Byrna Technologies moves manufacturing to US amid tariff concerns

Byrna Technologies CEO Bryan Ganz discusses the company’s efforts to ramp up its U.S. manufacturing operations.

A company that makes self-defense products has spent the last few years moving much of its manufacturing to the U.S. and is finding the benefits extend beyond having the ability to put a “Made in America” label on their products.

Byrna Technologies, which makes non-lethal personal security devices that can launch plastic or chemical irritant rounds, moved its main manufacturing facility from South Africa to Indiana in 2021 and began finding qualified U.S. component suppliers to prevent supply chain disruptions like what transpired during the pandemic.

“There are over 100 components that go into our launchers, we wanted redundancy on all of them,” Byrna Technologies CEO Bryan Ganz told FOX Business. “Generally, the offshore manufacturers were a little bit less expensive, so they got the majority of the production.”

Byrna Technologies moved its main manufacturing facility from South Africa to Indiana in 2021. (Sam Wolfe/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

“But when it was evident that Donald Trump was going to be elected president, we said, ‘You know what, he’s been very, very vocal about tariffs, this is probably a good time for us to start the process of moving the supply chain back on-shore,'” Ganz said.

BYRNA TECHNOLOGIES CEO ‘PLEASED’ WITH TRUMP TARIFFS HITTING CHINESE RIVALS

“We started this even before the tariffs were announced. When the tariffs were announced, we were feeling pretty smart about ourselves that we had correctly surmised that we would be able to on-shore things,” he added.

Ganz said that while the process of onshoring more of Byrna’s supply chain before the Trump administration’s tariffs were implemented last year, the tariffs made domestic production more cost-effective and the onshoring process revealed other benefits.

“It was very interesting because not only was it much cheaper with the imposition of the tariffs to be producing in the U.S., but we also discovered all sorts of soft cost benefits,” he said.

Byrna Technologies moved its manufacturing back to the U.S. before President Donald Trump implemented tariffs. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)

“When you’re supplying componentry from offshore, you either have air freight costs, you have lengthy ocean voyages – when you’re supplying it from a hundred miles away by truck, you can be much more responsive to changes in consumer demand. If I need to visit the factory because there’s a quality problem, I can do it.”

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He added that while Byrna continues to buy some of its accessories from offshore suppliers, the company has focused its onshoring effort on the most critical aspects of its product, such as the launcher itself and its ammunition.

“We’re making self-defense products and I think the quality of the product, the dependability of the product, is really important to our consumers, so the Made in America moniker is very, very meaningful for our type of product,” he explained.

Ganz noted that Byrna closed its ammunition manufacturing facility in South Africa and moved it to a newly built facility in Fort Wayne that’s five miles away from the company’s facility where its launchers are produced.

FORMER INTEL CEO WARNS US CHIP COMEBACK STILL HAS A LONG WAY TO GO

The company’s latest launcher, the Byrna CL, was made of 34% U.S. components prior to the reshoring effort, but the launcher is now made with 92% U.S. components.

“It’s not without some cost. We’ve seen a couple percentage points increase in our cost as a result of bringing it back to the U.S., because of course, we would have been making it in the U.S. to begin with if it was the same price,” Ganz said. “But our margins have remained within two percentage points – last year we were 62% and this year we were 60.5-61% – so it was a de minimis impact on the cost.”

Ganz added that the tariffs were a determining factor in some of its reshoring decisions due to the higher cost of the import levies.

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“When we ship something up, even though it may have been 10% less expensive than building it here, not so when you put a 30% tariff on. I’m a very patriotic guy, I like making stuff here in America. On the other hand, we’re a public company, we have shareholders – we have to look at what’s in the best interest of our shareholders,” he said. “With the tariffs, it was clear that it became less expensive to build in the U.S. than to build offshore.”

Ganz added that Byrna maintains some component manufacturing abroad to keep redundancy in the supply chain to guard against vulnerabilities that would arise if a domestic facility were to go offline unexpectedly, but the onshoring push has brought the company’s overall supply chain into the 80%-90% range for domestically-sourced components.

