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25 February 2025
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Overland AI has officially opened the Overland AI Factory in South Seattle, Washington. The company, which specializes in autonomous ground systems, hopes the new plant will enhance its in-house manufacturing and production capabilities. According to the company, the Overland AI Factory is engineered for the end-to-end development and rapid production of both crewed and uncrewed ground vehicles. The new plant will act as a hub for Overland AI-designed platforms and the precision upfitting of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) vehicles. Overland AI Factory is designed to accelerate the development of ground vehicles powered by OverDrive, which supports tactical operators across the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, and Special Operations Command.
In a recent quote, Greg Okopal, co-founder and chief operating officer of Overland AI, said, “This facility marks a new chapter for Overland AI and the future of autonomous ground systems. By bringing manufacturing in-house, we are now offering our partners an integrated solution, from remote operator to effect on the battlefield.”
Byron Boots, co-founder and chief executive officer of Overland AI, added, “The Overland AI Factory cements the region’s role as a hub for defense technology and manufacturing. This opening reinforces our commitment to advancing ground autonomy for national security.”
OptiTrack expands Oregon manufacturing plant, doubling production capacity The company, which focuses on 3D tracking technology, will add a new 25,000-square-foot building.
HP to receive $50 million from the CHIPS Act to modernize Oregon facility The facility is part of HP’s “lab-to-fab” ecosystem, which covers everything from R&D to commercial manufacturing.
Collins Aerospace invests $200 million to expand carbon brake manufacturing site in Washington This additional manufacturing space includes up to three new buildings and additional furnaces.
This map shows where manufacturers are choosing to invest their resources, whether they are building new production facilities or expanding existing plants.
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Mozambique Embraces A $6 Billion Electricity ProjectSIDUAVA, Mozambique (AP) — HermĂnio Guambe used to cut hair in a tiny barbershop with no electricity in his village outside Mozambique’s capital. The arrival of power changed everything.
The 48-year-old now uses hair dryers. The village pharmacy stocks vital medicines requiring refrigeration. More jobs were created as trading and transport picked up.
“These are the kinds of businesses that drive economies,” World Bank President Ajay Banga said in an interview with The Associated Press during a July visit to tour electrification projects and meet entrepreneurs like Guambe. “Electricity isn’t just light, it’s a chance.”
Mozambique has won World Bank backing for the $6 billion Mphanda Nkuwa hydroelectric plant, southern Africa’s biggest such project in 50 years.
Mozambique, one of the world’s poorest countries by per capita income, aims to connect all of its 33 million mostly rural citizens to electricity by 2030, largely through renewable energy from hydroelectric, solar and other sources.
Challenge similar in much of sub-Saharan Africa
The challenge is similar in much of sub-Saharan Africa, home to 85% of the global population living without power, according to the World Bank.
Electricity access in Mozambique has nearly doubled from 31% in 2018 to 60% in 2024. The state-run energy supplier Electricidade de Moçambique, or EDM, says it connected 563,000 homes in 2024 and plans to reach 600,000 this year.
“Mozambique has the resources, gas, hydro, solar, and it’s already the biggest supplier of excess power to southern Africa,” Banga said.
His visit came with fanfare, and political undertones. President Daniel Chapo, who took office after a disputed 2024 election, raised his fist to cheering crowds.
Located 60 kilometers (37 miles) downstream from the even larger Cahora Bassa hydroelectric dam along the Zambezi river, the Mphanda Nkuwa plant is expected to generate 1,500 megawatts when it begins operations in 2031. That will help a region facing a 10,000-megawatt deficit that keeps millions from accessing power.
The World Bank is not financing the project outright.
Global energy firm TotalEnergies, French utility Électricité de France and Mozambique’s Hidroeléctrica de Cahora Bassa will develop the plant. The World Bank is providing a mix of support including concessional funding for legal and environmental issues and transmission lines, partial risk guarantees and political risk insurance.
Banga said this approach in Africa aims to move away from reliance on donors for high-impact projects. It coincided with a global shift in development funding. With the Trump administration dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development, multilateral lenders like the World Bank are stepping in, often emphasizing private sector–led growth.
“Many shareholders, even in Europe, are reducing their overseas development assistance budgets because they have to divert the money to defense and their own needs. This is the way it is,” Banga said.
New dams are rising but Africa's waters are mostly untapped
Mphanda Nkuwa could also help Mozambique earn critical foreign exchange through exports of electricity to neighbors like South Africa and Zimbabwe. It is among several large hydropower projects aiming to reshape Africa’s energy future.
