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18 September 2025
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Sep 18, 2025Manufacturing Net
RICHMOND, VA — Pharmaceutical manufacturer Eli Lilly and Company is moving forward with plans for a $5 billion state-of-the-art manufacturing facility that will generate 650 jobs in Virginia. The announcement was made by Governor Glenn Youngkin this week. The governor said the project will also generate 1,800 construction jobs at the West Creek Business Park in Goochland County.
The investment will be a significant expansion beyond the company's original plans, which called for a $2.148 billion investment and 468 jobs.
The new site will be the company's first active pharmaceutical ingredient and drug product plant for Lilly's emerging bioconjugate platform and monoclonal antibody portfolio. The treatments are primarily used to treat cancer but are being explored for autoimmune diseases and other conditions.
Lilly has committed to more than $50 billion in new manufacturing investments since 2020, with plans to build four new manufacturing facilities in the U.S. The Goochland project represents one of the four projects; the three other locations should be announced before the end of 2025.
Lilly will be eligible to receive a special appropriation of up to $130 million based on an investment of more than $2.148 billion and the creation of 468 jobs, subject to approval by the Virginia General Assembly.
Lilly, a nearly 150-year-old pharmaceutical company based in Indianapolis, has made some significant investments to boost its U.S.-based capabilities. In June, the pharmaceutical giant announced plans to acquire Verve Therapeutics, a Boston-based clinical-stage company developing genetic medicines for cardiovascular disease, for $1.3 billion.
The acquisition came just a few months after the company announced its commitment to more than double its U.S. manufacturing investment to $50 billion, creating thousands of jobs in the process.
The company currently has more than 49,000 employees worldwide, with about 22,000 employees based in the U.S. Lilly has manufacturing facilities in nine countries, including U.S.-based facilities in Indiana, North Carolina, New Jersey, Wisconsin, and Puerto Rico.
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Eli Lilly Plans $5 Billion Factory To Make Cancer Meds In VirginiaRICHMOND, VA — Pharmaceutical manufacturer Eli Lilly and Company is moving forward with plans for a $5 billion state-of-the-art manufacturing facility that will generate 650 jobs in Virginia. The announcement was made by Governor Glenn Youngkin this week. The governor said the project will also generate 1,800 construction jobs at the West Creek Business Park in Goochland County.
The investment will be a significant expansion beyond the company's original plans, which called for a $2.148 billion investment and 468 jobs.
The new site will be the company's first active pharmaceutical ingredient and drug product plant for Lilly's emerging bioconjugate platform and monoclonal antibody portfolio. The treatments are primarily used to treat cancer but are being explored for autoimmune diseases and other conditions.
Lilly has committed to more than $50 billion in new manufacturing investments since 2020, with plans to build four new manufacturing facilities in the U.S. The Goochland project represents one of the four projects; the three other locations should be announced before the end of 2025.
Lilly will be eligible to receive a special appropriation of up to $130 million based on an investment of more than $2.148 billion and the creation of 468 jobs, subject to approval by the Virginia General Assembly.
Lilly, a nearly 150-year-old pharmaceutical company based in Indianapolis, has made some significant investments to boost its U.S.-based capabilities. In June, the pharmaceutical giant announced plans to acquire Verve Therapeutics, a Boston-based clinical-stage company developing genetic medicines for cardiovascular disease, for $1.3 billion.
The acquisition came just a few months after the company announced its commitment to more than double its U.S. manufacturing investment to $50 billion, creating thousands of jobs in the process.
The company currently has more than 49,000 employees worldwide, with about 22,000 employees based in the U.S. Lilly has manufacturing facilities in nine countries, including U.S.-based facilities in Indiana, North Carolina, New Jersey, Wisconsin, and Puerto Rico.
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18 September 20252 min readEli Lilly Plans $5 Billion Factory To Make Cancer Meds In Virginia
Manufacturing Net
18 September 2025
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Hyundai Says It Will Spend $2.7 Billion To Expand Raided PlantATLANTA (AP) — Hyundai Motor Group on Thursday confirmed it is going forward with previously announced plans to expand its Georgia plant, just weeks after an immigration raid delayed the startup of an electric vehicle battery plant at the site.
READ MORE: South Korean Government Expresses 'Concern and Regret' Over Hyundai Raid
As part of a broader investment strategy, Hyundai said it would spend $2.7 billion to increase production capacity at the Ellabell site by 200,000 over the next three years, to a total of 500,000 vehicles a year.
