German company opens US headquarters in Greenville

A German industrial automation company is establishing U.S. headquarters in Greenville.

Idealworks says it will use its Upstate base to expand its footprint across North America.

The Greenville Area Development Corp. said in a news release that Idealworks was founded in 2020 but has roots in robotics development that started in 2015. The move accelerates Idealworks’ existing U.S. business and establishes a permanent local presence, the release stated.

Idealworks was attracted to the region due to Greenville County‘s longstanding manufacturing industry, particularly the established automotive cluster with existing customers such as BMW Manufacturing. The company also supports customers across manufacturing and logistics industries, where coordinated robotic fleets are critical to operational efficiency in highly complex production environments, according to the release.

“We selected Greenville County and the city of Greenville for our new U.S. headquarters primarily because they sit in the heart of the Southeast’s manufacturing corridor, providing us proximity to existing customers and leading automotive OEMs, tier-one suppliers, and industrial operators,” Idealworks CEO Michael Schneider said in the release. “The existing international community, business infrastructure and support, and quality of life also solidified our decision to establish our presence here.”

Founded as a BMW Group subsidiary, the company helps businesses optimize and automate workflows across warehouses, production facilities and logistics operations.

“Companies like Idealworks don’t choose Greenville County by accident,” Max Stewart, president and CEO of the GADC, said in the release. “This project is a result of cultivating international relationships, our established industrial ecosystem, and supportive community partners. Idealworks is a perfect fit for Greenville County as they align with our broader goal of recruiting companies in the professional and technical services industry. The establishment of their U.S. headquarters validates Greenville County’s ability to support tech companies that serve industrial markets.”

At the core of its offering is the Idealworks Orchestration System (Idealworks OS), the control layer that integrates simulation technology and connects heterogeneous robots for different applications, peripheral devices and IT systems through a single operational logic, the company says.

“We say Upstate South Carolina is where manufacturing and technology intersect, and Idealworks is a great example,” John Lummus, president and CEO of Upstate SC Alliance, said in the release. “Their selection of Greenville County validates our strong business location, and their automation solutions can boost productivity for our region’s manufacturing ecosystem.”

The post German company opens US headquarters in Greenville appeared first on SCBiz.