New manufacturing operations announced in March reflected a dynamic mix of established players and cutting-edge tech, while foreign investment ran high. From robots building robots to the rise of generative AI creating a (hot) new market for liquid cooling solutions, it's clear that innovation is driving significant growth.
Encompassing eight U.S. states, billions in investment and thousands of jobs, these are the most exciting new U.S. manufacturing operations announced this month. Take a look:
Nestlé Purina PetCare has officially opened its new pet food factory in Eden, North Carolina, marking a significant expansion of its manufacturing capabilities. The grand opening, celebrated with state officials and community partners, represents the culmination of over three years of effort and an investment exceeding $450 million. This state-of-the-art, 1.3-million-square-foot facility not only repurposes a former brewery but also sets a new standard as a ‘factory of the future.’ The Eden factory has already generated more than 300 new jobs and is part of Nestlé’s broader commitment to invest $2 billion in Purina’s U.S. factory and capital expansion projects by 2025.
Purina CEO Nina Leigh Krueger expressed the strategic importance of the new site, stating, “Our new factory in Eden is a huge step to continue meeting that growing demand, and the latest example of the continued investment being made across our U.S. manufacturing network.”
Canada-based Premier Tech has announced the grand opening of its new facility in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, marking a significant expansion of its presence in the United States. This strategic move introduces the first U.S. manufacturing plant for Premier Tech Water and Environment, aiming to bolster growth in the American market.
Luc Langlois, president of Premier Tech Water and Environment, expressed the company’s commitment, stating, "The new site in Williamsport paves the way for the future growth of Premier Tech Water and Environment in Pennsylvania and fully aligns with our commitment to reinforce our presence in the United States with more local team members."
Drylock Technologies, a Belgian family-owned company specializing in absorbent hygiene products, is set to establish its first U.S. baby care production facility in Reidsville, North Carolina. The company plans to invest over $26.9 million in the new site, which will span a state-of-the-art 450,000-square-foot manufacturing operation. This strategic move will create 113 new jobs in Rockingham County and is expected to generate an annual payroll impact of more than $5.2 million for the region.
Bart Van Malderen, CEO of Drylock Technologies, expressed enthusiasm about the expansion: "People often asked me when I would be establishing a baby products plant in the U.S. - and I’m very happy to say that the time is now."4 He highlighted the company’s growth, reaching 1.2 billion EUR in sales in 2023, and emphasized the importance of following their customers’ strategy to meet the increasing demand for baby care products in North America.
Walmart has announced the construction of a new milk processing facility in Robinson, Texas, set to open in 2026. This initiative is part of Walmart’s broader effort to enhance its supply chain resilience and transparency. The facility, which will create nearly 400 new jobs, aims to cater to the increasing demand for high-quality milk products. It will serve over 750 Walmart and Sam’s Club locations across the South, offering a range of milk options under the Great Value and Member’s Mark brands. Bruce Heckman, vice president of Manufacturing at Walmart, emphasized the significance of the project, stating, "We’re excited to be able to provide Texas and its surrounding states with high-quality milk sourced primarily from Texas dairy farmers."
Sutphen Corporation, a renowned family-owned fire apparatus manufacturer, has marked a significant expansion with the grand opening of its new manufacturing facility in Urbana, Ohio. This state-of-the-art 185,000-square-foot facility represents a consolidation of three previous sites into one, enhancing the company’s manufacturing capabilities and capacity. The investment will create over 25 new jobs, increasing the Urbana workforce to over 225 team members. Specializing in custom-built emergency response vehicles, the Urbana site will focus on Sutphen’s extreme-duty custom chassis line, corporate service and technical center, and Ohio custom pumper line.
Drew Sutphen, President of Sutphen Corporation, emphasized the significance of this development, stating, "This new facility increases our workforce, manufacturing efficiency, production capacity and so much more."
Amgen has announced the inauguration of its cutting-edge manufacturing site in Central Ohio, dubbed Amgen Ohio. This state-of-the-art facility, spanning nearly 300,000 square feet, is set to bolster the company’s global operations network with its advanced technology and innovation. And will create 400 full-time jobs.
Lt. Governor Jon Husted has lauded the project as a triumph in advanced healthcare manufacturing, contributing significantly to the American supply chain. With a $40 million annual payroll, Amgen Ohio is poised to make a substantial economic impact.
LiquidStack, a leader in liquid cooling technology for data centers, has announced the opening of its new U.S. manufacturing site and headquarters in Carrollton, Texas. This strategic move is set to meet the surging demand for liquid cooling, driven by the rise of generative AI. The new facility will encompass over 20,000 square feet and the company’s plan to more than triple its manufacturing team by year-end. The Carrollton site will produce a comprehensive range of liquid cooling solutions, including Coolant Distribution Units and immersion cooling systems, and will also feature a service training and demonstration center.