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Apple to move part of Mac Mini production to US with Houston expansion

Apple Inc. will move part of its Mac Mini production to the United States, with assembly set to begin later this year at a Foxconn facility in north Houston, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

Apple will move some
production of its Mac Mini desktop computer ​to the U.S. from
Asia, with a new manufacturing ‌effort set to begin later this
year at ​a Foxconn facility in north Houston, ⁠The Wall Street
Journal reported on Monday.

The plan marks the iPhone maker’s most recent U.S.
investment, following its commitment announced ‌last August to
invest $600 billion in the U.S. over the next four years.

In May, ‌U.S. President Donald Trump had threatened Apple
with ‌a ⁠25% tariff on products manufactured overseas, a ⁠sharp
reversal from earlier policy when his administration had
exempted smartphones, computers and other electronics from
rounds of tariffs on Chinese imports.

The ​production for Mac ‌Mini will continue in Asia, its chief
operating officer Sabih Khan told WSJ, adding that the facility
will meet local demand as the U.S. assembly ‌line ramps up.

It was not immediately clear ​whether Apple plans to
scale down production in its Asia facilities. Apple did not
immediately ⁠respond to a Reuters request for comment.

The company feels more confident projecting long-term demand
for the Mac ‌Mini, which is more popular than the Mac Pro, Khan
added.

It is also expanding the Houston facility to include a new
training center for advanced manufacturing, according to the
report.

Apple has a mixed track record when it comes to following
through on ‌investment promises.

In 2019, for instance, Cook toured a Texas ​factory
with Trump that was promoted as a new manufacturing site.
However, the facility had ⁠been producing Apple computers since
2013 and Apple has since ⁠moved that production to Thailand.

Apple continues to manufacture most of its products,
including iPhones ‌and iPads, in Asia, primarily in China,
although it has shifted some production to Vietnam, Thailand ​and
India in recent years.

Published on February 24, 2026

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AbbVie to invest $380 million to expand US manufacturing in Illinois

Feb 23 (Reuters) – AbbVie on Monday said it would invest $380 million to build two new active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturing facilities at its Illinois campus, expanding its domestic production capacity for its neuroscience and obesity medicines.

The investment is part of AbbVie’s broader effort to scale up domestic manufacturing, as drugmakers are scrambling to shore up their U.S. manufacturing capacity and domestic inventory amid the Trump administration’s hefty tariffs on pharmaceutical imports into the country.

The U.S. government imposed a 100% tariff on branded drugs in October, but said it would only apply to producers who had not already broken ground on U.S. manufacturing plants.

AbbVie said the construction at the new facility in North Chicago, Illinois would begin in spring 2026, with both new facilities expected to be fully operational in 2029.

The new facilities will integrate advanced manufacturing technologies and artificial intelligence to support production of future pipeline medicines, the company said.

API production – the process of making a drug’s active chemical components – is one of the most complex steps in pharmaceutical manufacturing, the drugmaker said.

AbbVie said it plans to hire 300 people in North Chicago, including engineers, scientists, manufacturing operators and lab technicians.

In January, it committed $100 billion over the next decade to U.S.-based research and development, including an earlier $195 million expansion at the same North Chicago site to boost API production for immunology, oncology and neuroscience drugs.

AbbVie already has 11 manufacturing sites in the U.S. and is also in discussions with multiple U.S. states about potential projects and expects to announce further investments in 2026.

(Reporting by Siddhi Mahatole in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel)

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Did New U.S. Defense-Focused Manufacturing Partnerships Just Shift Amprius Technologies’ (AMPX) Investment Narrative?

• Recently, Needham began covering Amprius Technologies, highlighting its silicon-anode battery technology and citing a US$35 million unmanned aerial systems order alongside contract manufacturing capacity of 1.8 GWh.
• A separate agreement made Nanotech Energy Amprius’ first U.S.-based manufacturing partner, aligning its high-performance batteries with domestic sourcing rules for defense applications.
• Next, we’ll examine how this new U.S. manufacturing partnership may influence Amprius’ investment narrative and future growth assumptions.

This technology could replace computers: discover 23 stocks that are working to make quantum computing a reality.

