ROOM FOR MORE PRODUCTION
Last week, Kimberly-Clark Corporation announced it would be expanding the company’s manufacturing plant in Mobile, Alabama. Driven by innovation, a $130 million investment will introduce a new production line focused on producing next-generation hygiene products. The move, following a combined $1 billion in investment announcements in Ohio and South Carolina in early May, comes as part of the company’s broader commitment to invest $2 billion in U.S. manufacturing by 2030. This expansion builds on 30 years of the company’s operations in the state, producing products like bath and tissue paper. “This expansion represents a strategic investment in Kimberly-Clark’s future and underscores our commitment to solving unmet consumer needs through innovation,” said Kimberly-Clark Chief Supply Chain Officer Tamera Fenske. “Our Mobile facility exemplifies manufacturing excellence, powered by a team whose skill, dedication and passion deliver the essential products our consumers count on every day. This investment not only enhances our North American manufacturing capabilities but also deepens our longstanding partnership with the Mobile community.” The company anticipates the new production line will be complete in 2027.
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FEEDING THE NATIONAL SUPPLY CHAIN
Netherlands-based refrigerated food logistics company NewCold is looking to expand its U.S. portfolio, starting in Maryland. Market proximity from the Port of Baltimore was highlighted as a factor behind the company’s announcement of a $275 million investment to construct a new temperature-controlled automated warehouse in Hagerstown, located less than two hours from the port. NewCold’s official release noted the selection of the Hagerstown site reflects a strategic decision to tap into the region’s logistics ecosystem. “We are committed to becoming long-term members of the communities in which we operate,” said Mike Shawgo, NewCold’s president of North America. “We work to locally recruit and train teams to operate our facilities. By providing these high-tech roles, we create long-term career opportunities for residents.” The facility will include automated storage and retrieval systems that will handle the moving and storage of products in the high-bay facility. Once the facility is complete, NewCold will create between 125 to 150 new jobs in the region.
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REVITALIZED FOR MODERN TIMES
After the purchase of the former Unifi manufacturing site located in Rockingham County, North Carolina, data center developer WhiteFiber is delivering a new billion-dollar purpose for the facility. Known as the artificial intelligence branch of Bit Digital, the company plans to convert the 1-million-sq.-ft. plant into a new performance computing and AI campus before the end of the year. WhiteFiber plans to introduce an initial 24 megawatts (MW) of the 99 MW of power secured by September 2024, with the potential to scale up to 200 MW in the future. The project, positioned in the town of Madison, will become the company’s flagship data center campus designed to meet future demand and modern colocation needs. Conveniently located near the Piedmont Triad region, the data center will benefit from robust power availability through Duke Energy, quality infrastructure and prime geographic reach to customers. “North Carolina’s leadership in high-performance computing started decades ago with our research universities, the Research Triangle and our focus on the future,” said North Carolina Governor Josh Stein. “WhiteFiber’s decision to join our state’s IT community will help bring the next generation of computing excellence to North Carolina.”
Reports compiled and written by Alexis Elmore
