Company moves HQ to Kentwood, adds 163 jobs

Printing plate and chemistry company American Litho plans to add 163 jobs and investing $13.5 million to its Kentwood facility to add a production line.

And just as significantly, its parent company, Konica Minolta Graphic Imaging is moving its headquarters from Glen Cove, N.Y. on Long Island to Kentwood.

That could bring another 40 to 50 professionals to the city.

Konica Minolta Holdings, a Japanese company, bought American Litho last year. Since then, the company has invested $22 million in expanding its production capability. The site now employs about 100 people.

The new headquarters will be at 5800 Foremost Drive, a few miles from the production facility at 4150 Danvers Court.

The state of Michigan granted American Litho a $1.6 million tax abatement for the production facility. The city of Kentwood is considering a 12-year tax abatement worth $800,000 to support the project.

The average wage of the jobs created is $34,000. Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc. was among 12 companies Gov. Jennifer Granholm received commitments from while on an investment mission in Japan in May 2006.

Source: Michigan Economic Development Corp.; American Litho and Konica Minolta Holdings