The company first announced the expansion in March at the grand opening of the plant west of Savannah, and had said in August that it would invest an additional $5 billion in United States overall. But the raid, which included arrests of more than 300 South Korean citizens, led to questions about the wisdom of the Asian nation investing in the U.S.
The company said it now plans to produce 10 models of electric and hybrid gas-electric vehicles in Georgia, up from the current two the plant has been assembling as it ramps up production. Hyundai says it's still on track to expand production worldwide to 5.6 million vehicles a year by 2030. The automaker pledged that 60% of those vehicles will be electric or hybrid powered, targeting sales in South Korea, North America and Europe.
Hyundai said that it plans to make more than 80% of vehicles sold in the United States domestically by 2030, with total domestic content increasing from 60% to 80%. For the first time, the vehicles would include a mid-sized pickup truck, a key vehicle class in the U.S. market. The company already makes the Santa Cruz model, a four-door compact pickup, that it started selling in 2021.
Hyundai CEO José Muñoz has said the immigration raid will delay opening the battery plant by at least two to three months. Spokesperson Michael Stewart said Thursday that the facility will open in the first half of 2026.
Both Hyundai executives and Georgia officials have been trying to calm the situation since the raid, which mushroomed into a diplomatic dispute between South Korea and the United States.
Republican Gov. Brian Kemp told reporters Tuesday at a ceremony marking the groundbreaking of a Rivian Automotive electric vehicle plant that he remains confident Georgia's business advantages would "win out" in terms of foreign investment. The raid may even wind up smoothing the way for South Korean employees to more easily obtain legal permission to help build and operate facilities in the United States, he said.
"I've had good conversations with companies that are here doing business in Georgia, companies that are looking to do business here," Kemp said. "And I've had good conversations with people in the White House about the visa issue."
Brent Stubbs, the chief administrative officer of the Ellabell site, wrote in an opinion piece published Wednesday in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the company is still committed to Georgia.
"This situation doesn't change our plans to continue expanding and localizing in the United States," Stubbs wrote. "Our investments in America are part of a long-term strategic plan."
The $2.7 billion investment confirmed Thursday will go to expanding capacity at the plant and group affiliates, Stewart said. That would bring total investment in the auto plant to $10.3 billion, not counting the $4.3 billion that Hyundai and its joint-venture partner, LG Energy Solution, are putting into the battery plant.
Hyundai and its onsite affiliates currently have 3,129 employees in Ellabell, Stewart said. Hyundai pledges to hire at least 8,500 workers by the end of 2031. State and local governments have promised $2.1 billion in tax breaks and other incentives.
The boost at the Ellabell site is the biggest part Hyundai's plan to raise production by 1.2 million vehicles a year worldwide. That includes another 250,000 vehicles out of Pune, India; and 200,000 more at Hyundai's electric vehicle plant in Ulsan, South Korea. The automaker said it would also deliver parts for assembly into an additional 250,000 vehicles at plants in Saudi Arabia, Vietnam and North Africa.
Hyundai underlined a previous announcement to deepen its investment in robotics and said that by 2027 it would launch extended-range electric vehicles with gasoline motors to extend the range of its electric batteries to more than 600 miles (960 kilometers).
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18 September 20254 min readHyundai Says It Will Spend $2.7 Billion To Expand Raided Plant
Manufacturing Net
18 September 2025
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Amazon Spends $1 Billion To Increase Pay And Lower Health Care Costs For U.S. WorkersNEW YORK (AP) — Amazon says it's investing more than a $1 billion to raise wages and lower the cost of health care plans for its U.S. fulfillment and transportation workers.
The Seattle-based company said Wednesday the average pay is increasing to more than $23 per hour. Some of its most tenured employees will see an increase between $1.10 and $1.90 per hour. Full-time employees, on average, will see their pay increase by $1,600 per year.
Amazon also said it will lower the cost of its entry health care plan to $5 per week and $5 for co-pays, starting next year. Amazon said that will reduce weekly contributions by 34% and co-pays by 87% for primary care, mental health and most non-specialist visits for employees using the basic plan.
Amazon has a global workforce of 1.5 million workers.
Last December, seven Amazon facilities went on strike, an effort by the Teamsters union to pressure the e-commerce company for a labor agreement during a key shopping period.
