Holland Group Changes Name Headquarters

MUSKEGON — The Holland Group Inc. will get a new name and new home next year, as it relocates its corporate headquarters to Muskegon and completes a restructuring of its U.S. operations.

The Holland-based corporation will consolidate its three U.S. divisions into a single operating company called Holland USA and move into new executive offices to Muskegon. The move will affect about 50 jobs in finance, engineering, sales, customer service and management now located in Holland and Warrenton, Mo.

Holland USA President Tim Hemingway called Muskegon an “excellent location” for the firm’s U.S. headquarters, saying he was impressed with the “progressive attitude” within the community in luring the company. The company expects to complete the move by February.

The availability of airport facilities, a supportive community environment, and overall cost of doing business were all factors in Holland USA’s decision to make Muskegon its home, Hemingway said.

“We decided this is the best place for our people and our company,” Hemingway said.

Key factors involved in deciding to relocate to Muskegon are the need to have key managers and departments in a single location to foster communication and collaboration, the availability of 35,000 square feet of office space to house the entire sales and administrative team, and minimizing the impact of the move on staff, many of whom now work in Muskegon at the corporation’s Holland Neway division or will have a easy commute from Holland, and the need to free up space at the company’s Holland corporate office for personnel.

Holland USA is the parent company of Holland Neway in Muskegon, Holland Hitch in Holland and Holland Binkley in Warrenton. The group makes trailer hitches, fifth wheels, couplers, landing gears, air and mechanical suspension systems, and brakes for large trucks.

Todd Battle, president and CEO of the economic development agency Muskegon Area First, called the company’s plans “an extremely positive signal for Muskegon.” Muskegon Area First worked with Muskegon Area Chamber of Commerce, the City of Muskegon and several businesses to develop a package to bring Holland USA to Muskegon.