Ethiopia is preparing to inaugurate its $4 billion Grand Renaissance Dam, which will eventually generate over 5,000 megawatts, doubling the nation’s power output despite fierce opposition from Egypt. In Congo, the World Bank is backing the huge Inga 3 project that could also send electricity to South Africa, Nigeria and others.
Yet hydropower — the world’s largest source of renewable electricity — remains mostly untapped in Africa, with the World Bank and the International Hydropower Association estimating around 90% of capacity is still unused.
And building a mega-dam is only part of the challenge in Mozambique.
“Our country is quite big, and it’s not so easy to go everywhere with the national grid,” said EDM chairman Joaquim Ou-Chim. “So it’s off-grid solutions, mainly driven by solar.”
About 10% of electricity access in Mozambique comes from off-grid projects, and more are being rolled out.
Concerns over the financial aspect
Evaristo Cumbane, an energy consultant based in Maputo, said large projects like Cahora Bassa and Mphanda Nkuwa are important but stressed the need for smaller, local sources of energy.
“We are talking about plenty of rivers, plenty of sunshine, plenty of wind, plenty of coastlines,” he said, adding that “the real Mozambique is in rural, remote areas.”
Cumbane also urged caution over Mozambique’s growing debt burden. Public debt rose to about $17 billion in the first quarter of 2025. A record $2.1 billion was spent in 2023 in debt service, according to the Finance Ministry.
“The World Bank is not a godfather, it is not god. The guy is here on business. These are not donations,” he said.
It was not clear how much new debt is involved in the Mphanda Nkuwa hydroelectric project. Banga said the project’s final cost is yet to be determined but estimated $5 billion to $6 billion.
Mozambique’s path has been complicated. Since gaining independence from Portugal in 1975, it has seen civil war, flare-ups of fighting following a peace deal and an ongoing Islamist insurgency in the north that forced TotalEnergies to halt a $20 billion gas project, though it hopes to restart operations.
But for Mozambicans, Guambe’s buzzing barbershop is proof of what’s possible when power reaches the people.
In another impoverished neighborhood outside Maputo visited by Banga, 38-year-old Aurélio Arlindo has been unemployed for years and lives without electricity. But new power poles signal hope.
“It’s really coming. I am just waiting,” he said, and he hopes to open a cold drinks stall.
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08 September 20255 min readMozambique Embraces A $6 Billion Electricity Project
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08 September 2025
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Musk'S Spacex Spends $17 Billion To Acquire Spectrum Licenses From EchostarElon Musk's SpaceX has reached a deal worth about $17 billion with EchoStar for spectrum licenses that it will use to beef up its Starlink satellite network.
The deal for EchoStar's AWS-4 and H-block spectrum licenses includes up to $8.5 billion in cash and up to $8.5 billion in SpaceX stock. SpaceX will make approximately $2 billion in cash interest payments on EchoStar debt through November 2027.
SpaceX and EchoStar will enter into a long-term commercial agreement which will allow EchoStar's Boost Mobile subscribers to access SpaceX's next generation Starlink Direct to Cell service.
Shares of EchoStar surged 19% before the market opened Monday.
Last month AT&T said that it will spend $23 billion to acquire wireless spectrum licenses from EchoStar, a significant expansion of its low- and mid-band coverage networks.
EchoStar said that it anticipates that the AT&T deal and the SpaceX transaction will resolve recent inquiries from the Federal Communications Commission about the rollout of 5G technology in the U.S. The FCC had been calling for hearings on whether Echostar was properly using the spectrum that it is now selling, and its efforts to make 5G more available to communities.
EchoStar said Monday that it will use the proceeds from the sale partly to pay down debt. Current operations of Dish TV, Sling and Hughes will not be impacted, the company said.
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08 September 20252 min readMusk'S Spacex Spends $17 Billion To Acquire Spectrum Licenses From Echostar
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08 September 2025
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Quebec Judge Declares Northvolt Insolvent As Province Recovers $200 MillionA Quebec Superior Court judge has declared insolvent the North American branch of battery maker Northvolt as the provincial government looks to recover $260 million owed to it by the company.
Justice Janet Michelin on Friday placed Northvolt Batteries North America under creditor protection at the request of the Quebec government.
