Sports clichés are, well, cliché when it comes to business, but they are also the philosophies that keep Coherix going strong in Ann Arbor.

"This is our sport," says Dwight Carlson, chairman and CEO of Coherix. "Everyday we get up for this and no two days are the same."

Or two markets for that matter. The high-tech firm that helps improve engine efficiency is opening up new markets all around the world. Coherix has successfully expanded its operations into Asia in recent years and is making plans for a similar move into India's markets.

But the big news is how Volvo Technology Transfer has made a big investment in Coherix so the Ann Arbor firm can set up shop in Sweden and take advantage of European markets.

This represents the latest growth spurt for the company. It started with five people in 2003. Today is employs 45 people and another 10 independent contractors and the occasional intern. It expects to increase its employment by another 20-30 percent within the next year.

"We have too much momentum to be in a holding pattern," Carlson says.

Coherix develops high-tech systems to improve engine-manufacturing quality. It uses high-tech optical-based measurement and inspection products to find efficiencies in the automotive and semiconductor industries. You can see a video example of their work here.

Source: Dwight Carlson, chairman and CEO of Coherix
Writer: Jon Zemke