Amprius Technologies Investment Narrative Recap

To own Amprius, you need to believe its silicon-anode batteries can convert early traction in drones and defense into durable, profitable demand while it scales manufacturing. The Nanotech Energy partnership directly addresses one near term catalyst and risk at once: it could support US defense opportunities that require local supply, while beginning to reduce the company’s heavy reliance on overseas contract manufacturing and the related geopolitical and supply chain uncertainties.

Among the recent updates, the Nanotech Energy alliance stands out as most relevant. By adding Amprius’ first US-based manufacturing partner for its silicon-anode cells, the company is creating a domestic pathway that aligns with updated National Defense Authorization Act sourcing rules. For investors focused on catalysts, this matters because it directly intersects with Amprius’ concentration in aviation and drones and its goal of securing higher visibility, defense-linked production orders.

Yet behind the promise of US manufacturing, investors should also be aware of how concentrated defense and drone demand leaves Amprius exposed to shifts in procurement cycles and…

Read the full narrative on Amprius Technologies (it’s free!)

Amprius Technologies’ narrative projects $306.6 million revenue and $13.4 million earnings by 2028. This requires 89.8% yearly revenue growth and a $52.1 million earnings increase from $-38.7 million today.

Uncover how Amprius Technologies’ forecasts yield a $17.57 fair value, a 85% upside to its current price.

Exploring Other Perspectives

AMPX 1-Year Stock Price Chart

Some of the lowest ranked analysts took a far more cautious view, even while modeling roughly 77.6% annual revenue growth and a potential US$25.5 million profit by 2028, highlighting how sensitive those outcomes could be if drone demand weakens or external manufacturing partners run into trouble.

Explore 9 other fair value estimates on Amprius Technologies – why the stock might be worth less than half the current price!

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US Manufacturing Output Surges in January

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

U.S. factory production increased by 0.6% in January, the largest gain since February 2025, offering hope for a manufacturing sector that has been squeezed by import tariffs and high interest rates. Economists are optimistic the boost from AI and tax cuts will broaden to the rest of manufacturing.

Why it matters

The manufacturing sector has faced challenges in recent years due to trade policies and economic conditions, so this uptick in production signals potential improvement and growth for a key part of the U.S. economy.

The details

Manufacturing output rose 0.6% last month, the largest gain since February 2025, after being unchanged in December. The increase in factory output last month occurred across the board, with durable goods manufacturing up 0.8% and nondurable goods manufacturing up 0.4%. Mining output fell 0.2% while utilities production increased 2.1%.

• Manufacturing output rose 0.6% in January 2026.
• This was the largest gain since February 2025.
• Output was unchanged in December 2025.

The players

Federal Reserve

The central banking system of the United States that released the data on manufacturing output.

President Donald Trump

The former U.S. president whose trade policies, including import tariffs, have impacted the manufacturing sector.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

The takeaway

This surge in manufacturing output provides a hopeful sign for the sector, which has faced headwinds in recent years, and suggests that policy changes and technological advancements may help drive further growth and recovery.

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How Smart Policy Attracts Manufacturing Investment

Policymakers can use two basic strategies to attract manufacturing investments. These involve attractive incentives — the carrot — which include subsidies, grants and tax credits, or negative incentives — the stick — which include tariffs and threats.

Using credible data that tells a compelling story, I will explain why the carrot has been and will continue to be much more effective than the stick in attracting manufacturing investment.

The data

The St. Louis Federal Reserve publishes US Census Bureau data on actual investments in new or expanded manufacturing facilities, titled “Total Construction Spending: Manufacturing in the United States.” It is seasonally adjusted and reported monthly on an annualized basis.

During the Biden administration, manufacturing construction spending tripled from $76.5 billion in January 2021 to $230.9 billion in January 2025. This represented one of the largest industrial construction booms in US history, driven primarily by large semiconductor, battery and advanced manufacturing projects.

Due to normal megaproject investment cycles, these projects are front-loaded with capital-intensive spending on site preparation, foundation work and structural construction, using massive volumes of concrete and steel. Consequently, manufacturing construction spending peaked in June 2024 at $240.1 billion and slowed in later phases due to less capital-intensive spending on machinery, equipment and installation, much of which is recorded outside of the St. Louis Fed’s manufacturing construction spending data.

