German 3D-Printing Technology Maker Choose Pflugerville as HQ

PFLUGERVILLE, TX -- Germany-based EOS, a maker of industrial 3D-printing technology, is establishing its North American headquarters in Pflugerville, city officials announced.

In addition, the company will expand its business operations at 130 Commerce Center, creating 75 new jobs in the course of three years, officials said.

Pflugerville Community Development Corp.'s interim Executive Director, Amy Madison, said the economic development corporation has signed leases exceeding 60,000 square feet of office and light industrial space at the city's 130 Commerce Center business park.

“Pflugerville offers EOS access to a diverse and talented workforce and major transportation corridors that have made Central Texas a growing hub for high-tech industries in the United States,” she said in a prepared statement. “These resources are critical for an innovative technology leader looking to further expand its market share with major aerospace, medical, automotive, tooling, consumer, and industrial organizations. They need a community where they can continue to grow and evolve — Pflugerville is that place.”

PCDC recruited EOS and negotiated the deal that will move aspects of regional applications, inventory, and research and development operations from outside Detroit, Michigan, to Pflugerville, Madison said. Company global headquarters will remain in Germany but Pflugerville will be the base of the company's North American headquarters, and the operations will be fully installed by December.

EOS will lease 44,680 square feet of space at the 130 Commerce Center and hire an immediate 20 full-time employees earning an average annual wage of $70,000 plus health benefits. The worker base would grow to 75 in the next three years, officials said.

Mayor Jeff Coleman lauded the cutting-edge nature of EOS's product line.

“Utilizing groundbreaking and innovative 3D printing, EOS will harness powerful laser technology to design customized products here in Pflugerville,” Coleman said. “During the company’s 25 years, they’ve been recognized as a world leader with an international reputation in manufacturing systems used in 3D printing, introducing a variety of methods and specialization in precision surface machining.

"From their first offices in Munich, Germany to Shanghai, China, EOS is a growing company with a great future, and we are proud to have them expand their North American operations with headquarters in Pflugerville.”

For their part, company officials said they were lured to Pflugerville given its proximity to Austin. The strategic location on Highway 130 and easy access to the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport were further inducements to locating in Pflugerville, officials said.

“EOS already has a strong technical and management presence in Central Texas and the move to Pflugerville gives us business stability during a time of high growth,” EOS Chief Operating Officer Donald Vanelli said in a prepared statement. “What we most needed was the ability to get our operations concentrated into a good location quickly and efficiently without the time-consuming challenge of having to build and develop from the ground up.

He noted the economic development officials working on behalf of the city were instrumental in making the deal happen.

"The Pflugerville Community Development Corporation was essential to making this move happen and we look forward to expanding our customer services and application support in North America,” Vanelli said.

EOS develops and markets industrial 3D-printing technology, also referred to as additive manufacturing (AM). The technology is used by companies worldwide for manufacturing complex geometries unobtainable via conventional manufacturing methods.

"The process is a manufacturing game changer by which 3D design data is used to build up a component layer by layer," city officials said. "Essentially, EOS provides the infrastructure including the systems, software, materials, material development, consultation, and services to enable a company to utilize industrial 3D printing and AM applications."

EOS opened North America operations in 2001 and recently celebrated its 26th anniversary, according to company officials. The company employs more than 700 employees worldwide, with customers in over 50 countries and close to 3,000 systems installations worldwide.