Northvolt laid off its entire workforce on Thursday following Economy Minister Christine Fréchette’s announcement earlier in the week that the government would provide no more funding for the company’s planned electric-vehicle battery plant near Montreal. On Friday, Fréchette’s office confirmed that the province has already recuperated nearly $200 million from frozen bank accounts belonging to Northvolt.
“We are deeply saddened by this outcome,” Northvolt said Friday in a statement to the court. “We recognize the difficulty of moving forward, but we remain faced with a brutal reality: that of a project abandoned without having explored all possible avenues, and of a community — employees, suppliers, partners — left without answers.”
Northvolt announced plans in 2023 to build a $7-billion battery “gigafactory” in Quebec, touted as the largest private investment in the province’s history. But the project’s future was thrown into doubt when Northvolt’s Swedish parent company declared bankruptcy in March. Construction on the plant never moved past preparatory stages.
Quebec signed an agreement with the North American subsidiary in April to give it time to find new buyers or investors. But the government says Northvolt received no binding offers by a Sept. 1 deadline, and decided to pull the plug on the project.
“Through all the discussions there have been with potential players, there is no hope that the project can be reborn,” said Jean Gagnon, an insolvency trustee with Raymond Chabot, the firm designated to oversee the creditor protection proceedings.
Gagnon told the court on Friday that 80 groups were approached to solicit interest in the company, but only one non-binding offer was officially submitted by a July deadline.
In August, American battery startup Lyten announced it was acquiring Northvolt’s assets in Sweden and Germany and hoped to buy the Northvolt Six project in Quebec’s Montérégie region. But Gagnon said the project Lyten envisioned was “not of the same nature” as the planned battery plant, and the American company wanted until March 2026 to complete due diligence. A spokesperson for Fréchette said on Tuesday that Lyten wanted more government funding that Quebec was unwilling to offer.
Quebec lost a $270-million investment in Northvolt’s Swedish parent company when it went bankrupt. The government is now trying to recover a $240-million loan issued to Northvolt in 2023 to allow it to purchase the land for the plant. It says the debt is now worth $260 million with interest.
Gagnon confirmed that about $200 million has been withdrawn to repay the debt from accounts belonging to the North American subsidiary that were frozen by the government after the bankruptcy announcement. The government also wants the court to authorize a process for the sale or repossession of the land.
Northvolt laid off its workforce of around 50 employees on Thursday, and the company’s management has resigned. In its statement Friday, the company said it would not oppose the court proceedings because it “recognizes that a project of this scale and scope cannot be carried out without the full support of the government of Quebec.”
However, Northvolt also accused the government of misrepresenting the company’s efforts to find a solution, and of giving virtually no notice of its intentions. “Our employees learned of the end of the project — and therefore of their jobs — from the Journal de Montréal,” the statement said.
The company said its assets are valued at $520 million, but the province didn’t give it a chance to repay its debt before launching court proceedings. “The method used to force the project’s abandonment is unique: at no time did the (government) express its intention to have its loan repaid or suggest any outcome other than the sale of the company and the project,” Northvolt said.
The court decision on Friday will allow the court-appointed monitor to rehire 15 employees to maintain the site where the factory was to be built. The case is scheduled to return to court on Thursday.
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08 September 20254 min readQuebec Judge Declares Northvolt Insolvent As Province Recovers $200 Million
Plant
08 September 2025
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U.S. Metals Company Signs $500M Investment Deal With PakistanISLAMABAD (AP) — A U.S. metals company signed a $500 million investment deal with Pakistan on Monday.
Pakistan's Frontier Works Organization — which is the country's largest miner of critical minerals — signed a memorandum of understanding with Missouri-based U.S. Strategic Metals for collaboration plans that include setting up a poly-metallic refinery in Pakistan.
READ MORE: Pakistan, U.S. Reach Trade Agreement to Develop Oil Reserves, Reduce Tariffs
The deal comes after Washington and Islamabad last month reached a trade agreement that Pakistan hoped would attract American investment in its minerals and oil reserves.
U.S. Strategic Metals is focused on producing and recycling critical minerals, which the U.S. Department of Energy has defined as essential in a variety of technologies related to advanced manufacturing and energy production.
A second agreement was signed between the National Logistics Corp of Pakistan and Mota-Engil Group, a Portuguese engineering and construction company.
A statement from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's office said he held talks with the delegation from U.S. Strategic Metals and Mota-Engil over Pakistan's copper, gold, rare earths, and other mineral resources.
The sides expressed readiness to develop value-added facilities, enhance mineral processing capacity, and undertake large-scale projects tied to mining, the statement said.