That same month, Amazon reached a settlement with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration that requires the online behemoth to adopt corporatewide ergonomic measures at facilities across the country. The agency claimed hazardous working conditions led to serious lower back and other musculoskeletal disorders at Amazon facilities.
In January 2024, Walmart, the nation's largest private employer, said that average wages for hourly workers would exceed $18, up from $17.50. The increase was due to Walmart introducing some higher-paying hourly roles in its Auto Care Centers last year, among other changes, the company said.
Walmart, based in Bentonville, Arkansas, had announced in January 2023 that U.S. workers would get pay raises the following month, increasing starting wages to between $14 and $19 an hour. Starting wages had previously ranged between $12 and $18 an hour, depending on location.
At Minneapolis-based Target, the starting hourly wage ranges from $15 to $24 for workers employed at stores and distribution centers, depending on the location, company spokesman Brian Harper-Tibaldo said.
The average hourly wage for a Target store worker is more than $18, he said.
Manufacturing Net
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18 September 20252 min readAmazon Spends $1 Billion To Increase Pay And Lower Health Care Costs For U.S. Workers
Manufacturing Net
18 September 2025
factory
Abb To Invest $110 Million In 4 U.S. PlantsABB announced that it will invest a further $110 million in the United States in 2025 to expand the R&D and manufacturing of its advanced electrification solutions as customers focus on improving energy efficiency and uptime while reducing their energy costs.
The IEA estimate U.S. wholesale electricity prices rose by 30-40% in the first half of 2025, compared with 2024.
Creating nearly 200 new jobs, the investment will support expected future growth in key industries, including data centers and the power grid. Rapid expansion of data centers in the US is expected to keep annual electricity demand growth above 2% in both 2025 and 2026, more than double the average growth rate over the past decade (IEA).
A new production line will be created in Mississippi for ABB’s innovative Emax 3 circuit breakers, an advanced technology used to protect critical infrastructure, such as data centers.
“This $110 million investment in the U.S. is part of our long-term strategy to support future growth in our biggest global market,” ABB CEO Morten Wierod said. “Demand is being driven by key trends, from the surging power needs of AI in data centers, to grid modernization and customers improving energy efficiency and uptime to reduce their costs. Our investments will ensure we can meet growing demand from customers across North America in line with our local-for-local strategy.”
ABB will invest $15 million to create a new production line for Emax 3 in its Senatobia, Mississippi site. The cutting-edge Emax 3 air circuit breaker improves the energy security and resilience of power systems in large facilities with high power demands, including data centers, advanced manufacturing sites and airports. The new line is expected to open in 2026.
A $30 million project will double the footprint of ABB’s Richmond, Virginia facility adding a new test center, warehouse and new assembly lines. The power quality and protection products made in Richmond are used by data centers, manufacturing plants and utilities to protect critical systems in essential operations and services, like servers, MRI machines and production lines from electrical failures.
The new facility, opening in Q4 2025, will create around 100 new production and engineering roles.
In Arecibo, Puerto Rico, an investment of more than $30 million will increase the size of the facility to accommodate three new production lines. Made for industrial and commercial operations in the U.S., technologies produced in Arecibo include smart circuit breakers and switching devices, essential power components that help distribute electricity, protect equipment and monitor energy usage.
The expansion will create 90 new skilled jobs by the end of 2026.
A $35 million investment will increase the capacity of ABB’s manufacturing facility in Pinetops, North Carolina. This will support expected demand for advanced low and medium voltage grid components from the utilities and for data centers and industrial facilities.
The expansion will support customers upgrading their energy infrastructure with advanced sensors and new switching and grid protection devices. The upgraded facility will open in 2026.
From 2022-2024, ABB invested around $500 million in its U.S. business, including a new $100 million manufacturing facility and innovation laboratory in New Berlin, Wisconsin and a new $40 million factory in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In March 2025, ABB announced a $120 million investment in its facilities in Selmer, Tennessee ($80 million) and Senatobia, Mississippi ($40 million).
A further $20 million investment in Selmer will increase production capacity. ABB opened a new $4 million Regional Distribution Center in Dallas, Texas in August 2025 and invested $4 million in several service facilities to enhance customer support this year.
Manufacturing Net
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17 September 20253 min readAbb To Invest $110 Million In 4 U.S. Plants
Manufacturing Net
17 September 2025
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Divergent Raises $290 Million To Scale 3D Printing For Defence And AerospaceSubscribe to our free newsletter today to keep up to date with the latest manufacturing news.
