FASTSEWN Expands to Americas with New Milwaukee Subsidiary

Mikkelsen Innovation ApS has officially planted its flag in the United States, launching its new subsidiary, FASTSEWN, Inc., in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

This move marks a strategic shift for the Danish firm, which is looking to bring its automated cutting and stitching technology directly to the North American market.

The company confirmed the establishment of the subsidiary on November 3, 2026, setting up shop in Milwaukee to manage sales, engineering, and aftermarket support. While the firm remains rooted in Aarhus, Denmark, the Milwaukee expansion shows it intends to provide localized service for its growing roster of customers across the Americas.

The choice of Milwaukee was not a matter of chance. According to the company’s official announcement, the decision was driven by the region’s logistical advantages and the team’s existing professional network. The city offers central access to major air travel hubs in both Chicago and Milwaukee, simplifying the movement of personnel and parts.

Beyond logistics, the company leaned on the institutional memory of its leadership. Several key figures at FASTSEWN, Inc.—including new COO Ranjan Singh—previously worked with Mikkelsen Converting Technology (MCT). That history provided the team with established procurement contacts in the Milwaukee area, ensuring they could maintain strict manufacturing and quality standards from the start.

The U.S. operation has already begun to take shape with a team of six, including leadership veterans and technical experts. Steve Aranoff serves as Chief Business Officer, while Jim Manelski has taken the role of Director of Sales for the Americas. The addition of Ranjan Singh as COO is the company’s most important move for operational stability.

Singh brings deep experience to the role, having spent years at QuadTech, a subsidiary of Quad Graphics, where he oversaw worldwide aftermarket operations. His return to working with former colleagues is described as a “hands-on” endeavor, as he is currently tasked with building out the local team for purchasing, assembly, and testing.

One of the most practical aspects of the Milwaukee site is its location within the Olympus Group facility. By operating out of a space shared with an early customer, the FASTSEWN team gains immediate access to a real-world production environment. This setup allows prospective clients to see the StitchNCut™ system in action, moving beyond traditional demonstration models to show how the technology performs on an active factory floor.

Brian Adam, President of the Olympus Group, noted the potential for this partnership, stating, “Olympus Group was an early adopter of MCT laser technology, and we’ve followed FASTSEWN with great interest since its inception. “We believe this technology will transform production efficiency, and we’re excited to be one of its early partners.”

For the broader manufacturing sector, the arrival of FASTSEWN represents a push toward higher efficiency in textile and material processing. The industry has long grappled with the labor-intensive nature of precision cutting and stitching. By automating these workflows, companies like Mikkelsen Innovation are attempting to address the persistent pressure to lower costs while maintaining high-quality output.

While the initial team is small, the company’s focus on building a support and aftermarket infrastructure suggests they are playing a long game. The success of this subsidiary will likely depend on whether they can scale their support services as quickly as they acquire new clients.

As the team continues to refine their assembly and testing processes in Milwaukee, the industry will be watching to see if this model of localized, customer-adjacent manufacturing provides the edge they claim.