A Xerox subsidiary is strengthening its relationship with a university by moving into its business park.

Grand Rapids-based Michigan Office Solutions, an office technology company, has moved its Kalamazoo office into Western Michigan University’s Business Technology and Research Park in Kalamazoo, at 4664 Campus Drive.

The university said yesterday that Michigan Office Solutions began relocating into the former Weidenhammer Building at the park after earlier this winter.

The relocation will help accommodate the company’s growth, which is anticipated to grow by at least six employees a year over the next few years.

The 4,000-square-foot building features a showcase area for clients in southwest Michigan to view Xerox technology, as well as staff office space and a conference room.

Bronco pipeline

Michigan Office Solutions has a history of hiring WMU alumni and often works with interns and grduates from the sales and marketing program at WMU’s Haworth College of Business.

“Our tradition of hiring interns and alumni through WMU continues to grow,” said Ralph Slider, president of Michigan Office Solutions.

Slider added that there's potential for more software engineering and information technology students or graduates to work with the company.

“We were attracted by the fact that Western Michigan University produces some of the best and brightest students around,” Slider said. “They are directly aligned with our goal of helping businesses solve real problems with technology solutions.”

The move will help solidify the partnership the company has with WMU — and the caliber of students the university produces is what really prompted the relocation more than anything, said Jason Jipping, regional sales manager for the Kalamazoo office of Michigan Office Solutions.

“Looking at WMU and furthering our partnership with them makes a lot of sense,” Jipping said.

Business park

Due to the proximity to the university, the Business Technology and Research Park is meant to foster partnerships among businesses, students and the Kalamazoo community.

More than 1,400 direct and indirect jobs were created or maintained due to companies moving into the property, according to WMU’s website.

The three main industries recruited to locate into the park are life sciences, advanced engineering and information technology.

Document business

Michigan Office Solutions, which has served the region for more than 50 years, sells a range of services: document output, storage, retrieval and management.