A wave of new manufacturing projects announced in recent weeks underscores continued capital investment across the U.S., with companies in heavy equipment, advanced electronics, automation and industrial components committing around $1 billion combined in new facilities and expansions. This surge in investment is expected to create thousands of jobs while reshoring or expanding domestic production capacity. The growth of the US manufacturing sector is a positive sign for the country's economy, as it indicates a shift towards self-sufficiency and reduced reliance on foreign imports. Additionally, this trend is likely to have a ripple effect on related industries such as logistics and supply chain management.
Manufacturers are breaking ground on large-scale plants across the country, from North Carolina to Texas to Idaho and Wisconsin. The projects are expected to create jobs in various sectors, including heavy equipment, advanced electronics, automation, and industrial components. This investment is a testament to the growing demand for US-made products, particularly in industries such as aerospace and defense. Furthermore, the expansion of domestic production capacity will help reduce lead times and improve product quality.
Deere & Co. has announced plans to open two new facilities: a distribution center near Hebron, Indiana, and a $70 million excavator factory in Kernersville, North Carolina. The excavator factory is part of Deere’s broader commitment to invest $20 billion in U.S. manufacturing over the next decade. This investment will help create jobs and stimulate economic growth in rural areas. Additionally, it will enable Deere to produce more products in-house, reducing its reliance on foreign suppliers.
Radar platform company Echodyne is investing $40 million in a new 86,350-square-foot manufacturing facility in Kirkland, Washington. The new plant is designed to produce and ship more than 30,000 radars annually across product lines. The company expects to employ more than 200 workers when the facility reaches full capacity, with production scheduled to begin in summer 2026. This expansion will help meet growing global demand for counter-drone, border security, and defense-related radar technologies.
The expansion comes amid growing global demand for these types of radar technologies. The increasing need for advanced surveillance systems is driving investment in the US manufacturing sector. As a result, companies are investing heavily in new facilities to produce high-quality products that meet the demands of this growing market.
In Sugar Land, Texas, Applied Optoelectronics Inc. (AOI) broke ground on a 210,000-square-foot manufacturing facility that will support production of optical networking products for AI data centers and broadband networks. AOI plans to increase its total investment in the project and headquarters campus from $150 million to potentially $300 million by the end of next year. This expansion is expected to create 500 local jobs tied to automated production lines.
The company has positioned the expansion as part of Texas’ broader push to become a leader in artificial intelligence infrastructure manufacturing. The growth of AI-related industries is driving investment in the US manufacturing sector, with companies seeking to establish themselves as major players in this field. As a result, states like Texas are offering incentives and support to attract new businesses and expand existing ones.
Sanko Texas Corp., a subsidiary of a Japanese plastics manufacturer, plans to build a nearly $40 million plant on a 43.7-acre site in San Antonio. The facility will serve as Sanko’s first U.S. manufacturing plant and its U.S. headquarters. It is expected to create up to 300 jobs once fully ramped, beginning with about 100 hires in early 2028. This expansion marks an important milestone for the company, which will enable it to establish a strong presence in the US market.
The facility will produce plastic injection-molded pallets and containers commonly used in automotive assembly lines and industrial supply chains. Sanko’s investment in the US manufacturing sector is part of its broader strategy to expand globally. As the company seeks to increase its market share, it is investing heavily in new facilities and talent acquisition.
Preciball USA announced a $17.6 million investment to build a new factory in Sylvania, Screven County, Georgia. The plant will manufacture precision balls used in bearings, pumps, and valves. It is expected to create 65 jobs. This expansion complements Preciball’s existing headquarters operations in Pooler.
The project expands the company’s footprint in Georgia, marking an important milestone for the business. As companies continue to invest in new facilities, they are creating opportunities for growth and development in local communities. The expansion of domestic production capacity will also help reduce lead times and improve product quality.
Industrial automation giant Rockwell Automation selected New Berlin, Wisconsin, as the site of a new manufacturing campus described as a “factory of the future.” The planned greenfield facility is expected to exceed 1 million square feet of factory and warehouse space. It is part of a broader five-year, $2 billion domestic manufacturing investment strategy.
While job figures have not yet been disclosed, company leadership characterized the project as potentially becoming Rockwell’s largest manufacturing campus globally. This expansion marks an important milestone for the company, which is seeking to establish itself as a major player in the industrial automation sector.
Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) has begun site preparation for a new 250,000-square-foot electronic device manufacturing facility in Moscow, Idaho. The $50 million investment will expand production of devices used to monitor and protect electric power systems worldwide. Once fully operational, the plant is expected to employ approximately 1,000 people.
The expansion is part of SEL’s broader strategy to increase its presence in the US market. As companies continue to invest in new facilities, they are creating opportunities for growth and development in local communities. The expansion of domestic production capacity will also help reduce lead times and improve product quality.
Fresh meal and technology provider Tovala recently announced a new 140,340 square-foot food processing facility in Winfield, Illinois to meet growing demand. Chicago-based Brennan Investment Group will develop the state-of-the-art facility as a build-to-suit project, with construction scheduled to begin in March 2026 and completion expected in the second quarter of 2027.
The project marks Brennan’s fourth build-to-suit development in the food service sector. This expansion is part of Tovala's broader strategy to increase its presence in the US market. As companies continue to invest in new facilities, they are creating opportunities for growth and development in local communities.
