Taiwanese Battery Manufacturer Selects Liberal for New U.S. Facility


TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Commerce today announced Apogee Power, a Taiwan-based energy technology and advanced battery manufacturer, has selected Liberal as the location for its new U.S. manufacturing and assembly facility. The company will invest almost $16 million over the next three to five years and create 80 new jobs.

“In Kansas, we have a strong advanced battery ecosystem, talented workforce and central location that companies from around the world are eagerly looking to access,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “Apogee’s decision to expand their work into Liberal highlights the strength of our rural communities and Kansas’ ability to compete on a global scale.”

The facility, located in Liberal’s industrial corridor, will support the assembly, testing and distribution of Apogee’s lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery systems and related energy storage technologies for commercial, industrial and grid-scale applications across the United States. The company anticipates hiring 30 employees in the initial phase — with additional positions coming online as production ramps up.

Apogee is currently preparing the Liberal facility for production and expects to begin operations this summer. The facility represents Apogee’s first U.S. manufacturing presence and reflects their long-term commitment to serving customers from a centralized and cost-competitive location.

Apogee Power CEO Wen Lin, Apogee Energy CEO George Shen and other stakeholders were in Topeka recently to discuss the company’s investment and their desire to recruit additional suppliers from Taiwan to the Liberal area and other possible locations in Kansas. This followed a trade mission to Taiwan in September 2025, when Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland and other state and local officials visited Apogee Power’s headquarters in Taipei to meet their team and finalize the project details.

“Establishing a U.S. manufacturing footprint is a critical step in Apogee’s global growth strategy,” Apogee Power CEO Wen Lin said. “Liberal offers the infrastructure, workforce and community partnership we were looking for — along with a strong understanding of energy-intensive manufacturing. This location allows us to serve U.S. customers more efficiently while building a durable, long-term presence in the American market.”

Local leaders emphasized the collaborative approach that helped secure the project.

“We’re excited to welcome Apogee to Liberal,” Seward County Development Corporation Executive Director Eli Svaty said. “This investment builds on our region’s strengths in energy, logistics and advanced manufacturing. It also signals that global technology companies see value in smaller, execution-focused communities that can move quickly and deliver.”

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Volvo & Polestar: Moving EV Manufacturing to the US


Navigating challenging market conditions

The restructuring follows Polestar’s December 2025 announcement of a US$300m debt-to-equity conversion agreement with Geely Sweden Holdings, which maintains a controlling stake in Volvo Cars.

In March 2026, Polestar secured a US$300m investment from purchasers including Crédit Agricole CIB, Vida Finance S.A., Innovator Limited and Proximastar Holdings Company Limited as part of efforts to strengthen its financial position.

Manufacturing operations face significant headwinds as 100% tariffs on Chinese-made EVs impact the US market, with multiple companies adjusting or abandoning EV production plans.

“As market conditions remain challenging, we continue to take steps to make our organisation and operations more efficient,” Michael said when announcing Polestar’s operational results for the third quarter of 2025.

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Whirlpool Expands U.S. Manufacturing with New Ohio Plant


A photorealistic studio still-life image of a polished, chrome-plated washing machine or dryer drum, floating on a clean white background and dramatically lit from the side to highlight the reflective metallic surface.Whirlpool’s latest investment in U.S. manufacturing showcases the company’s commitment to producing premium, high-quality appliances domestically.Clyde Today

Whirlpool Corporation announced it will invest more than $60 million to establish a new manufacturing facility in Perrysburg, Ohio, creating between 100 and 150 jobs over the next two years. The new plant will be Whirlpool’s 11th U.S. factory and its sixth in Ohio, supporting nearby operations by producing appliance components and subassemblies for washers and dryers.

Why it matters

This expansion reflects Whirlpool’s continued confidence in American manufacturing and its commitment to producing high-quality, innovative products in the U.S. despite recent Wall Street concerns. It also underscores the company’s broader U.S. manufacturing strategy, with about 80% of major appliances sold domestically made in the United States.

The details

Whirlpool is repurposing an existing building in Perrysburg, formerly used for solar panel production, into a modern, technology-driven facility. Once complete, the new plant will blend automation with skilled labor to support nearby Ohio operations. This investment follows a larger $300 million expansion announced last fall to increase laundry production capacity in Clyde and Marion, Ohio, which is expected to create 400 to 600 additional jobs.

  • Whirlpool announced the new $60 million investment on April 11, 2026.
  • The new Perrysburg plant is expected to be operational and create 100-150 jobs over the next two years.

The players

Whirlpool Corporation

A major American home appliance manufacturer headquartered in Benton Harbor, Michigan, with a strong domestic manufacturing footprint, particularly in Ohio.

Marc Bitzer

The chairman and CEO of Whirlpool Corporation, who stated that this investment reflects the company’s confidence in American workers and its determination to produce high-quality, innovative products in the U.S.

Kristin Day

Whirlpool’s vice president of U.S. manufacturing, who said the new facility will blend automation with skilled labor to build the future of domestic production for the industry.

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What they’re saying

“When there is a level playing field, our American workers can out-compete anyone in the world. This investment is proof of our confidence in that workforce and our determination to win by producing high-quality, innovative products in the U.S.”

— Marc Bitzer, Chairman and CEO, Whirlpool Corporation

“We are not just building appliances—we are building the future of domestic production for our industry. Our people remain the foundation of our success.”

— Kristin Day, Vice President of U.S. Manufacturing, Whirlpool Corporation

What’s next

Whirlpool’s new Perrysburg, Ohio plant is expected to move forward pending final approval of state and regional incentives, with a formal ribbon-cutting anticipated later this year.

The takeaway

This expansion demonstrates Whirlpool’s ongoing commitment to U.S. manufacturing, with about 80% of its major appliances sold domestically produced in the United States. The new Ohio plant is the latest in a series of recent investments that underscore the company’s confidence in American workers and its determination to maintain a strong domestic production footprint.

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