The carrot

Using subsidies, grants, loans, tax credits and state incentives, the CHIPS and Science Act signed by President Joe Biden in August 2022 attracted large amounts of capital into semiconductor manufacturing, spurring new fabrication plants and related infrastructure. It also created an entire ecosystem of suppliers, workers and innovation improving American competitiveness, and is primarily responsible for the manufacturing construction boom reflected in the St. Louis Federal Reserve data.

Stated by the Semiconductor Industry Association, enactment of the CHIPS and Science Act was a pivotal moment in recent American history, uniting government leaders from across the political spectrum to reinvigorate US semiconductor production and reinforce America’s economic strength, national security and technological competitiveness.

The carrot or positive incentives offered by the CHIPS and Science Act, combined with the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, signed in November 2021, and the Inflation Reduction Act, signed in August 2022, boosted broader industrial and clean-energy facility investment. The message was clear: America is open for business, and we’re willing to invest in your success. This approach made investing in the US manufacturing sector very attractive.

The stick

Beginning with President Donald Trump’s second term through October 2025 (the latest available data), construction spending in manufacturing declined to $214.1 billion. Some of this is attributed to less capital-intensive spending in later phases, as explained above. However, the primary factor likely is trade uncertainty caused by President Trump’s on-again, off-again tariffs, delays, reversals and threats — the stick.

According to Anirban Basu, chief economist for the Associated Builders and Contractors, “With CHIPS Act-enabled megaprojects winding down and the stiff headwind of trade policy, manufacturing construction spending has fallen by nearly 10% over the past 12 months.”

There are many examples of stiff headwinds caused by erratic policies. Take South Korea, for example. On April 2, 2025, Liberation Day, President Trump announced tariffs of up to 25% on South Korea. Critics argued this was inconsistent with the United States–Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA), which has been in force since March 15, 2012. Three months later, on July 30, 2025, the two countries announced and later finalized the Korea Strategic Trade and Investment Deal, which reduced tariffs to 15% and included the understanding that South Korea would invest $350 billion in the United States.

Two months later, on September 4, 2025, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raided the construction site of the South Korean-owned Hyundai Motor Group/LG Energy Solution battery plant in Ellabell, Georgia. ICE detained several hundred South Korean nationals, many of whom were engineers and technicians training American workers and installing specialized machinery. According to immigration attorney Charles Kuck, his South Korean clients were legally in the US under B-1 visitor visas or the Visa Waiver Program (ESTA).

Even though the Trump administration offered to allow the South Korean workers to remain in the United States to complete their work, most decided to leave due to the unpleasant experience of being shackled, treated like criminals and unsure if they could trust the visa process. In response, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said, “Under the current circumstances, Korean companies will be very hesitant to make direct investments in the United States.”

The problems did not end here. In January 2026, President Trump announced that because the South Korean National Assembly had not yet passed implementing legislation for the 2025 deal, he would increase tariffs on Korean imports back up to 25%.

Uncertainty and the pause button

The chaotic tariffs and threats have caused economic uncertainty to skyrocket, costs to escalate and investors to be unable to predict what’s ahead. As a result of this and the Georgia immigration action, firms have become more cautious about committing to long-term capital projects in the United States and have hit the pause button.

Stated by Andrew Yeo, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, “Allies are receiving mixed signals. The South Korea case has made countries like Japan and even EU nations nervous.”

According to the American Institute of Architects’ January 2026 Consensus Construction Forecast, “Producers and investors typically have not had much clarity as to what countries, what products, or what tariff levels might be in place over the longer term. This makes decision-making difficult and often encourages inaction in supply chain sourcing and investment decisions.”

Not surprisingly, industry forecasts predict a continued decline in manufacturing construction spending.

A better approach

If the goal is to strengthen American manufacturing, US policy needs to focus more on carrots and less on sticks. The CHIPS Act demonstrates that positive incentives work. Expanding similar programs to attract capital to critical industries — advanced materials, batteries, clean energy and biotechnology — would help boost US competitiveness.

This approach is especially urgent given China’s relentless investment strategy and potential US-China hostility. The US cannot afford to cede its competitive advantages through policy uncertainty.

