Hitachi Group’s JR Automation expands smart manufacturing footprint with new S.C. facility

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Global industrial technology firm JR Automation, a subsidiary of the Hitachi Group, is set to expand its foothold in smart manufacturing with the ribbon-cutting of its brand-new Automation Technology Center in Greenville on Wednesday, Nov. 4.

The $15.5 million investment marks a significant expansion for the company, providing a sprawling 215,000-square-foot footprint designed to help manufacturers design, integrate and sustain increasingly connected, digitalized operations.

The state-of-the-art facility features over 186,000 square feet dedicated strictly to automation build space, complemented by nearly 29,000 square feet of office and administrative facilities. Roughly 100 employees are currently based at the site, with room built into the layout for future workforce growth as operations expand.

The new center reflects JR Automation's broader shift from traditional system integration to a full-lifecycle manufacturing partner. Executives emphasized that the site will leverage data, advanced digital systems, and artificial intelligence — specifically "Physical AI" — to streamline complex production lines.

"The investment in Greenville represents more than additional capacity. It strengthens our ability to support customers across their entire manufacturing operation," said Yusuke Kazama, CEO of JR Automation. "Our foundation is deep expertise in automation, engineering, and manufacturing. By combining that strength with digital technology, data, and AI, including Physical AI, we have an opportunity to help customers not only build better production systems, but continuously improve how those systems operate."

Inside the plant, the layout has been structured to bridge the gap between engineering, systems integration, and hands-on customer collaboration.
"Our new Automation Technology Center was designed around how our people work," said Mitch Neal, General Manager of JR Automation's Greenville Division. "It gives our teams a better environment to collaborate, build, and solve problems together, with the space to support our customers today and evolve with their needs over time."

Wednesday's grand opening will bring together industry leaders, local officials, and corporate executives for executive remarks, a ceremonial ribbon-cutting and guided tours highlighting the facility's technical capabilities.

Founded in 1980 and acquired by Hitachi in 2019, Holland-based JR Automation currently employs more than 2,000 people across 21 locations globally. The company engineers custom automation solutions across a broad spectrum of sectors, including aerospace, defense, automotive, energy, life sciences, and semiconductors.

As operations ramp up in South Carolina, the company is actively recruiting technical talent to fill open roles at the Greenville site.

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