"The partnership will begin immediately with the export of readily available minerals from Pakistan, including antimony, copper, gold, tungsten, and rare earth elements," it added.
The U.S. embassy in Pakistan said in a statement: "This signing is yet another example of the strength of the U.S.-Pakistan bilateral relationship that will benefit both countries."
Earlier this year, Sharif claimed that Pakistan possesses mineral reserves worth trillions of dollars, and foreign investment in the mineral sector could help the country overcome its prolonged financial crisis and free itself from the burden of massive foreign loans.
Most of Pakistan's mineral wealth is located in the insurgency-hit southwestern Balochistan province, where separatists have opposed the extraction of resources by Pakistani and foreign firms.
In August, the U.S. State Department had designated the Balochistan National Army separatist group and its fighting wing, the Majeed Brigade, as a foreign terrorist organization.
Oil and minerals reserves have also been found in the southern Sindh, eastern Punjab and northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa bordering Afghanistan.
Several companies have already signed agreements with Pakistan in the mining sector. They included the Canadian firm Barrick Gold, which already owns a 50% stake in the Reko Diq gold mine in Balochistan.
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08 September 20252 min readU.S. Metals Company Signs $500M Investment Deal With Pakistan
Manufacturing Business Technology
08 September 2025
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Unitree Robotics Targets $7 Billion Valuation In Planned IpoHONG KONG—Chinese robotics firm Unitree Robotics is preparing for an initial public offering that could value the company at up to 50 billion yuan ($7 billion), according to sources familiar with the matter.
Unitree, which gained international attention for its humanoid robots capable of walking, climbing, and carrying loads, confirmed last week that it is advancing IPO preparations and expects to submit listing documents in the fourth quarter.
Founded by Wang Xingxing, the company has emerged as one of China’s most high-profile startups. If completed, Unitree’s listing would be among the largest onshore tech IPOs in recent years and comes as China steps up efforts to bolster its domestic champions in robotics, semiconductors, and AI amid intensifying competition with the United States.
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On Demand Learn how manufacturers are bridging the gap between the shop floor and ERP systems to gain real-time visibility, streamline operations, and kick-start digital transformation—without waiting years.
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On Demand In this presentation, Dr. Herman Tang shares practical insights from his industry experience and research on buffer management in manufacturing operations.
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08 September 20252 min readUnitree Robotics Targets $7 Billion Valuation In Planned Ipo
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08 September 2025
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Hitachi Pledges $1 Billion U.S. Energy Infrastructure Manufacturing InvestmentHitachi Energy, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi, announced an investment of more than $1 billion to expand the production of electrical grid infrastructure in the United States. These investments include approximately $457 million for a new large power transformer facility in South Boston, Virginia, along with significant expansions of existing facilities throughout the country.
This facility will be built alongside Hitachi Energy’s existing campus and will be the largest manufacturing site for large power transformers in the United States. This facility alone will create more than 825 new jobs in Southside Virginia, offering long-term employment opportunities in engineering, advanced manufacturing, and operations roles.
These projects are part of a more than $9 billion USD global investment program, the largest in the industry, under which Hitachi Energy is expanding its manufacturing capacity, R&D, engineering, and partnerships to power the world’s energy system to be more reliable, secure, and resilient.
Manufacturing Net
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05 September 20251 min readHitachi Pledges $1 Billion U.S. Energy Infrastructure Manufacturing Investment
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05 September 2025
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Siemens Energy Invests €220 Million In German Transformer FactorySiemens Energy is investing approximately €220 million to expand its transformer factory in Nuremberg, Germany, creating 350 new jobs. The foundation stone for the site expansion was laid today in the presence of Bavaria’s Minister President Dr. Markus Söder and Nuremberg’s Mayor Marcus König. With this investment, Siemens Energy is responding to the sharp increase in global demand for large transformers which are crucial for grid expansion.
Currently, Siemens Energy employs nearly 1,000 people at the factory in Nuremberg, where transformers have been manufactured since 1912. Due to rising demand, the facility will be expanded by around 16,000 square meters, increasing production capacity by approximately 50 percent. Construction will take place while operations at the factory continue, with the new production areas expected to be available by 2028. The Free State of Bavaria is supporting the expansion with up to €20 million in technology funding - aiming to sustainably strengthen Nuremberg as a hub for innovation, research, and development.