Importantly, strengthening relationships and working more closely with our allies to achieve our manufacturing goals would be an essential step in the right direction. America’s advanced semiconductor manufacturing depends on global supply chains. Alienating these partners through unpredictable tariffs and immigration raids undermines our own competitiveness.

The choice is clear: we can invest in our future through strategic incentives and stable partnerships or watch manufacturing investment go to more predictable shores. This may be a tall order today, but it will be necessary tomorrow.

[Kaitlyn Diana edited this piece.]

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Fair Observer’s editorial policy.

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One Big Beautiful Bill Act Drives U.S. Construction Boom and Manufacturing Growth

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (BBBA) is reshaping the U.S. manufacturing and construction landscape by introducing significant tax incentives tied to capital investment, domestic production and research activity.

Courtesy: Photo by Scott Blake on Unsplash

Signed as part of President Donald Trump’s broader tax and spending agenda, the legislation is designed to stimulate U.S.-based manufacturing capacity and reduce reliance on overseas production.

BBBA Incentives Expected to Accelerate U.S. Factory Construction

One of the most impactful provisions is the Qualified Production Property Deduction. Under this measure, companies that build new manufacturing facilities — or significantly expand existing ones — can deduct 100% of eligible capital expenditures, provided construction begins between January 20, 2025 and December 31, 2028. Projects must be placed into service by January 1, 2031.

This accelerated deduction dramatically improves project economics. Instead of spreading depreciation over decades, companies can deduct the full investment upfront, strengthening short-term cash flow and improving internal rates of return.

For the construction sector, this creates a narrow but powerful investment window. Industry analysts expect a surge in factory groundbreakings over the next three years as companies race to qualify.

For composites manufacturers and suppliers, the ripple effects could be substantial. Increased factory construction means higher demand for advanced building materials such as fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) rebar, composite panels, corrosion-resistant structures and lightweight structural components.

100% Bonus Depreciation Strengthens Capital Spending and R&D

In addition to the production property deduction, the BBBA reinstates 100% bonus depreciation for qualifying capital expenditures. Traditionally, capital investments are depreciated over multiple years according to IRS schedules. Under the updated framework, companies can deduct the entire cost of machinery, tooling, and production equipment in the year it is placed in service.

This provision improves liquidity and encourages businesses to modernize production lines, automate facilities and invest in advanced manufacturing technologies.

For the composites industry, this could accelerate:

• Expansion of domestic composite fabrication plants
• Investment in automated layup and molding systems
• Increased capacity for thermoplastic and thermoset production
• Growth in aerospace, automotive and infrastructure supply chains

Beyond construction, R&D-related incentives embedded in the broader tax package are expected to encourage innovation in advanced materials. Composites firms developing lightweight, high-strength and sustainable materials stand to benefit from a more favorable tax treatment of research expenditures.

Strategic Timing for Composites Manufacturers

The timing window built into the legislation is critical. With eligibility tied to construction start dates and service deadlines, companies must act quickly to secure benefits.

Domestic firms considering U.S. expansion now have a tax-advantaged environment to do so. Likewise, international composites manufacturers evaluating North American production footprints may view the current period as an optimal entry point.

The legislation effectively compresses investment decisions into a three- to four-year horizon. That urgency is likely to generate elevated activity across engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) markets.

For suppliers of composite materials used in industrial flooring, bridge decks, wastewater facilities, reinforcement systems and structural retrofits, the anticipated uptick in manufacturing plant construction could translate into steady order growth through the end of the decade.

Broader Economic Implications

Courtesy: Photo by Pixabay on Pexels

The BBBA’s construction and capital expenditure provisions are not isolated measures; they are part of a broader strategy to strengthen domestic industrial capacity.

If widely adopted, the incentives could:

• Expand U.S. manufacturing output
• Increase demand for skilled labor in construction and engineering
• Shorten supply chains for advanced materials
• Support long-term infrastructure modernization

For the composites industry, the law represents more than a short-term stimulus. It creates structural incentives for reshoring production and investing in advanced materials technologies — positioning the sector to play a central role in the next wave of U.S. industrial growth.

