VIRGINIA BEACH — BMZ Group, a European-based company that produces high-tech battery systems for vehicles, has selected a new location here to expand its battery manufacturing operations.
BMZ will retain 21 full-time jobs in Virginia Beach and create 30 new positions with annual salaries of $42,179, according to a news release from the city.
BMZ opened its U.S. headquarters in Virginia Beach in 2011.
The Virginia Beach Economic Development Authority approved a $170,000 grant based on BMZ’s capital investment and the number of new jobs it would create with its expansion. BMZ will invest $2,806,000 in Virginia Beach with purchases of real estate, construction, machinery and tools, according to the news release.
“BMZ has grown significantly in the past two years,” said Michelle Chapleau, Virginia Beach Economic Development business coordinator. “BMZ’s relationships with quality vendors like STIHL and the availability of a highly skilled workforce helped us compete successfully for this expansion project.”
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The new location offers 24,000 square feet of class B industrial warehouse space, and the expansion will accommodate new customers and increased production needs, according to the news release.
Virginia Beach competed against BMZ’s facilities in China and Poland for this project.
BMZ’s U.S. facility handles North American sales, assembly, distribution, research and development of primarily lithium ion battery units for a variety of industry sectors.
The batteries are used in power tools, outdoor power equipment, material handling, medical devices, wind and solar energy, household items and e-bikes. BMZ also imports lithium ion battery cells from its manufacturing facilities in Asia and Europe and partners with local companies to manufacture plastic housings and wiring components. BMZ Group is a major vendor of STIHL, Inc.
“Moving to the new premises is crucial in order to meet our sales target of $50 million in 2021, because we assemble most of our batteries in Virginia Beach,” said Kai Schoeffler, general manager of BMZ USA.
Established in 1994, BMZ Group is headquartered in Karlstein am Main in Bavaria with production locations in China, Poland and the U.S., as well as branches in Japan and France. The company employs more than 3,000 employees across the globe.