Dr. Markus Söder, Bavarian Minister President: “Nuremberg is becoming a hub for the energy transition: With an investment of €220 million, Siemens Energy is creating 350 modern jobs in a place that has been successfully shaping energy history for over a century. We are investing up to €20 million in research and development for this project alone. Thus, we are creating a climate for an economically friendly future, secure jobs, and environmentally friendly technologies. Transformers and converters from Nuremberg are essential for secure power grids and an important building block for the energy transition. Siemens Energy's technology is a prerequisite for successful climate policy – and the Free State is doing everything in its power to promote the transformation. Only with forward-looking and courageous policies will we be able to master today's challenges and thereby secure tomorrow's prosperity. Without industry, Germany has no chance as a business location. Siemens companies have been rooted in Nuremberg for over 100 years – a location with tradition, innovation, and international appeal. Congratulations to everyone involved in today's groundbreaking ceremony. A future full of energy is emerging in Nuremberg!”
“Germany remains attractive when business and politics take responsibility together,” says Christian Bruch, CEO of Siemens Energy. “Siemens Energy has 113 years of experience in transformer manufacturing in Nuremberg, highly qualified employees with the necessary expertise, and strong infrastructure. These are the right conditions to continue delivering key technologies for the energy transition from Germany to the world.”
Transformers are located at nearly every node of the power grid, connecting different voltage levels and enabling electricity to be transmitted over long distances. The transformers produced in Nuremberg are used worldwide in major energy infrastructure projects - for example, to connect large offshore wind farms, stabilize power grids, or support international electricity links that enable energy exchange between countries.
Last year, Siemens Energy announced a €90 million investment at the same site for a new converter production facility. In total, Siemens Energy has invested around €1 billion in Germany over the past three years. In 2024, the company created approximately 1,300 new jobs in Germany, with up to 1,500 more expected by the end of 2026
Gulf Oil and Gas
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05 September 20253 min readSiemens Energy Invests €220 Million In German Transformer Factory
Gulf Oil and Gas
05 September 2025
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Angola Inaugurates $500 Million Cabinda Oil RefineryAngola marks the inauguration of its Cabinda oil refinery today. The Cabinda Oil Refinery will put the country on track to nearly double its capacity and cut expensive imports. This information was reported by Angolan news agency Angop.
After several delays, the Cabinda Oil Refinery finished construction works of the first phase of the industrial unit. Furthermore, the production and sale of fuels is set to commence in around three months.
Location: Malembo Plain, Cabinda Province
Developers: A joint venture between Gemcorp Holdings which holes a 90% stake and Sonangol which holds 10% stake.
Project phases and capacity
Phase 1:
Phase 2:
The initial capacity of 30,000 barrels per day (bpd) of diesel and jet fuel represents approximately 10 percent of Angola’s current requirement.
Also, as for the second phase, it will see the import of diesel to ensure alignment with full production capacity, eventually reaching 60,000 bpd. Additionally, this will nearly double the current capacity of 65,000 bpd from the Luanda refinery.
Furthermore, Cabinda refinery is a public-private partnership between UK-based Gemcorp and Sonango, Angola’s state-owned oil company. The two companies share governance under the supervision of Angola’s Ministry of Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas.
Construction of the Cabinda Oil Refinery began in 2019 with tree-clearing, earth-moving and demining. Also, the project was a critical step in a country still riddled with landmines from decades of conflict.
Gemcorp completed that work the following year but the Covid-19 pandemic, along with the confounding complexities typical of such projects, led to frequent delays.
Construction of this project created over 3,300 jobs. Most of these jobs most went to Angolans. Furthermore, worker training aims to prepare 5,000 Angolans for refinery-related jobs in mechanics, electrical work, welding and IT.
Phase one of the Cabinda Oil Refinery was backed by multiple African financial institutions. Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) managed to mobilize $335 million and a another $138 million raised through equity sponsors.
The oil refinery project was originally estimated at US$473 million. However, due to Covid-related delays and inflation pushed the cost to more than $500 million as of last October, when inauguration was set for April 2025.
Additionally, funding for the second phase, expected to come online 18 months to two years after phase one, had not been finalised at that time. Also, Gemcorp founder and CEO Atanas Bostandjiev revealed to Reuters that he expected a final decision on that after the plant opened.
Furthermore, the executive stressed the need for local refining, as Angola “imports almost 100 percent of its refined products from Europe.” Those imports amount to over US$2 billion annually. Therefore, this underscores the need for a more efficient, financially sustainable alternative. These alternatives include development of new refineries such as the Lobito refinery.
