Spanish Stamping Company to Open Michigan R&D Center

Spain's Gestamp Automocion sl plans to open a research and development center in Auburn Hills, Mich., later this year.

The facility will be located in a 37,000-sq-ft building that previously was occupied by Recaro Child Safety Systems. Renovations began earlier this month. The company didn’t say how much it was investing in the project.

Gestamp, which recently expanded its stamping plant in Chattanooga, Tenn., will use the center in Michigan to design and test advanced metal stamping parts and processes. This will include chassis component prototyping, hot stamping simulation, laser cells, metal fatigue testing and metrology laboratories.

The center will be capable of housing as many as 100 people; but initially will be staffed by about 25 engineers and other associates. A grand opening is planned for early next year.