[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15403]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




TO COMMEMORATE THE GRAND OPENING OF OTTO BOCK POLYURETHANE TECHNOLOGIES 
                         IN ROCHESTER HILLS, MI

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. GARY C. PETERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 12, 2011

  Mr. PETERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark the grand opening of 
Otto Bock Polyurethane Technologies in Rochester Hills, Michigan. Otto 
Bock is world-renowned and award-winning for its work in the field of 
prosthetics and orthotics. The story of the Otto Bock family of 
companies is a striking example of how innovation and technology can be 
transferred across discrete industries to create synergies for new 
products and processes.
  Founded in 1919 in Berlin, Germany and named for its founder, Otto 
Bock has stayed true to its origins as an innovator and manufacturer of 
prosthetic devices. The perpetual process of innovating and improving 
prostheses combined with the challenge presented by the physical needs 
of returning war veterans, pushed Bock to use new materials and 
processes to increase production of improved prostheses. Traditionally 
an artisan-based process, Bock sought to move the industry toward a 
component-based manufacturing system. He was a forerunner in the use of 
aluminum parts and in 1950, he applied the first plastics to prosthetic 
production, some of which are still used today. Recognizing the vast 
potential of this new material, Max Nader, Bock's son-in-law, founded 
the Otto Bock Kunststoff in 1953. Today, the company is an important 
technology partner for Otto Bock HealthCare as well as a successful 
developer and supplier of plastics for the automobile industry. The 
third pillar of the company group Otto Bock is Sycor. Formerly part of 
the computer department of Otto Bock, the information and communication 
technology company develops customized solutions for company networks.
  Otto Bock's Rochester Hills facility will focus on advanced products 
and manufacturing of technologies of noise-reducing NVH Foam Parts for 
automotive engines and will eventually bring nearly $14 million in 
capital investments and 100 jobs to our community.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to welcome the entire Otto Bock family to 
Michigan's 9th Congressional District and I am honored to recognize 
Otto Bock Polyurethane Technologies and the dedicated individuals who 
work to maintain its mission of innovation. I know that the leadership 
of Otto Bock will find some of the best engineers and skilled workers 
in the world here to further its work in advanced technology and 
manufacturing. I look forward to Otto Bock maintaining its strong 
tradition of innovation, excellence and good corporate citizenship in 
our communities for many decades to come.

                          ____________________