German Medical Device Coatings Supplier Opens U.S. Facility

DOT GmbH, a medical coating technology provider, plans to establish DOT America Inc. (DOT) in Columbia City, Ind., creating up to 20 new high-wage jobs by 2016.

The Rostock, Germany-based orthopedics company is investing about $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, is enabling DOT to fill a gap in the supply chain to its North American clients, officials said. The new facility will create up to 20 new, high-wage jobs by 2016, according to the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.

“For their first facility outside Germany, DOT’s leaders embarked on a search for the best stable and affordable business climate,” said Mike Pence, Indiana’s governor. “Though still in its early stages, DOT has already found that and more in Indiana.”

DOT currently employs more than 290 full-time associates in Germany. It already has begun hiring engineers and technicians at its Columbia City location, which opened in November 2013.

“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.”

Founded in 1992, DOT develops and supplies medical coating treatment technology for implants and instruments for the orthopedics industry under the name DOTImplantSource. In addition, under the name DOTbiomaterials the company develops and manufactures regenerative medicine products for the dental and orthopedic industries. DOT also maintains a research and development team for the improvement of existing coatings and developing new coatings.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered DOT America 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.

DOT is the third German company to announce plans to add jobs and invest in the Hoosier State. NORRES, a German industrial hose manufacturer, announced plans to base its North American operations in South Bend, and German extrusion manufacturer Jäger Group made plans to expand its subsidiary, Jaeger-Unitek Sealing Solutions.