Hirano Tecseed Co., Ltd., a Japanese manufacturer of coating machines, will open its first U.S. office in Norcross. The company chose Gwinnett and the metro Atlanta region for its global access, diverse workforce, and strong economic climate to support growth.
Hirano Tecseed Co., Ltd. manufactures advanced coating machines used in a variety of industries including electronics, medical, and aerospace. Their innovative technology is critical for producing products such as adhesive tape, liquid crystal displays, electronic components, wallpaper, and aircraft parts. The company is also known for its environmentally conscientious operations.
Kaoru Okada, president of Hirano Tecseed, says: “Our first U.S. office in Norcross will allow us to better serve our American clients and expand our footprint in the U.S. market. We appreciate the warm welcome and support from Gwinnett County and the State of Georgia.”
This announcement was made during a global business mission to Japan, where a delegation led by Partnership Gwinnett, including Gwinnett County government, business and community leaders, and representatives from the Georgia Department of Economic Development, visited Hirano Tecseed’s headquarters in Nara, Japan.
Deven Cason, Vice President of Economic Development, says: “Hirano Tecseed’s decision to establish its first U.S. office in Norcross is a testament to Gwinnett County’s attractiveness as a business destination. We look forward to supporting their expansion and success in our community.”
Georgia Power, the Metro Atlanta Chamber, and the City of Norcross were also instrumental in the project, helping create the opportunity for Hirano to join the local business community. Norcross Mayor Craig Newton says: “Our City is well known for its global business footprint. We are pleased to have Hirano joining our community and taking advantage of the strength in location that we offer for growth in the U.S. market.”
Students participate in Project SEED at GGC
“All right, time to get to work!” Those were the words of Malachi McClain, 15, of Dacula, who skipped the beach this summer in favor of conducting research in a college chemistry lab. A rising junior at the Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology, McClain is part of a student cohort from four Gwinnett County high schools who are participating in the Project SEED program at Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC).
The American Chemical Society’s Project SEED summer program brings students to college and university campuses for eight to 10 weeks at host institutions like GGC, where they work alongside faculty to conduct scientific research. In its more than 50-year history, Project SEED has hosted more than 11,000 students in 40 countries. GGC has been hosting this initiative since 2017.
Dr. Ajay Mallia, associate professor of chemistry at GGC, who organizes the Project SEED summer program at GGC, along with his colleagues, Drs. Neville Forlemu and Simon Mwongela, says the students gain invaluable skills that are important in a lab setting – and in life.
Mallia says: “By conducting research, students learn technical skills as they operate lab instruments, analyze samples and practice lab safety procedures. They also gain professional skills such as problem solving, time management, organization and teamwork. The combination of professional skills and technical skills will help them. He adds that it is a large time commitment for these students, who work from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday during the summer.
That time commitment didn’t faze McClain, who loves what he’s doing.
“I really enjoy doing just chemistry in a college lab,” he says. “Sure I did it in ninth grade, but it was more of an introduction. This is straight up organic chemistry – I love it!”
Across the lab, Galilee Degracia, 16, was mixing substances to create a new surfactant compound. Common household surfactants include soap, shower gel, shampoo and all-purpose cleaners. They stir up activity on surfaces to help trap and remove dirt on the surface of objects.
Degracia, who is a rising junior at Grayson High School, says she knows she wants to pursue a career in STEM. She said her participation in the Project SEED program at GGC is giving her hands-on experience. “For the past few weeks, we’ve done research, and now we’re performing in the lab,” she says. “I feel like it’s coming full circle when I get to use the research and equipment that I learned about in the past few weeks.”
Joyce Lee, 15, of Duluth has always been interested in science. The rising sophomore at Peachtree Ridge High School says her participation in local science fairs has piqued her interest in a career in chemistry. “Chemistry is basically the maker of everything,” she explained. “It’s definitely challenging, but I just ask questions through it. The program has helped me to learn, grow, persevere and not give up. I love being in a lab. It’s my happy place.”
The Project SEED summer program at GGC will continue through July 31.
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