Nihon Kohden America, Inc.’s new South Whitehall Township facility is expected to add 27 high-paying jobs and retain 11 positions.

Nihon Kohden America, a manufacturer, developer and distributor of medical electronic equipment, will expand operations with a 7,000-square-foot facility to provide technical and product support to installations along the East Coast, and support biomedical training classes for consumers.

The company plans to invest $445,000 in the project, which will include tenant improvements, purchase of equipment and training for new employees. The company’s newest facility complements its West Coast-based facility, allowing for a rapid response to customers across United States time zones.

“We are always looking for ways to improve the level and quality of service and support we provide to our customers because we know that every minute counts when it comes to patient care,” said Dr. Wilson P. Constantine, CEO of Nihon Kohden America.

“Initially, our new facility will serve as a second U.S. technical support call center, increasing access to our knowledgeable support staff. And in the future we will have the ability to add other functions as customer needs dictate,” Constantine said.

The project was coordinated by the Governor’s Action Team in collaboration with the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp.

Nihon Kohden America received funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, including $81,000 in Job Creation Tax Credits, a $75,000 Pennsylvania First Program grant, and $22,950 in WEDnetPA funding for employee training.

Nihon Kohden, founded in Japan in 1951, is the leading manufacturer, developer and distributor of medical electronic equipment, with subsidiaries in the U.S., Europe and Asia. The company’s products are used in more than 120 countries.

It is the largest supplier of electroencephalography products worldwide. Nihon Kohden has envisioned, designed and produced pulse oximeters, arrhythmia analysis, low-invasive blood volume monitoring and wireless patient monitoring.

In the U.S., the company is a source for patient monitoring, sleep assessment, neurology and cardiology instrumentation solutions, and has been recognized by MD Buyline for the highest customer satisfaction among U.S. hospitals and health systems for 36 consecutive quarters.