The aerospace and defence sectors are facing a critical moment. Supply chain bottlenecks, rising geopolitical tensions, and the demand for faster, leaner manufacturing have converged to create pressure across the industry. Divergent Technologies has secured $290 million in new funding at a $2.3 billion valuation. The raise, backed by both equity and debt, is designed to accelerate the company’s push into advanced aerospace and defence production.
By leveraging digital manufacturing, Divergent aims to change how complex structures are designed and built. Its approach combines additive manufacturing, automated assembly, and software into a single adaptive system. This strategy not only targets efficiency but also strengthens the industrial base at a time when the US is seeking resilience in its defence supply chains.
The funding package consists of $250 million in equity and $40 million in debt. Rochefort Asset Management led the investment, underscoring the confidence capital markets have in Divergent’s potential to disrupt traditional manufacturing. For investors, the attraction lies in Divergent’s ability to deliver a repeatable, scalable process rather than one-off engineering projects.
Compared with other major defence-tech financings in the past three years, Divergent’s raise places it among the upper tier of venture-backed manufacturers. The investment reflects a wider trend in capital markets: interest in startups that blend advanced manufacturing technologies with mission-critical applications in defence and aerospace.
This momentum is not limited to early-stage interest. Across the sector, funding rounds are increasingly directed toward scaling production capacity, signaling investor recognition that cutting-edge manufacturing must move beyond the lab and into deployment. Divergent’s $290 million round exemplifies this shift.
At the center of Divergent’s strategy is the Divergent Adaptive Production System (DAPS). The platform integrates digital design, additive manufacturing, and automated assembly into a single workflow. Unlike traditional factories that depend on tooling and fixed infrastructure, DAPS operates as a flexible production system. Engineers can redesign parts digitally, print them using high-end metal additive processes, and assemble them through robotic automation.
This approach appeals to defence and aerospace customers for several reasons. It allows for rapid prototyping and iterative design. It reduces the dependence on global supply chains by enabling local production. And it cuts down material waste, a persistent issue in aerospace manufacturing where parts are often machined from large billets of expensive alloys.
Divergent has already established partnerships with industry leaders including General Atomics, Lockheed Martin, and Raytheon. These collaborations highlight the practical application of DAPS to projects that demand both precision and scalability. By demonstrating results with such high-profile clients, Divergent is building credibility not only as a technology innovator but also as a strategic partner in mission-critical programs.
Supply chain disruption remains one of the most significant risks facing aerospace and defence manufacturers. From raw materials to specialized components, delays and shortages have slowed programs worldwide. The traditional reliance on fixed tooling and long production lead times compounds these challenges.
Additive manufacturing provides an alternative to these vulnerabilities. By shifting more of the production process into digital design and localized printing, companies can reduce exposure to logistics bottlenecks. For the defence industry, this flexibility is particularly important. In times of conflict or rapid deployment, the ability to print and assemble components on demand can provide a strategic advantage.
Divergent’s system adds another layer of benefit: scalability. Unlike one-off 3D printing applications often confined to prototyping, DAPS is designed to operate as a production-level platform. It enables aerospace and defence firms to move from small-batch experimentation to full-scale manufacturing within the same framework. This capability aligns directly with Pentagon priorities to strengthen America’s industrial base and reduce dependency on fragile global supply networks.
Divergent’s funding signals more than growth for a single company. It represents a larger shift in how the aerospace and defence sectors think about manufacturing. For decades, production has been dominated by large, inflexible facilities that required long lead times and heavy capital investments. Today, the industry is increasingly looking to digital, modular, and adaptive systems that can be scaled as needed.
For defence planners, the appeal extends beyond efficiency. In an era defined by strategic competition, particularly with near-peer rivals, the ability to innovate and produce quickly is seen as vital to national security. Divergent’s approach of combining software, hardware, and robotics into a single platform aligns with this priority.
The implications also extend to allied industries. Commercial aerospace, automotive, and energy infrastructure could benefit from production systems that enable lighter, stronger, and more adaptable designs. As Divergent grows, its influence may ripple outward into sectors beyond its current focus, potentially setting new standards for advanced manufacturing.
