California Governor Gavin Newsom and Bloom Energy Founder, Chairman, and CEO KR Sridhar celebrate the opening of Bloom's new multi-gigawatt manufacturing plant in Fremont, California. (Photo: Business Wire)
A recent study by Bloomberg found that manufacturing executives are bringing more manufacturing stateside, with the construction of new manufacturing facilities up 116% over the past year—racing past the 10% increase for all building projects in the U.S. combined.
Spanning multiple states, representing billions in investments and thousands of jobs, July’s new plant announcements ran the gambit of industries, from lithium-ion batteries in Kansas to spaceships in Arizona and waffles in Missouri.
Let’s explore some of the most exciting new manufacturing companies announced in July 2022.
Adding to the numerous new electric vehicle battery announcements across the U.S. in recent months, Panasonic Energy Co. announced plans to establish a massive $4 billion electric vehicle battery plant in the state of Kansas, which stands as the largest private investment in Kansas history. The new facility will create 4,000 jobs and will create and supply lithium-ion batteries.
“With the increased electrification of the automotive market, expanding battery production in the U.S. is critical to help meet demand,” said Kazuo Tadanobu, President, CEO of Panasonic Energy. “Given our leading technology and depth of experience, we aim to continue driving growth of the lithium-ion battery industry and accelerating towards a net-zero emissions future.”
Panasonic stated it had chosen Kansas as the location for its new plant due to its business-friendly environment, robust talent pool, infrastructure, and support of technology innovation. Kansas has an established battery manufacturing sector, with seven facilities throughout the state supporting 1,300 jobs.
Virgin Galactic announced plans to establish an assembly facility in Mesa for its next-generation Delta class spaceships. The new facility is expected to be fully operational by late 2023 and will have the capacity to produce up to six spaceships per year.
The Delta class spaceship is Virgin Galactic’s production vehicle designed for weekly flights. The first of these ships is expected to commence revenue-generating payload flights in late 2025 and private astronaut flights in 2026. The new facility will support hundreds of aerospace and manufacturing jobs in the area.
“Our spaceship final assembly factory is key to accelerating the production of our Delta fleet, enabling a rapid increase in flight capacity that will drive our revenue growth,” said Virgin Galactic CEO Michael Colglazier. “We’re thrilled to expand into the greater Phoenix area which is home to outstanding aerospace talent – and we look forward to growing our team and fleet at our new facility.”
PepsiCo announced plans this month to construct a massive 1.2 million square foot facility in Denver. The new facility, slated to open in the summer 2023, will be the largest, most sustainable Pepsi facility in the United States. Pepsi has acquired nearly 152 acres of land in the Denver High Point development area. The new operation will hire 250, adding to Pepsi’s existing 1,200 employees in the state of Colorado and will produce the company’s signature products such as Pepsi, Gatorade, Rockstar, and Muscle Milk.
Said PepsiCo Beverages North America's West Division President, Johannes Evenblij. "With the High Point facility serving a model for the future of PBNA's supply chain, we're eager to continue deepening our dedication to Colorado through positive impacts such as new job opportunities and more sustainable business solutions."
In South Carolina, automotive parts manufacturer Kuntai unveiled plans to establish new operations in Orangeburg. Kuntai, which produces car floor mats and supplies high end OEMs, has invested $1.5 million for the new facility and will create 41 new jobs for the area.
“We chose South Carolina as our new facility location because of the business-friendly environment, its skilled workforce and proximity to our customers. We look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship and will definitely consider South Carolina for all future projects.” Said Kuntai (North Charleston) Limited Corporation General Manager Vincent Zhang
Meanwhile, SHL Medical unveiled plans to construct a new manufacturing site in North Charleston in response to growing market demand for its autoinjector product portfolio. Representing an investment of $90 million, the new operation will create 165 jobs, with the new site expected to launch by 2024. The new site will be an advanced manufacturing facility with medical device injection molding and automated assembly capabilities.
Chairman and CEO Ulrich Faessler said in a statement: "Demand for SHL's products has increased significantly. Therefore, we are speeding up our plans for a new plant in the US. Similar to our upcoming European site in Zug, Switzerland, the US site will be a state-of-the-art, fully automated site.
In Fremont, California, Bloom Energy officially opened its new multi-gigawatt manufacturing facility, which will produce clean power and green hydrogen to the Bay Area. Representing an investment of $200 million, the new 164,000 square-foot facility will also include a technical center and global hydrogen development facility. The new operation is expected to create 400 jobs by the end of the year.
“Founded over twenty years ago, we are a global pioneer in clean energy technology,” said KR Sridhar, founder, chairman, and CEO, Bloom Energy. “Our roots are here, and our home is here. We are proud to continue innovating in Silicon Valley, fully supporting California as a beacon for the rest of the world in its energy transition. It is important to ensure both energy resiliency and reliability today are accessible while charting a sustainable path to decarbonization. We need to make the right decisions now that support the lifeblood of our digital economy.”
In Texas, GAF Energy announced plans to establish a new manufacturing plant in the Georgetown in response to growing demand for Timberline Solar™ roof. The new facility will increase capacity by 500%, making GAF Energy the largest producer of solar roofing in the world. Th GAF produces the only roof system that directly integrates solar technology into traditional roofing materials, featuring the world’s first nailable solar shingle.
The new 450,000 square-foot facility will be the company’s second U.S. facility, adding to its first plant in San Jose, California.
Said Martin DeBono, President of GAF Energy. "We launched Timberline Solar because we believed that more consumers would choose solar if they had a more reliable, durable, and attractive option. The market has confirmed our belief—now we're turning that belief into reality and building the future of clean energy here in the U.S."
In Ohio, Millwood Inc., established its 10th Ohio facility and 32nd facility nationwide after acquiring Cleveland Custom Pallet & Crate. The new acquisition will further Millwood’s production capacity for whitewood pallets, crates, and other products.
In Missouri, waffle products manufacturer Marson Foods, announced plans to establish a new waffle products manufacturing facility in St. Louis. The new, $35 million plant will create 45 jobs in the region. “The St. Louis area and community has always had a special place in my heart,” said Dave Marson, Founder and CEO of Marson Foods.
In North Carolina, Belgium-based Ontex Group officially opened its new personal care products facility in Stokesdale. Employing nearly 100 workers, the new plant manufactures baby diapers and is Ontex’s second major investment in North Carolina.
Esther Berrozpe, CEO of Ontex, said, "We are proud to invest in local production within the United States to meet the growing demand for our essential hygiene products from millions of North Americans. This investment provides Ontex with both a West and East coast supply chain footprint in a key market where we see significant opportunity to grow and develop our business.”
In Virginia, Sika has established a new concrete admixtures plant in Stafford in response to heightened demand in the construction sector. The new facility is the company’s second-largest in the United States, adding to existing operation in suburban Philadelphia, further servicing customers in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.
In Utah, Fabral Metal Wall and Roof Systems officially opened a new manufacturing plant in Salt Lake City. Encompassing 60,000 square feet, the new operation is Fabral’s eighth facility in the United States and is slated to add 15 new jobs to the area. Fabral’s Salt Lake City site will produce the company’s post-frame corrugated steel panels.
If you’re looking for industrial sales leads for a particular industry, region, company size, and more, consider an IndustrySelect subscription. IndustrySelect gives you live access to MNI’s database of 460,000 industrial companies and one million executives, providing up to 30 data points to help you identify and pre-qualify the best leads. Click here to learn more or start your free demo.