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December’s new manufacturing announcements were all about innovation. With more news on the semiconductor and EV front, as well as some major pharmaceutical facilities, and some big reshoring news, December’s manufacturing wins were reflective of a dynamic and fast-growing U.S. industrial sector.
December's new manufacturing operations spanned nine states and represented billions in investments. Let’s explore some of the most exciting new manufacturing operations announced in this month.
Some big news in Arizona this month when Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) announced it has begun construction on a second fabrication facility in Arizona, slated to being production of 3nm process technology in 2026. This is in addition to another plant slated to begin production of N4 process technology in 2024. The two facilities represent an investment of $40 billion—the largest direct foreign investment in Arizona’s history.
The two facilities are expected to create 10,000 high-tech jobs, including 4,500 direct TSMC jobs.
“When complete, TSMC Arizona aims be the greenest semiconductor manufacturing facility in the United States producing the most advanced semiconductor process technology in the country, enabling next generation high-performance and low-power computing products for years to come,” said TSMC Chairman Dr. Mark Liu. “We are thankful for the continual collaboration that has brought us here and are pleased to work with our partners in the United States to serve as a base for semiconductor innovation.”
Together, the two new facilities are expected to produce more than 600,000 semiconductor wafers per year.
And in more good news for the state of Arizona, EV manufacturer ElectraMeccanica celebrated the commissioning of its nearly-completed manufacturing facility in Mesa, which will also serve as the company’s new headquarters.
ElectraMeccanica expects to produce up to 20,000 vehicles per year at the 235,000 square-foot Mesa facility and will bring between 200 to 500 jobs to the region in manufacturing, engineering, and technology.
“We are thrilled to bring production of our vehicles onshore and introduce an enhanced, U.S.-built 2023 model year SOLO EV to market,” remarked Susan Docherty, CEO of ElectraMeccanica.
ElectraMeccanica’s flagship vehicle is a three-wheeled single-seat EV called the SOLO, engineered for a single occupant, designed to “revolutionize the urban driving experience, including commuting, delivery and shared mobility.”
The state of West Virginia announced this week that startup Form Energy will partner with the state to establish its first iron-air battery manufacturing plant in the city of Weirton. This massive $760 million project will bring at least 750 jobs to the area.
Form Energy develops and manufactures multi-day energy storage systems and has developed a new iron-based battery that can store clean energy for 100 hours, far exceeding the capacity of lithium ion batteries.
Form Energy noted the scope of their selection process, examining 16 states and 500 potential locations before settling on the West Virginia site.
“After a year-long nationwide site selection process that started with identifying over 500 candidate locations across 16 states, it became abundantly clear that Weirton, West Virginia – a historic steel community that sits on a river and has the rich heritage and know-how to make great things out of iron – is the ideal location for our first commercial battery production factory,” said Mateo Jaramillo, Co-founder and CEO of Form Energy.
Form Energy plans to begin construction on the site in 2023 and will begin manufacturing iron-air battery systems in 2024.
And in New York, LA-based wellness technology company ObVus (pronounced “obvious”) Solutions, announced it has invested $4 million to develop a new manufacturing facility in the Rochester suburb of Victor, reshoring production back to the U.S. from China. The new 18,000 square-foot facility will create an estimated 25 to 50 jobs.
“We’re excited to bring production back from overseas to the U.S.,” said Ken Rosenblood, founder and CEO of obVus Solutions. “With an investment of $4 million, this new location will allow obVus to better meet our customers’ needs by expanding local manufacturing capabilities, which will increase both the production quality and speed to market of our well-tech offerings while bringing jobs to the area. Shifting production back to the U.S. also allows us to offer a more sustainable product line. Eventually, we expect the bulk of obVus Solutions’ product line will be ‘Made in the USA’.”
obVus Solutions develops a range of motivational and supportive products to coach and condition healthy habits. This new facility will function as a manufacturing hub for obVus Solutions’ array of new well-tech products, including a custom “stack” desk and made-to-order office chair.
Pennsylvania
Purolite, an Ecolab Company, officially opened its new pharmaceutical facility in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania this month. Encompassing 74,000 square feet, the facility will be dedicated to producing ion exchange resins for healthcare development and pharmaceutical APIs and is expected to create 75 new jobs.
“We are excited to open our facility in King of Prussia to enable our pharma and biopharma customers shortened lead times and security of supply to enable them to deliver life saving drugs. We are dedicated to ensuring continued supply of high quality, innovative resin-based products to our customers that the Purolite team built its foundation on.” Said Hayley Crowe SVP and GM Purolite.
The new facility is Purolite’s fifth manufacturing facility globally.
Ohio
Pharma giant Abbott Labs announced plans to establish a new manufacturing facility in Bowling Green, Ohio for the manufacture of specialty and metabolic powder nutritional products.
Representing an investment of $536 million, the new facility will bring 450 jobs to the northwest Ohio region.
“We’re building this plant for additional capacity to produce these important specialty and metabolic formulas that families rely on,” said Robert B. Ford, chairman and chief executive officer of Abbott. “Abbott has long been part of Ohio, and we’re proud to become part of the local community in Bowling Green.”
South Carolina
Meanwhile, Nephron Pharmaceuticals officially opened its new nitrile glove manufacturing facility in Lexington County, South Carolina. Encompassing 400,000 square feet, the new plant is expected to produce 2.5 billion gloves annually and will create thousands of jobs in the region.
Meanwhile, in Texas, GKN Aerospace announced plans to relocate its North America additive manufacturing Center of Excellence from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility in Tennessee to the Lone Star Commerce Center in Fort Worth, TX. GKN notes the move will strengthen the company’s position as a leader in the field of additive technology with a larger, 100,000s square-foot facility and increased collaboration within the aerospace industry.
Shawn Black, GKN Aerospace’s President of Defense said: “We are very excited to bring our additive technology research to Fort Worth. With proximity to many of our major customers in Texas and across the US, this is the right place for GKN Aerospace. Along with partnership with local government, we look forward to expanding our titanium additive manufacturing capabilities and pushing the boundaries of this technology for our customers and the aerospace industry.”
GKN plans to transform the Fort Worth facility into its fourth Global Technology Center to complement similar centers in the UK, Sweden, and the Netherlands.
In Colorado, pet supplement and treat manufacturer PetDine officially opened a new cold extrusion manufacturing plant in Windsor. With greater market demand for pet supplements, PetDine reports its new 105,000 square-foot facility will triple the company’s soft chew capacity and support expanded capacity for its liquid and standalone powder lines.
“PetDine’s capacity expansion creates significant opportunities,” said Elizabeth Barth, Vice President, PetDine. “Our top priority is supporting the success of our clients by providing the most innovative and highest-quality products for pets.”
In North Carolina, adhesives and sealants manufacturer Henkel, completed an expansion of its Salisbury facility, adding on 10,000 square feet for the expanded production of its UV curable acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesives. The new expansion will bring an estimated 20 new jobs to the site.
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