Germany-based DOT GmbH, a medical coating technology provider, plans to establish DOT America, Inc. in Columbia City, Indiana, creating up to 20 high-wage jobs by 2016. The orthopedics company will invest approximately $4.5 million to lease, renovate and equip a 17,520 square-foot facility in Columbia City’s Blue River Industrial Park.
The facility, the company’s first location outside of Germany, will enable DOT to fill a gap in the supply chain to its North American clients. “DOT offers valuable surface treatment services to the orthopedic and medical industry in Indiana and the United States. Although business relations with U.S. customers are already well established, the generation of further growth needs direct market presence,” said Hans Eifeler, Managing Director of DOT. “DOT chose to establish its North American operations in Indiana primarily because the world’s leading orthopedic companies are located here. In addition, Indiana has a positive, welcoming business climate for foreign investors.”
“For their first facility outside Germany, DOT’s leaders embarked on a search for the best stable and affordable business climate,” said Governor Mike Pence. “Though still in its early stages, DOT has already found that and more in Indiana, the worldwide center of the orthopedics industry. With our skilled Hoosier workforce behind them, we are pleased that more and more German companies like DOT continue to select Indiana as their North American home.”
As an incentive, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered DOT America, Inc. up to $50,000 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans. These incentives are performance-based,meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. Columbia City will consider additional property tax abatement at the request the Whitley County Economic Development Corporation.
