Welding equipment developer Fronius USA LLC is relocating its North American headquarters to Portage, Ind., from Brighton, Mich., having gained a package of $4.25 million in performance-based tax credits from the Indiana Economic Development Corp. "Indiana has a great business climate with a perfect infrastructure for us, including a good network of suppliers and skilled employees," said Wolfgang Niedrist, managing director for U.S. sales at Fronius. "We can't wait to get to know the people of Indiana even better as we move into the community."

Fronius USA is an operating unit of Fronius International GmbH, the Weis, Austria, organization that has business units for battery charging systems and solar electronics, as well as welding technology. The Michigan operation was established in 2002.

The company also recently opened a new sales and service center in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Reportedly, Fronius plans to invest $26.64 million to lease and equip a 400,000-sq.ft. operation in Indiana where it will assemble and manufacture solar electronic inverters and welding equipment for the North American market. The new facility is due to be ready in the summer of 2012, and the company plans to expand its purchasing and manufacturing staff to coincide with the start of operations there.

"We're excited to bring new jobs anywhere in Indiana, but we're particularly excited Fronius has chosen northwest Indiana," Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels stated at the announcement. "Fronius is well-established, fast-growing and at the top of their field, exactly the kind of company we've rebuilt the Indiana business climate to attract."