Excel Engineering buys Ricardo test facility in Van Buren Township

On Sept. 9, Excel Engineering announced the acquisition of the former Ricardo test facility on Haggerty Road in Van Buren Township, as its second U.S. engineering and testing facility.
Excel plans to create an estimated 28 jobs and investing $3 million in the 11-county Detroit Region over the next 12 months.
Founded in 2002, Excel Engineering is a provider of testing services that offers 38 engine and electrification test cells, with engine dynamometers ranging from <5 to 4500 HP, including EPA certification exhaust emissions. It also offers powertrain test cells for hybrid/electric motors, transmissions, transfer cases, axles, and driveline components. “At Excel we’re very excited about this opportunity to expand our powertrain testing services into Michigan, as we are now squarely positioned to provide locally based support of the automotive engineering services market,” said Doug Sobotka, president of Excel Engineering, in a news release. “For nearly 20 years, we’ve built an infrastructure to become a leading test services provider to the market. We’re providing cost-effective testing solutions for transportation industry OE’s, Tier 1 Suppliers, and other engineering services organizations in metro Detroit.” Excel Engineering was initially discovered through the research conducted by the Detroit Regional Partnership’s (DRP) Business Intelligence Team that identified the company as a potential target. DRP Business Development Manager Carlotta Gmachl led the project. “We’re very pleased to welcome Excel Engineering to the Detroit Region – with our recent focus on recruiting Research Engineering and Design companies to our ecosystem, our team’s commitment to providing a best-in-class customer journey remains at the forefront of our services,” said Maureen Donohue Kraus, president, Detroit Regional Partnership. Together with Wayne County and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), the region was able to support Excel Engineering with all their milestones regarding air permitting in their new building. Excel Engineering purchased the facility in June 2020 and started hiring the same month. “We are proud to have played a role in bringing Excel Engineering to Wayne County,” said Warren C. Evans, Wayne County Executive. “Excel Engineering’s investment will not only directly impact Van Buren Township but our region as a whole with its critical testing services.” “It has been such a pleasure to work with Excel Engineering,” said Carlotta Gmachl, Business Development and Trade Manager, Detroit Regional Partnership. “The Detroit Region has tremendous assets in the Research, Engineering and Design space and it’s exciting to see an exceptional company leverage all of what our region has to offer.” The Detroit Regional Partnership is a public-private economic development organization focused on marketing and business attraction for the 11-county Southeast Michigan region.