Above: GE Appliances CEO Kevin Nolan tours the company's Louisville facility with Kentucky Gov. Beshear. GE recently announced plans to add 245 jobs to support a new production line at the facility. Source: GE Appliances
As demand for U.S. manufactured goods continues to soar, a number of new manufacturing facilities were announced in July with new operations poised to churn out a wide range of products, from advanced medicines to food coatings, mattresses to refrigerators, roofing materials and more. Notably, one company announced this month that it has even exceeded its reshoring goals by 20% this year with the establishment of a new plant. Let’s take a look at this and other exciting new plant announcements made in July.
Amazon-backed electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian is rumored to be searching for a second U.S. facility, according to sources familiar with the company, detailed in a Reuters article this month. Called “Project Tera,” the new plant will produce battery cells. Rivian currently has a facility in Normal, Illinois.
The state of Kentucky received some welcome news this month when GE Appliances, a Haier company, announced plans to add a new production line at its Louisville location. The new line will produce 4-door refrigerator models, which have been growing in popularity. GE has added 245 new jobs to the Louisville facility in order to support the new production line. re its establish a new production line
“GE Appliances has a long history as an innovator and jobs-creator here in Louisville, and with today’s announcement is showing a renewed commitment to our commonwealth, our people and our growing manufacturing industry,” said Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, who also attended the event. “With more than 245 new jobs for Kentuckians, we are furthering our positive momentum and growth as we continue to build an economy that works for every Kentucky family.”
In Texas, Soft-Tex International announced it has opened its second U.S. manufacturing facility in Sugar Land. The new 170,000 square-foot plant is a key component of the company’s “reshoring” goals, boosting the company’s domestic production by 137%.
"Soft-Tex has now surpassed our stated reshoring goal of 20% annually for 2 years in a row. In 2020, we doubled production at our Waterford, New York facility, and now with the opening of Soft-Tex Sugar Land we have more than quadrupled our total production capacity from 2019 levels," said Mark Smiderle, Soft-Tex Chief Executive Officer.
Soft-Tex is a major producer of bedding and home comfort products. The company plans to establish two additional U.S. facilities by 2022 to further its reshoring goals.
Meanwhile, “comfort technology” company Purple Innovation. Inc. maker of the renowned Purple mattress turned other mattress makers green with envy when it announced plans to double its workforce at the company’s newly opened McDonough, Georgia. Purple opened its McDonough facility in July of 2020 and this month announced it would be adding another 500 jobs to the facility.
“After recently being admitted to the Georgia Made program, it's great to see this company already thriving and expanding here in Georgia,” said Governor Kemp. “I want to thank Purple for their commitment to creating an additional 500 jobs for hardworking Georgians and for making the Peach State a key player in their all-American success story.”
In Indiana, Abbott Labs officially opened its new advanced manufacturing facility in Westfield. The new site, which encompasses 120,000 square feet across 20 acres, will focus on medical device manufacturing for the Structural Heart segment of its business. The new plant represents an investment of $37.6 million and will add 450 jobs to the area.
“The skilled jobs and innovative, life-saving technology that will be manufactured here is exactly what Westfield wants and needs as we grow our economy,” said Westfield Mayor Andy Cook.
Meanwhile, in Ohio, biotech company Amgen announced plans to open a new assembly and packaging facility near Columbus, with the site expected to be operational by 2024. The new plant will assemble vials and syringes for Amgen’s biologic products for oncology, cardiovascular disease, neuroscience and more. The new facility is expected to bring 400 jobs to the era and represents an investment of $365 million.
On the front line of the “chicken wars,” this month is Ireland-based Kerry Group, which announced it has established a new state-of-the-art coatings factory in Rome, Georgia. The new facility will produce custom coatings used in foods such as fried chicken and crispy appetizers to meet soaring demand for fried chicken products. With a price tag of $125 million, the coatings plant represents Kerry’s largest investment to date.
Meanwhile, in Virginia, Nestle Purina PetCare announced plans to invest $182 million at its plant in King William County. The new expansion will add 138,000 square feet to help the company increase capacity amid increasing demand for is Tidy Cats litter products. The expansion is expected to complete in 2023.
Purina is King William County’s largest employer. “Nestlé Purina PetCare’s significant capital investment and growing operation reinforce Virginia’s world-class business assets that attract and retain high-caliber manufacturers,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Brian Ball.
In Chicago, Creative Packaging Co. unveiled plans to open a new location, representing the company’s 7th U.S. facility. Encompassing 30,000 square feet and employing 50, the new plant will produce refrigerant gel packs for clients in temperature-controlled cold chain shipping across the Midwest and beyond.
Ontario-based Burloak Technologies announced in July that it has established a new additive manufacturing plant in Camarillo, California, becoming North America’s first multi-site additive manufacturing services provider. The new plant encompasses 25,000 square feet and offers a wide range of additive manufacturing capabilities and technologies, such as laser powder bed fusion, electron beam powder bed, and wire DED technologies.
Also in July, custom metal fabricator Metal Specialist, L.L.C. unveiled plans to establish a new headquarters and manufacturing facility in Wallace, North Carolina. The new facility represents a $2.9 million investment and will produce metal roofing products for the agricultural, commercial, and residential roofing industries.
Meanwhile, insulation manufacturer Rockwool announced it had begun expanding its facility in West Virginia. The new facility will add 40 workers to an existing 110-employee workforce, helping to support ramped-up production of stone wool insulation products for residential, commercial and industrial markets.
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Missed last month? Read New U.S. Manufacturing Plants Announced In June 2021. Or check out our 2020 roundup: 2020 in Review: The Year in New Manufacturing Plants.