GROWTH FOLLOWS ENERGY DEMAND
Last week, Siemens Energy unveiled a $1 billion U.S. investment that will sweep across multiple key facility locations as the company prepares to scale production of grid and gas turbine equipment. The nation’s future energy demands driven by data centers, artificial intelligence infrastructure and industrial electrification were listed as factors guiding this investment. Siemens Energy announced that a majority of the new investment would be geared toward production facility expansions in Alabama, New York, Texas, two sites in Florida and three sites in North Carolina. These locations produce a variety of components, from large power transformers, gas turbine parts and blades to compression equipment and insulation electrical components. However, in Rankin County, Mississippi, the manufacturer plans to invest up to $300 million to establish a new high-voltage switchgear facility at the West Rankin Industrial Park. This project will also include a training center to aid in local workforce development, as 300 direct jobs are expected to be created.
Photo courtesy of Tulsa Ports
SITUATED FOR AN INNOVATIVE NEXT PHASE
The Tulsa Port of Catoosa was selected by Mecad USA to become the site of the company’s new U.S. headquarters. The engineering firm manufactures precision components, industrial automation and advanced systems utilized within the aerospace, energy and advanced manufacturing industries. “The flexibility provided by Oklahoma’s new behind-the-meter law significantly de-risks our energy strategy,” said Mecad USA CEO Candido Romero. “Coupled with the Port’s infrastructure and the state’s transportation network, the site is ideally suited for our next phase of innovation.” The press release noted that Senate Bill 480 was a key investment driver, allowing for industrial and commercial entities to develop on-site power generation and storage systems without public utility oversight. In turn, Mecad USA can reduce its lead times, improve resiliency and optimize costs.
Photo courtesy of North Eastern Strategic Alliance
RARE EARTH PARTNERSHIPS PROCEED IN THE PALMETTO STATE
Toronto-based advanced recycling company Cyclic Materials has announced its first facility location in South Carolina, which will soon become the company’s largest rare earths recycling campus. An $82 million investment will support the construction of the new campus in Chesterfield County’s town of McBee. The spoke and hub plant will separate and recover mixed rare earth oxides (MREO) from end-of-life products, creating a stable supply of rare earth elements in North America. Once operational, the facility will process 2,000 tons of magnet material and later expand to 6,000 tons annually. This will result in an initial capacity to produce 600 tons of MREO each year, then scaling to 1,800 tons, which would be capable of producing 6 million hybrid transmissions a year. This campus will become a central factor in supporting the company’s 10-year agreement with VACUUMSCHMELZE (VAC) to recycle 100% of magnet production byproducts from VAC’s new manufacturing plant an hour’s drive away in Sumter.
Reports compiled and written by Alexis Elmore