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01 September 20253 min readAngola Inaugurates $500 Million Cabinda Oil Refinery
Construction Review
01 September 2025
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Inside Nippon Steel’S $11 Billion Investment Into Us Steel ProductionFollowing a politically charged, 18-month saga, Japan’s Nippon Steel has officially closed its landmark $14.9 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel and is now wasting no time in outlining its ambitious future. The company has unveiled a massive $11 billion investment plan designed to revitalize the iconic American steelmaker. This strategic injection of capital and expertise aims to not only modernize U.S. Steel’s operations but also significantly boost its profitability and production capacity, heralding a new era for the historic industrial giant.
The core objective of this multi-billion-dollar investment is clear: to dramatically increase U.S. Steel’s financial performance. Nippon Steel aims to achieve this by transferring its world-renowned operational techniques and advanced technologies to its new American subsidiary. Consequently, the company projects U.S. Steel’s annual profit contribution to soar from an expected 80 billion yen this year to a staggering 250 billion yen ($1.70 billion) as early as 2028. To get there, the investment will focus on expanding capacity and shifting production towards more high-grade, value-added steel products for demanding sectors like the automotive industry.
This revitalization is not just a plan on paper; it involves significant, tangible upgrades to key facilities. Among the major projects is the construction of a brand-new hot-rolling mill at U.S. Steel’s Mon Valley Works in Pennsylvania and a complete refurbishment of the No. 14 blast furnace at Gary Works in Indiana. Furthermore, Nippon Steel is exploring building entirely new mills from the ground up, including massive 3-million-ton electric arc furnaces similar to its state-of-the-art Big River 2 plant. As a result of these efforts, U.S. Steel’s domestic crude steel capacity is expected to climb from 17 million to 20 million tons.
The journey to finalize this acquisition was one of the most contentious corporate deals in recent memory. The transaction faced intense political opposition in the United States from both President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump, who raised concerns over national security and the potential impact on American jobs. The powerful United Steelworkers union also fiercely opposed the deal, making it a major talking point in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election. U.S. Steel, founded in 1901 by industrial titans like J.P. Morgan and Andrew Carnegie, was once the largest corporation in the world and a powerful symbol of American industrial might, which made its sale to a foreign entity a deeply sensitive issue. Furthermore, all around the world, steel production has been receiving major investments. Kenya and Uganda are working together to launch the largest steel factory in East Africa and Nigeria has also poured billions of dollars into the Ajaokuta Steel Plant.
Acquisition Cost: $14.9 billion.
New Investment: $11 billion planned to revitalize U.S. Steel’s operations.
Profit Goal: To increase U.S. Steel’s annual profit to $1.7 billion by 2028.
Key Method: Transferring advanced Japanese technology and operational techniques.
Capacity Boost: Aims to increase U.S. Steel’s domestic capacity to 20 million tons.
Key Upgrades: Includes a new mill in Pennsylvania and a furnace refurbishment in Indiana.
New Tech: Plans involve building new, efficient electric arc furnaces.
Global Reach: The deal brings Nippon Steel’s global capacity to 86 million tons.
Major Hurdle: The acquisition faced strong political opposition in the United States.
Historical Note: U.S. Steel was founded in 1901 and was once a powerful symbol of American industry.
Construction Review
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29 August 20253 min readInside Nippon Steel’S $11 Billion Investment Into Us Steel Production
Construction Review
29 August 2025
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Johnson & Johnson Commits $2 Billion To Fujifilm’S North Carolina Biopharma HubSubscribe to our free newsletter today to keep up to date with the latest manufacturing news.
A new $2 billion agreement between Johnson & Johnson and Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies is reinforcing the U.S. government’s push to rebuild domestic drug manufacturing capacity. The ten‑year deal will secure large‑scale production capacity at Fujifilm’s new biopharmaceutical site in Holly Springs, North Carolina, positioning the state as a cornerstone of the country’s onshoring efforts.
The site, still under construction, will provide contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) services for biologics once operational in 2025. Johnson & Johnson, through its Janssen Supply Group, has entered into the agreement to ensure long‑term capacity for monoclonal antibodies and other biologics that are central to the company’s drug pipeline.
The announcement is part of a broader shift in pharmaceutical manufacturing strategy. After decades of offshoring production to Asia and Europe, major drugmakers are being driven to reinvest in U.S. soil. Factors include lessons learned during the COVID‑19 pandemic, increased political pressure for domestic resilience, and rising geopolitical tensions that threaten global supply chains.