As companies evaluate investment pipelines for 2025–2029, the BBBA’s tax environment may prove decisive in determining where and when new manufacturing capacity is built.

Originally Reported by JEC Composites.

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Orion taps expanded U.S. manufacturing to produce stretch wrapper for the U.S. market

Orion Packaging Systems, a ProMach brand and a leading manufacturer of pallet stretch wrapping solutions, has announced the launch of the Orion Flex Legion semi-automatic stretch wrapper. This fully U.S.-designed and highly engineered machine expands Orion’s Flex line and reinforces the company’s commitment to domestic manufacturing, supply chain reliability, and long-term customer value, the company said.

The new Flex Legion system replaces Orion’s imported entry-level stretch wrapper, providing manufacturers with a 100-percent U.S.-built solution designed to deliver greater consistency in quality, more predictable lead times, and improved control over total cost of ownership. 

“Flex Legion reflects our focus on building equipment that customers can rely on – not just today, but over the long term,” said Pat Pownell, Director of Sales, at Orion. “Manufacturing this system in the United States enables us to respond faster to customer needs, ensure consistent build quality, and deliver an entry-level machine that performs at a level typically associated with more advanced systems.”

Orion Stretch Wrappers operates out of its Alexandria, Minnesota production facility, encompassing more than 250,000 square feet of dedicated production space between Brenton and Orion product lines. Within this facility, they leverage cross trained talent across the Brenton and Orion teams to support both production and aftermarket functions. They also have a dedicated Orion sales and engineering team focused exclusively on the Orion product line, enabling tight alignment between market demand, product development, and manufacturing execution. This structure has allowed Orion to internalize the full ownership of design, build quality and customer support.

“Bringing the Flex Legion’s design and production to our U.S. floor is about doing what’s right for the customer,” said Kelly Hawkinson, Director of Operations for Brenton and Orion, brands of ProMach. “It gives us greater control over quality, improves responsiveness, and shortens lead times. Just as importantly, it reduces exposure to tariff volatility and global supply chain disruption, allowing us to deliver greater cost predictability and long-term confidence in the total cost of ownership for our customers.”

While Flex Legion serves as Orion’s entry point into semi‑automatic automation, it is engineered with the same design philosophy and quality found across the Flex line. The Flex Legion comes with Allen-Bradley HMI operation that is paired with intuitive manual adjustment knobs for turntable speed, carriage travel, and film tension. Flex Legion is also equipped with a powered ‘InstaThread’ carriage capable of delivering uniform 200% film pre‑stretch, helping manufacturers achieve consistent load containment while reducing film consumption compared to friction‑based or core‑break systems commonly used in entry‑level applications.

The system’s semi‑automatic operation and intuitive controls make it well-suited for manufacturers transitioning from hand wrapping to automation. 

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Kumar Named to ACMA Emerging Leaders Program for 2026

BYLINE: Tina M. Johnson

Newswise — Vipin Kumar, a composites manufacturing researcher at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, has been named one of 21 rising professionals nationwide for the 2026 Emerging Leaders Program of the American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA).

The competitive, year-long program develops future leaders in the composites industry through professional development, industry engagement and advocacy training, preparing participants to help shape the future of advanced manufacturing in the United States.

“Vipin translates cutting-edge research into solutions that industry can use. His selection for the ACMA Emerging Leaders Program reflects both his exceptional technical expertise and his growing influence as a leader in advanced manufacturing,” said Yarom Polsky, director of ORNL’s Manufacturing Science Division. “This recognition underscores ORNL’s commitment to developing leaders who will advance U.S. manufacturing competitiveness.”

Kumar’s work at DOE’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility (MDF) at ORNL focuses on developing innovative composite manufacturing techniques using large-scale polymer additive manufacturing, along with traditional and advanced manufacturing processes. He also investigates how carbon fiber-reinforced plastic composites respond to direct lightning strikes and is designing novel materials to mitigate damage, improving safety and resilience for applications such as aerospace.

