A high-tech company recently relocated its business unit headquarters to Lexington, Kentucky, from Osaka, Japan.
Funai Microfluidic Solutions (FMS), a company offering custom thermal jetting solutions for specialty printing, life sciences and consumer applications, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Funai Electric Co. It's located at 700 Setzer Way, according to its website.
“The commonwealth’s technology sector has been expanding, and Funai’s decision to move its headquarters here shows it’s only growing stronger,” said Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, in a news release. “It’s truly exciting that Funai’s leadership has chosen Lexington as the company’s business headquarters, and it shows that we’re building an economy here that works for all our people.”
Mike Marra, chief technology officer at FMS, said the relocation will allow the company to further tap into Lexington’s thriving technological landscape.
“The relocation of our headquarters to Lexington was a natural progression as our facility transitioned from an R&D center to the driver of our global strategy,” Marra said in the release. “Our local dedication to advancing this technology over the course of three decades, in collaboration with the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville, has facilitated the attraction of top-tier talent. The unique blend of pioneering technology and exceptional skill sets within this facility fuels our vision.”
The resonance of this strategic shift was further amplified by Koji Yamanaka, CEO of the business unit. He also expressed gratitude for Kentucky’s support of the business community.
“The support of programs such as the Kentucky Business Investment Program and Kentucky Enterprise Initiative Act (KEIA) has made Lexington a welcoming ecosystem for our endeavors,” Yamanaka said. “This acknowledgment reinforces our commitment to spearheading innovation in our domain. As we celebrate our 10th year as a technology powerhouse in the Lexington region, this recognition is truly an honor.”
In 2013, Funai Electric Co. purchased Lexmark International Inc.’s inkjet technology and the following year established FMS for the purpose of inkjet and microfluidic technology research. Last year, FMS announced a Fayette County expansion, creating six new jobs with a $3.8 million investment.
Funai’s growth has been steadfast, elevating its workforce from 34 full-time employees in January 2020 to the current tally of 50 employees, the release said. The company’s commitment to expanding in-house capabilities was affirmed by David Graham, Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems development manager.
“Our significant investment in March 2022, amounting to nearly $4 million for key equipment procurement, has substantially enhanced our production throughput,” Graham said. “This augmentation also strengthens our supply chain resilience, fortifying redundancy and mitigating risks.”
