Manufacturing

LG Energy Solution to ramp up investment in planned Valley battery manufacturing plant

March 28, 2023

South Korean battery giant LG Energy Solution Ltd. has confirmed its plans to move forward with building a battery complex in Arizona and will be significantly increasing its investment in the project. LGES, one of the largest battery makers in the world, said Friday that now it plans to invest $5.5 billion to construct two manufacturing plants in Queen Creek, a town located just south of the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.

Intel names Stuart Pann head of foundry business unit that is crucial to Arizona, company

March 23, 2023

Intel Corp. (Nasdaq: INTC) named a new head of a cornerstone business unit in CEO Pat Gelsinger’s revitalization plan for the company. The chipmaker on Tuesday tapped Stuart Pann as senior vice president and general manager for Intel Foundry Services, reporting to Gelsinger.

The VB Cosmetics story in 2023

March 21, 2023

VB Cosmetics, Inc. (VBC) is a rapidly growing, vertically integrated cosmetics product innovation, marketing, sales and manufacturing company in Chandler, Arizona, which is looking for highly motivated colleagues who wish to roll up their sleeves, dig in and be part of a winning organization.

Benchmark Technologies opens new plant in Mesa that will create 100 new jobs

March 8, 2023

Benchmark Electronics Inc., an engineering, design and manufacturing services provider, has opened a new precision technologies facility in Mesa that will create 100 new jobs. Benchmark Precision Technologies, a services group of Benchmark Electronics (NYSE: BHE), on Friday celebrated the grand opening of its 64,000-square-foot facility at 730 E. Baseline Road.

My View: Arizona poised to lead in reshoring US mineral production

February 16, 2023

When looking for an industry critical to sustaining Arizona’s economy, the answer is at your feet. Actually, it starts deeper than that. Reports from the past few years estimate Arizona’s mining industry provides a total economic impact of close to $8 billion annually and employs nearly 40,000 Arizonans. Minerals like copper, nickel, cobalt and lithium are critical manufacturing inputs for some of the state’s most productive industries ranging from aerospace and defense to electronics to clean energy. But as these industries boom, so does our demand for the critical mineral inputs that power them.

TSMC board approves company’s investment of billions in Arizona

February 16, 2023

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. is moving forward with its plans to invest up to $3.5 billion for its Phoenix factory, according to a new Reuters report. The chip giant, which makes a large portion of the world’s semiconductor chips, said on Tuesday that its board had approved a plan to increase the capital investment for its Arizona factory by up to $3.5 billion. The approval comes two months after TSMC confirmed its plans to triple its investment in Arizona to $40 billion, a significant increase from its initial $12 billion investment. The potential $3.5 billion is part of the overall $40 billion investment.

Nikola moving battery manufacturing from California to its Pinal County plant

January 18, 2023

Three months after completing its acquisition of battery maker Romeo Power Inc., Phoenix-based zero-emissions auto maker Nikola Corp. says it will move its battery manufacturing operations to Arizona. The move will transfer those operations from Cypress, California — where Romeo is based — to Nikola’s plant in Coolidge in Pinal County, south of Phoenix.

Nikola takes steps to qualify its hydrogen trucks in California incentive program

January 10, 2023

Phoenix-based Nikola Corp. (Nasdaq: NKLA) said its hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) has crossed a key hurdle that allowed it to apply for eligibility with the state of California for its Tre FCEV to be authorized for voucher incentives in that state. The company said it received a Zero Emission Powertrain (ZEP) executive order from the California Air Resources Board for the truck. That means that the vehicle meets the emissions standards required for zero-emission powertrains to be sold in California.

ASU faculty members selected to lead proposal for microelectronics research, development in the Southwest

January 9, 2023

Two Arizona State University faculty members were selected to lead a regional proposal that will advance microelectronics research, development, education, and training in the Southwest. ASU President Michael Crow appointed Sally Morton, executive vice president of ASU’s Knowledge Enterprise, and Kyle Squires, dean of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, to lead a team of faculty, staff and strategic partners to establish the Microelectronics Commons, a national network funded by the CHIPs and Science Act of 2022.

ElectraMeccanica relocates headquarters from Canada to Mesa

December 19, 2022

It was once planned to be just the future manufacturer of its single-seat, three-wheel Solo model, but ElectraMeccanica (Nasdaq: SOLO) announced it would make the new 235,000-square-foot Mesa assembly and technical facility its new corporate headquarters. ElectraMeccanica Chief Revenue Officer Kim Brink said the decision to relocate the company’s headquarters from British Columbia, Canada to Mesa was made earlier this month. She said the decision was one of the first Susan Docherty made as CEO. ElectraMeccanica announced Docherty as CEO on Dec. 5.

Manufacturing

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