In this context, J&J’s $2 billion agreement fits into a wave of onshoring investments that have already surpassed $55 billion over the past few years. Companies such as Eli Lilly, Pfizer and Amgen are all expanding U.S. operations, while the Biden administration has continued to incentivize reshoring efforts via legislation and direct subsidies.
The Fujifilm facility in Holly Springs is expected to be one of the largest end‑to‑end cell culture biopharmaceutical manufacturing sites in North America. J&J’s agreement secures exclusive use of part of the facility and ensures dedicated capacity for its therapies over a ten‑year span. For Fujifilm, the deal is another signal of confidence from major pharma customers after it previously landed a $1.6 billion agreement with Regeneron in 2023.
Fujifilm’s new facility will bring approximately 725 skilled jobs to the region and spans more than 160,000 square feet. Construction began in 2021 and the plant is expected to be operational in 2025. It will support all phases of drug development from clinical trials to commercial manufacturing, providing J&J with flexibility across multiple pipeline stages.
The Holly Springs site is one of several recent biomanufacturing hubs forming across North Carolina, further establishing the state as a central player in U.S. biopharma logistics and innovation. Fujifilm’s decision to expand in this location was supported by more than $2 billion in investment, aided by state and local government incentives.
In addition to Holly Springs, J&J is also expanding its own operations elsewhere in the state. The company’s Wilson facility has undergone a major scale‑up and other regional sites have been identified for future capacity development. These moves align with J&J’s stated goals to shorten supply chains, reduce transportation risks and respond more quickly to emerging healthcare demands.
Joaquin Duato, CEO of Johnson & Johnson, emphasized the role of the deal in reinforcing the resilience of the healthcare system. The partnership with Fujifilm will provide security of supply and scalable capacity to bring new therapies to market faster, he said in a press release issued shortly after the announcement.
The demand for biologics, particularly monoclonal antibodies, is expected to grow significantly over the next decade. These treatments require highly specialised and expensive manufacturing capabilities that many pharmaceutical companies are increasingly choosing to outsource to experienced CDMOs like Fujifilm.
For J&J, the move signals a long‑term commitment not just to individual product lines, but to a broader manufacturing strategy built around stability, scalability and proximity to key markets.
Sources
Pharmaceutical Technology
Manufacturing Today
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28 August 20253 min readJohnson & Johnson Commits $2 Billion To Fujifilm’S North Carolina Biopharma Hub
Manufacturing Today
28 August 2025
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Hyundai Doubles Down On Us With $26 Billion Expansion PlanSubscribe to our free newsletter today to keep up to date with the latest manufacturing news.
Hyundai Motor Group is scaling up its commitment to American manufacturing, announcing a major expansion of its planned US investment to $26 billion over the next three years. The funding increase, up from a previously disclosed $21 billion, will support a broad range of initiatives across electric vehicle production, steel supply chains, and advanced robotics.
The move is part of a strategic effort to strengthen Hyundai’s presence in the United States and deepen its role in the domestic automotive and tech industries. According to the company, the initiative will create an estimated 25,000 jobs and further integrate Hyundai’s operations into the US industrial landscape.
Hyundai’s increased capital deployment will support several high priority ventures. At the center of this plan is the construction of a new steel mill in Louisiana, aimed at localizing key components of the supply chain and reducing reliance on international steel markets. The facility will enable Hyundai to better support its US-based auto production and meet long-term sustainability targets.
Additionally, the company will expand its auto manufacturing capabilities, especially in the electric vehicle space. Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis are all expected to benefit from the scale-up, with new production lines aimed at accommodating a broader portfolio of EVs.
On the technology front, the group is building a robotics innovation center that will produce up to 30,000 units annually. These robotics will not only serve internal manufacturing needs but may also be developed for external commercial applications, particularly in logistics and automation.
At the core of Hyundai’s U.S. manufacturing vision is the Georgia Metaplant, a state-of-the-art facility that combines human labor and robotics to reimagine auto production. Equipped with 750 robots and an initial workforce of 1,450 employees, the plant is structured to keep operations flexible and responsive to consumer demand.
Inside the Metaplant, robots handle tasks such as welding and painting while autonomous guided vehicles transport parts across the factory floor. Human workers are focused on intricate assembly tasks, software calibration, and quality assurance, all of which require adaptability and decision-making.
