2027.
Further reading
For broader coverage, see Robotics reporting on industrial automation in Greenville.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Mlive.
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