Divergent’s $290 million raise is more than a financial milestone. It underscores a shift in the manufacturing model for aerospace and defence, moving from rigid, tooling-heavy production lines to digital-first adaptive systems. By investing in capacity expansion and scaling DAPS, the company is positioning itself at the forefront of a reindustrialization wave that blends advanced software with additive manufacturing.
The long-term success of this approach will depend on execution. Scaling production while maintaining precision is not without challenges. However, if successful, Divergent could demonstrate a template for how future aerospace and defence platforms are built.
Sources:
Tech Funding News
Manufacturing Today
factory
16 September 20255 min readDivergent Raises $290 Million To Scale 3D Printing For Defence And Aerospace
Manufacturing Today
16 September 2025
factory
Red Bull Moves Ahead With $1.7B Factory After DelayRed Bull broke ground on a new $1.7 billion facility in Concord, North Carolina, following a four-year delay.
The facility is a joint manufacturing and distribution center from Red Bull, packaging supplier Ball Corp., and Austrian beverage company Rauch Fruchtsäfte. It's the second manufacturing plant for the companies in the U.S., and is meant to meet local market demand, according to a Red Bull spokesperson.
The 2.36 million-square-foot facility is expected to begin operations in 2028 and reach its maximized capacity by 2031, a spokesperson said. It will fill up to 3 billion cans annually and is expected to create 700 jobs.
The project was first announced in 2021, and construction began on Sept. 9. A spokesperson didn’t specify the reason for the delay.
Red Bull, Ball and Rauch Fruchtsäfte opened their first U.S. plant in Glendale, Arizona, in 2021. The North Carolina site is meant to complement the Arizona location by manufacturing Red Bull Energy drinks for the U.S., but it has capability “to manufacture for other markets should that be required,” the spokesperson said.
A 50% tariff on aluminum by the Trump Administration this year has created a push for more beverage packing in the U.S.
Austria-based Red Bull is building the North Carolina facility as the global energy drink market is seeing growth — it’s projected to reach $125 billion by 2030.
Founded in the 1980s, Red Bull is among the pioneers of the energy category. It’s now facing increased competition as more upstarts join the field and beverage companies expand their energy offerings, with the likes of Keurig Dr Pepper, PepsiCo, and Anheuser-Busch all investing in the space.
Construction Dive
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16 September 20252 min readRed Bull Moves Ahead With $1.7B Factory After Delay
Construction Dive
16 September 2025
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Divergent Raises $290 Million To Scale 3D Printing For Defense And AerospaceSubscribe to our free newsletter today to keep up to date with the latest manufacturing news.
The aerospace and defense sectors are facing a critical moment. Supply chain bottlenecks, rising geopolitical tensions, and the demand for faster, leaner manufacturing have converged to create pressure across the industry. Divergent Technologies has secured $290 million in new funding at a $2.3 billion valuation. The raise, backed by both equity and debt, is designed to accelerate the company’s push into advanced aerospace and defense production.
By leveraging digital manufacturing, Divergent aims to change how complex structures are designed and built. Its approach combines additive manufacturing, automated assembly, and software into a single adaptive system. This strategy not only targets efficiency but also strengthens the industrial base at a time when the US is seeking resilience in its defense supply chains.
The funding package consists of $250 million in equity and $40 million in debt. Rochefort Asset Management led the investment, underscoring the confidence capital markets have in Divergent’s potential to disrupt traditional manufacturing. For investors, the attraction lies in Divergent’s ability to deliver a repeatable, scalable process rather than one-off engineering projects.
Compared with other major defense-tech financings in the past three years, Divergent’s raise places it among the upper tier of venture-backed manufacturers. The investment reflects a wider trend in capital markets: interest in startups that blend advanced manufacturing technologies with mission-critical applications in defense and aerospace.
This momentum is not limited to early-stage interest. Across the sector, funding rounds are increasingly directed toward scaling production capacity, signaling investor recognition that cutting-edge manufacturing must move beyond the lab and into deployment. Divergent’s $290 million round exemplifies this shift.
At the center of Divergent’s strategy is the Divergent Adaptive Production System (DAPS). The platform integrates digital design, additive manufacturing, and automated assembly into a single workflow. Unlike traditional factories that depend on tooling and fixed infrastructure, DAPS operates as a flexible production system. Engineers can redesign parts digitally, print them using high-end metal additive processes, and assemble them through robotic automation.
