Handylab plans to grow from 34 to 90 over next 5 years

The state of Michigan and Pittsfield Township have made it quite clear they want Handylab Inc. to stay put. And they are. In fact, they plan to grow their presence in southeast Michigan.

Developers of clinical diagnostic testing products, the company decided to invest $3 million to begin manufacturing a nucleic acid testing system after the state and township kicked in nearly three quarters of a million dollars in tax credits. $672,000 over seven years will be provided by Michigan and $75,000 over six years will come from Pittsfield.

"Tax credits were the lynch pins in the corporate development we were looking for, and we're very pleased about it," says Mark Powelson, vice president of sales and marketing.

The company currently employs 34 full-time professionals but will increase that number to 90 over a five-year period. Powelson says the jobs will be in a variety of capacities: sales and marketing, manufacturing and research and development. The state estimates another 82 indirect jobs will be created by the investment.

Handylab's technology spun off from a University of Michigan-established company in 2000; its two founders --chemical engineers Kalyan ("Handy") Handique and Sundaresh Brahmasandra-- are still with the firm.

As for continuing to grow in the Ann Arbor area, Powelson says, "For our initial phases, it's been fine. As we begin to grow and commercialize the product, it is yet to be seen."

Source: Mark Powelson, Handylab
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh