New York’s economic development public-benefit organization, Empire State Development (ESD), has announced that additive manufacturing systems company Evolve Additive Solutions will expand operations in the town of Brighton, Monroe County. The expansion will allow the company to create close to 60 new jobs in the region over the next five years.
Evolve, headquartered in Minnesota, operates its materials technology center in Brighton. The 15-person office is headed up by Kodak veteran Rich Allen, who touted the benefits of growing the company’s high-tech operation locally, highlighting the highly skilled talent pool that is readily available in the Finger Lakes region.
“The Finger Lakes region is home to some of the most talent-rich tech companies in the industry,” said ESD President, CEO & Commissioner Howard Zemsky. “Supporting businesses like Evolve Additive Solutions will further support our efforts to grow the 21st century economy while creating good-paying jobs and generating new opportunities in the region.”
Evolve focuses its additive manufacturing technology, known as Selective Thermoplastic Electrophotographic Process (STEP), on products in the automotive, aerospace, medical and industrial markets. Initially, the company will expand the manufacturing space at the Brighton facility by 7,000 sq. ft., with plans to add another 13,000 sq. ft. in the coming years. Supporting the growth of high-tech industries is an integral part of the Finger Lakes Forward economic development plan.
Evolve recently raised $19 million in equity funding with the LEGO Brand Group and Stanley Black & Decker as the lead investors, with the dollars earmarked to commercialize STEP, hire new talent and expand facilities. STEP will sit alongside traditional manufacturing processes on the production floor and will provide another asset to get products to market faster, leverage for bridge manufacturing and perform low-volume production runs for manufactured end-use parts.
To facilitate Evolve’s growth in the region, ESD has offered tax credits of up to $1 million through the Excelsior Tax Credit Program in exchange for job creation commitments. The company plans to invest $1.2 million to grow its local operation. Monroe County and Greater Rochester Enterprise also are assisting with the project.
For more Information about Evolve Additive Solutions, visit www.evolveadditive.com/.