This approach appeals to defense and aerospace customers for several reasons. It allows for rapid prototyping and iterative design. It reduces the dependence on global supply chains by enabling local production. And it cuts down material waste, a persistent issue in aerospace manufacturing where parts are often machined from large billets of expensive alloys.
Divergent has already established partnerships with industry leaders including General Atomics, Lockheed Martin, and Raytheon. These collaborations highlight the practical application of DAPS to projects that demand both precision and scalability. By demonstrating results with such high-profile clients, Divergent is building credibility not only as a technology innovator but also as a strategic partner in mission-critical programs.
Supply chain disruption remains one of the most significant risks facing aerospace and defense manufacturers. From raw materials to specialized components, delays and shortages have slowed programs worldwide. The traditional reliance on fixed tooling and long production lead times compounds these challenges.
Additive manufacturing provides an alternative to these vulnerabilities. By shifting more of the production process into digital design and localized printing, companies can reduce exposure to logistics bottlenecks. For the defense industry, this flexibility is particularly important. In times of conflict or rapid deployment, the ability to print and assemble components on demand can provide a strategic advantage.
Divergent’s system adds another layer of benefit: scalability. Unlike one-off 3D printing applications often confined to prototyping, DAPS is designed to operate as a production-level platform. It enables aerospace and defense firms to move from small-batch experimentation to full-scale manufacturing within the same framework. This capability aligns directly with Pentagon priorities to strengthen America’s industrial base and reduce dependency on fragile global supply networks.
Divergent’s funding signals more than growth for a single company. It represents a larger shift in how the aerospace and defense sectors think about manufacturing. For decades, production has been dominated by large, inflexible facilities that required long lead times and heavy capital investments. Today, the industry is increasingly looking to digital, modular, and adaptive systems that can be scaled as needed.
For defense planners, the appeal extends beyond efficiency. In an era defined by strategic competition, particularly with near-peer rivals, the ability to innovate and produce quickly is seen as vital to national security. Divergent’s approach of combining software, hardware, and robotics into a single platform aligns with this priority.
The implications also extend to allied industries. Commercial aerospace, automotive, and energy infrastructure could benefit from production systems that enable lighter, stronger, and more adaptable designs. As Divergent grows, its influence may ripple outward into sectors beyond its current focus, potentially setting new standards for advanced manufacturing.
Divergent’s $290 million raise is more than a financial milestone. It underscores a shift in the manufacturing model for aerospace and defense, moving from rigid, tooling-heavy production lines to digital-first adaptive systems. By investing in capacity expansion and scaling DAPS, the company is positioning itself at the forefront of a reindustrialization wave that blends advanced software with additive manufacturing.
The long-term success of this approach will depend on execution. Scaling production while maintaining precision is not without challenges. However, if successful, Divergent could demonstrate a template for how future aerospace and defense platforms are built.
Sources:
Tech Funding News
Manufacturing Today
factory
16 September 20255 min readDivergent Raises $290 Million To Scale 3D Printing For Defense And Aerospace
Manufacturing Today
16 September 2025
factory
Das Solar Enters Back-Contact Business With 5 Gw Cell FactoryDAS Solar has taken a formal step toward industrializing BC solar cells after local authorities in Guizhou published an EIA public-participation notice for a 5 GW BC high-efficiency cell project.
The Weining County filing, dated Sept. 8, identifies the developer as Das Solar New Energy Technology (Weining) Co. and lists a 177,000-square-meter site planned for cell workshops, chemical stores, wastewater treatment, a 110 kV substation and associated support infrastructure.
The project remains at the EIA disclosure stage. The company and local government have not published a detailed construction timetable or final capital budget.
Das Solar signed a CNY 2 billion (280.7 million) agreement with the Weining authorities in April 2024 for a related n-type cell project. The company’s existing Weining manufacturing base also completed a 2.4 GW n-type tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) module line in January 2024 with a reported investment of CNY 310 million and an annual output value of about CNY 2.5 billion. If the earlier CNY 2 billion framework corresponds to the new 5 GW factory, that would imply a development cost of roughly CNY 400 million per GW – a notional figure that requires official confirmation.
Technically, the move reflects a deliberate shift from DAS Solar’s established TOPCon expertise toward a dual-track strategy. The company describes its BC approach as “DBC” – a hybrid that transfers TOPCon’s SiOx/Poly-Si passivated contact architecture to the rear of the cell and combines it with a full back-contact design. The intended result is a front surface free of metal busbars, higher current density and retention of TOPCon’s cost characteristics.
