LJ Inc. to build the world’s first autonomous dredges

A Swartz Creek company is moving west to expand and begin building the world’s first autonomous dredging machines.

LJ Inc. has outgrown its current space at 6359 Miller Road near the I-69 interchange in Swartz Creek, where it employs 115 people.

The company continues to grow and is purchasing 50 acres of land in Venice Township, where it will construct a 150,000-square-foot facility to house the manufacture of autonomous dredges.

The project will result in the first dredge company in Michigan and the first autonomous dredge company in the world.

According to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the project is expected to generate a total capital investment of $18.25 million and create 250 jobs with the support of a $2.5 million Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant.

The company chose Michigan for the project because of its established relationships with suppliers and the community.