The use of automation has prompted wider industry interest in how companies balance efficiency with employment. Hyundai has stated that automation is intended to enhance productivity rather than displace human workers. In fact, the company estimates that employment at the facility could grow to 8,500 jobs once full production is underway.
Hyundai’s expanded investment forms part of a broader wave of South Korean capital flowing into the United States. In May, South Korean firms pledged nearly $150 billion toward projects in sectors including automotive, artificial intelligence, shipbuilding, and clean energy.
This latest injection of funding coincides with a broader push by the U.S. government to revitalize domestic manufacturing and reduce dependencies on foreign supply chains. Federal and state-level incentives have contributed to a favorable climate for automakers and technology firms seeking to scale operations in the country.
Hyundai’s strategy aligns closely with this policy direction. It offers an example of how private enterprise and national industrial goals can converge. Its integrated approach, encompassing raw materials, finished products, and automation, positions the company as a major player in reshaping the future of American manufacturing.
As automation technology advances, questions about job displacement have become increasingly common. Hyundai has taken a tempered view and emphasized that human labor remains essential for functions requiring decision-making, flexibility, and oversight.
At the Georgia plant, the blend of robotics and manual labor is being closely watched by policymakers, labor advocates, and competitors. It serves as a case study in how companies can modernize manufacturing without sidelining human workers.
The broader outlook suggests that Hyundai’s approach could set a precedent. If successful, it may encourage similar strategies from other global manufacturers, especially those navigating the transition to electric vehicles and AI-driven production systems.
Sources:
CBT News
Manufacturing Today
factory
28 August 20254 min readHyundai Doubles Down On Us With $26 Billion Expansion Plan
Manufacturing Today
28 August 2025
factory
Boviet Solar Marks Progress On 3.0 Gw Pv Cell Factory With Exterior Work Finished In Greenville, North CarolinaBoviet Solar Technology Co. Ltd., a leading solar energy technology company specializing in monocrystalline PV cells and its premium Gamma Series™ Monofacial and Vega Series™ Bifacial PV modules, has announced the successful completion of exterior construction on its new 3.0-GW PV cell manufacturing facility in Greenville, Pitt County, North Carolina. The milestone, which includes the completion of exterior walls and roofing, marks significant progress in Boviet Solar’s U.S. manufacturing expansion and commitment to strengthening domestic solar production.
Construction of the Greenville facility began in January 2025, and the exterior build-out has now been completed on schedule. This factory represents Phase II of Boviet Solar’s North American manufacturing strategy and is designed to produce high-efficiency N-Type PV cells. Once operational, the facility will have an annual production capacity of 3.0-GW, an increase from the previously announced 2.0-GW capacity. It will complement the adjacent 2.0-GW PV module factory, which started mass production in Q1 2025.
Marco Marquez, General Manager of Boviet Solar’s Greenville factory, stated, “Completing the exterior walls and roof of our PV Cell factory is an important milestone that keeps us firmly on track toward our operational goals. With Phase I already producing U.S.-made PV modules and Phase II moving forward as planned, we are building not just factories, but long-term opportunities for the local community, our employees, and the clean energy future of the United States.”
Sienna Cen, President of Boviet Solar USA, mentioned, “The Greenville manufacturing hub is central to Boviet Solar’s U.S. growth strategy. By investing in both PV cell and module production in North Carolina, we are strengthening supply chain resilience, delivering reliable Made-in-USA solar products, and creating lasting economic impact for the region. This milestone reflects the hard work and dedication of our teams and partners, and we are excited about the progress ahead.”
The Greenville PV module factory, part of Phase I, began production in April 2025 and manufactures Gamma Series™ Monofacial and Vega Series™ Bifacial PV modules. With the addition of the new cell plant, Boviet Solar will create a fully integrated U.S. manufacturing hub, capable of producing both PV cells and modules domestically. This development is expected to strengthen the U.S. solar supply chain while delivering high-performance, Made-in-USA products to customers.
The PV cell facility is scheduled for completion and mass production in the second half of 2026. It will create more than 900 skilled local jobs and provide a reliable supply of advanced PV cells for both U.S. and international markets. With this milestone, Boviet Solar reinforces its position as a trusted long-term partner in the global solar industry, supporting domestic manufacturing growth and contributing to the clean energy transition.
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Solar Quarter
powerplant
28 August 20253 min readBoviet Solar Marks Progress On 3.0 Gw Pv Cell Factory With Exterior Work Finished In Greenville, North Carolina
Solar Quarter
28 August 2025
powerplant