DAS Solar claimed third-party verification for recent performance gains: a DBC cell registered at 27.77% efficiency with an open-circuit voltage of 745.7 mV, certified by the China Photovoltaic Testing Center (CPVT). It said it has filed more than 60 patents related to BC technology and has led drafting of some 20 industry and group standards.
DAS Solar added that its “DBC 3.0 Plus” is compatible with TOPCon-5.0 process flows and ready for scale-up in 2025, with an initial market focus on distributed generation and BIPV. At the module level, the company showcased a “Diamond” DBC product at SNEC PV+ 18th (2025) International Photovoltaic Power Generation and Smart Energy Conference and Exhibition, advertising a 670 W output and 24.3% module efficiency.
DAS Solar remains an active TOPCon player. Since its founding in 2018, it has advanced TOPCon through successive generations, reporting a 2024 mass-production average module efficiency of 26.7% and continued process upgrades into 2025. The company said it has built about 40 GW of battery and module capacity across several Chinese provinces and aims to lift component capacity toward 50 GW by the end of 2025.
According to market research firm PV InfoLink, DAS Solar was the world’s ninth-largest module supplier in 2024.
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15 September 20253 min readDas Solar Enters Back-Contact Business With 5 Gw Cell Factory
PV Magazine
15 September 2025
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Ib Solar Plans 4 Gw Topcon Cell And Module Factory In IndiaFrom pv magazine India
PV module manufacturer IB Solar has secured a Letter of Intent from the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) for the allotment of 25 acres of land for its proposed 4 GW solar cell and module manufacturing facility.
The company, which currently manufactures solar panels and lithium ferro phosphate batteries, will build the integrated solar cell and module plant in Sector 8, near the upcoming Noida International Airport, with an investment of about INR 30 billion.
Abhinav Mahajan, director at IB Solar, told pv magazine the facility in Uttar Pradesh will produce TOPCon cells and modules. It is scheduled for commissioning by 2027.
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com.
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15 September 20251 min readIb Solar Plans 4 Gw Topcon Cell And Module Factory In India
PV Magazine
15 September 2025
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Oklo Picks Tennessee For $1.7B Advanced Fuel CenterNuclear technology company Oklo Inc. announced plans to establish a fuel recycling facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, as the first phase of an advanced fuel center.
Oklo expects the investment to total up to nearly $1.7 billion and create over 800 jobs.
The initial investment will support a facility that recovers material from used nuclear fuel and fabricates it into fuel for advanced reactors like Oklo's Aurora powerhouse. The company anticipates the site will begin producing metal fuel for Aurora powerhouses by the early 2030s.
The fuel recycling facility serves as the first phase of Oklo’s broader advanced fuel center, a multi-facility campus aimed at supporting recycling and fuel fabrication.
Oklo also plans to explore opportunities with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to recycle used fuel at the new facility and evaluate potential power sales from future Oklo powerhouses in the region. The company said the collaboration would mark the first time that a U.S. utility explored recycling used fuel into clean electricity through modern electrochemical processes.
"By recycling used fuel at scale, we are turning waste into gigawatts, reducing costs and establishing a secure U.S. supply chain that will support the deployment of clean, reliable and affordable power," Oklo Co-Founder and CEO Jacob DeWitte said.
According to Oklo, more than 94,000 metric tons of used nuclear fuel stored at power plant sites around the country contain considerable reserves of recyclable fuel. The company estimated that recycling this fuel could unlock energy equivalent to about 1.3 trillion barrels of oil.
Oklo has completed a licensing project plan for the fuel recycling facility with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and is currently in pre-application engagement with the regulator’s staff. In July, Oklo successfully completed pre-application readiness assessment for Phase 1 of the combined license application for its first commercial Aurora powerhouse.
Manufacturing Net
factory
12 September 20252 min readOklo Picks Tennessee For $1.7B Advanced Fuel Center
Manufacturing Net
12 September 2025
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Georgia-Pacific Announces $800 Million Project In AlabamaPaper and forest product manufacturer Georgia-Pacific announced plans to modernize, expand and streamline its Alabama River Cellulose softwood pulp mill in Perdue Hill.
Georgia-Pacific stated that the $800 million project, scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2025 and conclude in 2027, would enhance and expand essential manufacturing equipment, increasing the mill's production capacity by about 300 tons per day.