Kumar has published more than 120 peer-reviewed journal articles and conference proceedings and holds three granted patents, with 12 additional patents pending. He received a 2023 R&D 100 Award and the 2023 CAMX Combined Strength Award for his contributions to ORNL’s additive manufacturing-compression molding process, a significant advancement in high-throughput thermoplastic composite production. He also received the 2022 Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award from the Society of Manufacturing Engineers and the 2021 Young Professionals Emerging Leadership Award from the Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering.

The MDF is supported by DOE’s Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office and acts as a nationwide consortium of collaborators focused on innovating, inspiring and catalyzing the transformation of U.S. manufacturing.

UT-Battelle manages ORNL for the DOE’s Office of Science, the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States. The Office of Science is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science. — Tina M. Johnson

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U.S. Manufacturing Boost as Agencies Order 525 New Flyer Buses

New Flyer has received an order from NJ TRANSIT for 375 Xcelsior 40-foot, clean-diesel buses. This order is part of a larger, previously announced multi-phase fleet replacement program, with orders placed in the third and fourth quarters of 2025.

The original contract, awarded in the first quarter of 2024, included a base order of 550 Xcelsior 40-foot, buses to be delivered in three distinct lots, along with options for an additional 750 units. With this newly announced order, NJ TRANSIT has now completed the full base order of 550 buses, leaving all 750 option buses available for future procurement.

“The Xcelsior buses included in this contract deliver dependable, cost-effective performance while improving safety and accessibility for passengers,” said Chris Stoddart, president, North American Bus and Coach, NFI. “Built for durability and long service life, these new buses will help NJ TRANSIT continue providing the reliable, essential transportation services that keep communities and economies moving every day.”

With this additional portion of the contract, NJ TRANSIT can continue replacing aging buses without compromising service. Building and deploying these replacement vehicles strengthens domestic manufacturing, secures good local jobs, and ensures taxpayers get maximum utility from their investment in public transit.

“This additional order underscores NJ TRANSIT’s unwavering commitment to our customers and to delivering the safe, reliable service they depend on every day,” said NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kris Kolluri. “Modernizing our bus fleet is a critical investment in our riders, our employees, and the communities we serve. These new buses move us closer to our goal of a fully modernized bus fleet by 2031—improving reliability, accessibility, and comfort while ensuring we can continue meeting the needs of hundreds of thousands of daily trips across New Jersey.”

New Flyer also announced that the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA / Metro) has exercised options for 75 Xcelsior hybrid-electric 40-foot buses and 25 Xcelsior CHARGE NG battery-electric forty-foot buses. The options are being exercised from New Flyer’s Q4 backlog.

The purchase will be supported by federal, state, and local funding as well as funds awarded through FTA’s Low- or No-Emission grant program. The new buses will replace end-of-life vehicles and provide Metro customers with a modernized, efficient passenger experience, while also delivering on the agency’s five-year Strategic Transformation Plan.

“New Flyer is committed to continuing our decades-long relationship with Metro, providing buses that deliver strong value, reliability, and performance,” said Chris Stoddart. “As Metro phases out aging buses, New Flyer’s Buy America-compliant, advanced hybrid and battery-electric vehicles will boost the efficiency, power, and overall service quality of its transit system while fueling good manufacturing jobs and economic opportunity across the United States.”

“These new hybrid and battery-electric buses allow us to replace aging vehicles, improve the customer experience, and continue modernizing our fleet while reducing emissions across the region,” said Randy Clarke, WMATA general manager and CEO. “Partnering with New Flyer helps ensure we’re delivering safe, dependable service and demonstrating good financial stewardship.”

In addition, New Flyer confirmed that the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) is exercising options for 19 60-foot and 31 40-foot Xcelsior compressed natural gas (CNG) buses. This order was included in NFI’s fourth quarter 2025 firm backlog.

Valued at approximately $56 million, the options are part of two five-year contracts with RTC, supported by local and FTA funds, and meet Buy America requirements supporting manufacturing jobs in the U.S. The low-emission buses in this order will replace end-of-life vehicles, ensuring efficient, safe, clean, and sustainable transit for the region’s 64 million annual riders.

“For more than three decades, New Flyer and RTC have partnered to deliver efficient and reliable transportation options tailored to the community’s evolving needs, delivering over 900 buses to date, with more than 500 utilizing low-emission CNG propulsion,” said Stoddart.

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