Joe Capes, CEO of LiquidStack, emphasized the importance of this development, stating, “We are seeing incredibly high demand for liquid cooling globally as a result of the introduction of ultra-high TDP chips that are driving the scale and buildout of generative AI.”
ABB has unveiled its refurbished US robotics headquarters and manufacturing hub in Auburn Hills, Michigan. With an investment of $20 million, the facility is set to create over 70 high-skill jobs, bolstering Michigan’s advanced manufacturing sector. The expansion, which includes a 30 percent increase in facility space, is part of ABB’s broader $170 million investment in its electrification and automation businesses across the US. “The opening of our refitted state-of-the-art US robotics headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan is a significant part of our global growth story, reaffirming our commitment to industry leadership in the US,” stated Sami Atiya, President of ABB’s Robotics and Discrete Automation Business Area.
ORBIS Corporation, a subsidiary of Menasha Corporation, has announced a lease-to-own agreement for a new manufacturing facility in Greenville, Texas. The plant, encompassing 420,000 square feet of manufacturing space, will produce reusable pallets, totes, and bulk containers. Additionally, ORBIS will lease 240,000 square feet of warehousing space within the same building.
The company anticipates the creation of over 190 jobs within two years of starting operations. Norm Kukuk, president of ORBIS Corporation, expressed enthusiasm about the investment, stating, "This plant enables ORBIS to expand its geographic footprint and increase production capacity to serve our customers with industry-leading solutions, while making an impact in the community."
Governor JB Pritzker and Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton celebrated the grand opening of Brown Sugar Bakery’s new manufacturing facility in Chicago. The 10,000 square-foot space marks a significant expansion for the bakery, enabling large-scale production on the South Side and fostering job creation within the local community.. The state-supported initiative, which included a $500,000 grant from the Minority-Owned Business Capital and Infrastructure Program, aims to revitalize underserved areas while bolstering the economy.
Switzerland-based Matica Group, an identity and payment solutions provider, has announced the expansion of its American operations with the opening of its first U.S. manufacturing site in Greer, South Carolina. This 38,000-square-foot facility will focus on producing central issuance systems and desktop card personalization systems, including the highly anticipated XID-M series. The Greer plant is Matica’s first manufacturing site in North America and is expected to significantly contribute to the company’s goal of doubling its global revenue by 2027.
The new factory will employ over 40 full-time staff, integrating existing local technical support and creating new jobs. With North America representing 27% of Matica Group’s revenue—a figure poised to rise—the company is strategically positioned to capture a larger market share in the US. Sandro Camilleri, the CEO, expressed the company’s long-term commitment to the US market, stating, “We have had our sights on opening a factory in the US for some time… Greer made perfect sense as a location for our new facility.”
Kyowa Kirin, a global specialty pharmaceutical company from Japan, has announced the establishment of its first North American biologics manufacturing Center of Excellence in Sanford, Lee County. The company is set to invest $200 million into this project, which is expected to create 102 new jobs. The state-of-the-art facility will be located in the Helix Innovation Park and aims to enhance Kyowa Kirin’s global manufacturing network. This expansion will support the production and supply of targeted clinical and commercial biologic therapies, with the Sanford facility playing a crucial role in the company’s growth and global business strategy.
Paul Testa, Executive Vice President – Supply Chain & Manufacturing, North America, expressed the company’s vision, stating, "Establishing a new center of excellence for biologics manufacturing in North America is a testament to the promising potential we see in our pipeline."
Tucker Door & Trim, a leading distributor and manufacturer in the construction industry, is set to invest $10 million to establish a new manufacturing and assembly operation in Henrico County, Virginia. This strategic expansion is poised to create 50 new jobs, enhancing the company’s capacity to serve the northeastern market with its fiberboard and fiberglass doors and windows.
Phil Odom, President of Tucker Door & Trim, expressed the company’s enthusiasm for the new venture, stating, “This new location will offer us an unrivaled opportunity to serve new customers, grow and develop our team, and actively participate in our communities.” The company’s commitment to quality, service, and energy efficiency is expected to resonate well with the region’s robust construction sector, marking a significant milestone in Tucker Door & Trim’s over 50-year legacy of excellence.
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 350,000+ industrial companies and one million executives, providing up to 30 data points to help you identify and pre-qualify the best leads. Set up your free demo account, loaded with 500 real company profiles so you can test all the features of this powerful software!