The company expects the mill to annually produce close to 1 million tons of fluff and market pulps.
Georgia-Pacific aims to meet growing demand for softwood pulp products through the investment in the facility, which produces materials used in consumer goods such as baby diapers, adult incontinence and feminine hygiene products, facial tissue, kitchen towels, paper cups and plates.
The project will install a digester, a new pulp dryer and a more efficient power boiler. It will also make modifications to the brown stock washing and recausticizing systems, recovery boiler, evaporators and lime kiln.
Georgia-Pacific also plans to improve the plant's environmental performance by reducing water usage, lowering particulate emissions, using energy more efficiently, improving wastewater processing, capturing more valuable byproducts and improving biomass recovery and utilization.
"Combined with the new funding, the facility will have received more than $1.5 billion in investments," GP Cellulose President Munir Abdallah said. "Modernizing this mill means our business will be well-positioned to meet the growing needs of emerging markets."
Georgia-Pacific directly employs close to 2,400 employees and operates six facilities in Alabama. The Alabama River Cellulose mill provides more than 3,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Manufacturing Net
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12 September 20252 min readGeorgia-Pacific Announces $800 Million Project In Alabama
Manufacturing Net
12 September 2025
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Us Metals Company And Pakistan Forge $500 Million Mineral Investment PactSubscribe to our free newsletter today to keep up to date with the latest manufacturing news.
US Strategic Metals has signed a $500 million investment agreement with Pakistan’s Frontier Works Organization, paving the way for a new poly-metallic refinery and expanded mineral exports. The deal marks a significant move in the global race to secure critical minerals essential for advanced manufacturing, energy transition technologies, and national security applications.
The Missouri-based firm will partner with Pakistan’s largest miner of critical minerals to develop infrastructure capable of processing and refining key materials including copper, antimony, gold, tungsten, and rare earth elements. Both parties signaled the deal as the first phase in a longer-term collaboration aimed at increasing Pakistan’s mineral output and integrating it with US aligned supply chains.
Beyond the immediate capital investment, the agreement has broader implications for Pakistan’s industrial base. The refinery project is expected to reduce reliance on raw material exports, instead capturing value through in-country processing and manufacturing. This change could benefit a wide range of sectors, from electronics to automotive components, by supporting local job creation and technology transfer.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose office facilitated the deal, framed it as a step toward economic resilience. His administration hopes increased foreign investment in the mining sector will support efforts to reduce Pakistan’s dependence on international debt markets. By processing minerals domestically, the country aims to expand its industrial footprint and strengthen trade relations with the US.
The US Department of Energy classifies many of the minerals included in the agreement as essential to national competitiveness. Rare earth elements, in particular, are vital to the production of electric vehicles, wind turbines, and military hardware. As countries reassess supply chain dependencies, the US has moved to diversify away from China, which currently dominates global refining capacity.
For Washington, Pakistan offers an alternative source of strategic materials in a region where commercial and diplomatic ties are becoming increasingly important. The refinery project complements a recently finalized trade agreement between the two countries focused on lowering tariffs and facilitating investment in minerals and energy development.
Despite the promising scope of the deal, operating conditions remain complex. Much of Pakistan’s mineral wealth lies in Balochistan, a region affected by separatist unrest. Earlier this year, the US State Department designated the Balochistan National Army as a terrorist organization, underscoring the security risks foreign firms may face while working in the region.
The Pakistani government has committed to improving security protocols and offering guarantees to investors operating in sensitive areas. Still, the viability of large-scale mineral projects will depend in part on the ability to maintain stability and local support in mineral-rich provinces.
The agreement with US Strategic Metals is one of several recent initiatives involving foreign investment in Pakistan’s mining sector. Canadian firm Barrick Gold already holds a 50 percent stake in the Reko Diq copper and gold project, one of the world’s largest undeveloped reserves. Portuguese construction firm Mota-Engil also signed a memorandum of understanding this week to explore logistics infrastructure in support of mineral exports.
The involvement of multiple international actors reflects growing interest in Pakistan’s untapped resource base, estimated by the government to be worth several trillion dollars. As more projects materialize, the country could become a hub for mineral processing and logistics serving both regional and global markets.
AP News
Manufacturing Today
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11 September 20253 min readUs Metals Company And Pakistan Forge $500 Million Mineral Investment Pact
Manufacturing Today
11 September 2025
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