Eli Lilly Breaks Ground On $6.5 Billion Houston Manufacturing Facility

Eli Lilly and Company has broken ground on a $6.5 billion manufacturing facility in Houston, Texas, marking another milestone in the pharmaceutical company’s $50 billion initiative to expand domestic medicine production. The facility is one of 10 U.S. manufacturing sites Lilly has announced since 2020 and will produce active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for Foundayo (orforglipron), the company’s first synthetic oral GLP-1 medicine, alongside other small-molecule medicines and advanced therapeutics.

The project is expected to create more than 600 high-wage permanent jobs and approximately 4,000 construction jobs. Permanent positions will include engineers, scientists, operations personnel, and laboratory technicians. Lilly has begun recruiting employees in the Houston area as it prepares to build and operate the new manufacturing complex.

The Houston facility will be Lilly’s fifth U.S. manufacturing location dedicated to producing active pharmaceutical ingredients among the sites announced since 2020. The investment is part of the company’s broader strategy to bring pharmaceutical manufacturing back to the United States, strengthen domestic supply chains, and expand production capacity to meet growing demand for its medicines in the United States and international markets.

One of the facility’s primary products will be Foundayo (orforglipron), a once-daily oral GLP-1 receptor agonist approved in the United States for weight management in adults with obesity or adults with overweight and a weight-related condition. Unlike peptide-based GLP-1 therapies, Foundayo is a small-molecule medicine manufactured using more established production technologies that can be more readily scaled.

Foundayo is currently under regulatory review in more than 40 countries, with Lilly targeting a full global rollout in 2027. The company is also studying the medicine for additional indications, including type 2 diabetes and obstructive sleep apnea, with further clinical data expected later in 2026.

Beyond Foundayo, the Houston manufacturing site will support the production of advanced therapeutics, including oligonucleotides, a class of medicines designed to work at the genetic level by inhibiting the production of specific proteins. These therapies represent an expanding area of pharmaceutical development, with potential applications in treating diseases closer to their underlying biological causes.

The manufacturing complex will incorporate artificial intelligence, machine learning, digitally integrated systems, and advanced data analytics to improve manufacturing operations. Digital automation will be embedded throughout the facility to streamline production processes, support quality control, and help maintain a reliable supply of medicines.

Lilly is also making a substantial investment in workforce development to support the facility’s operations. The company is providing $12.5 million to support a partnership with San Jacinto College, establishing training pathways for Houston-area residents interested in advanced chemical synthesis manufacturing careers.

The partnership will expand the college’s training equipment and facilities while preparing technicians, manufacturing operators, maintenance professionals, and other skilled workers. Lilly employees will also contribute their expertise to curriculum development and instructor preparation. The training programs will provide opportunities for individuals without previous manufacturing experience to enter the biopharmaceutical industry.

Separately, Lilly is contributing $2.5 million to the San Jacinto College Foundation to provide scholarships for eligible students. Together, the workforce development partnership and scholarship contribution represent $15 million in support for education and workforce development in the Houston region.

The Houston project is part of Lilly’s broader expansion of its American manufacturing network. Of the 10 U.S. manufacturing locations announced since 2020, five will produce active pharmaceutical ingredients. These include facilities in Richmond, Virginia; Huntsville, Alabama; Houston, Texas; and two locations in Lebanon, Indiana.

The company’s other announced projects include four facilities dedicated to injectable medicines and manufacturing devices in North Carolina, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, along with an advanced therapies facility in Lebanon, Indiana, focused on genetic medicines.

The expansion is intended to establish additional domestic manufacturing capacity for Lilly’s growing portfolio of medicines while supporting the development of next-generation therapies. The Houston investment will also strengthen the region’s pharmaceutical manufacturing workforce through its collaboration with San Jacinto College and create new opportunities for skilled workers throughout the greater Houston area.

KEY QUOTES:

“We are thrilled to break ground on our latest ‘medicines made in America’ site in the great state of Texas. This $6.5B investment will help change the game for tens of millions of people suffering from overweight, obesity and its consequences like diabetes. We will make and ship Lilly’s latest products from Texas to people here at home and around the world.”

David A. Ricks, Chair and CEO of Eli Lilly and Company

“When you invest in a place like Houston, you invest in its people first. This facility will run on the talent of this community, powered by our relationship with San Jacinto College. We’re hiring across the greater Houston area to help residents build careers close to home. The facility itself is being built to the highest standards for safety, quality and responsible stewardship of the environment, and every one of these jobs helps bring innovative medicines to the patients counting on them.”

Edgardo Hernandez, Executive Vice President and President of Lilly Manufacturing Operations

“Eli Lilly’s manufacturing investment in Generation Park is a tremendous opportunity for the Houston region. San Jacinto College is proud to work with Lilly to develop the skilled workforce needed to support the growth of biopharmaceutical manufacturing. Together, we will expand industry-informed education and hands-on training pathways that prepare students and incumbent workers with the technical skills these advanced manufacturing careers require. This relationship will build a strong, sustainable talent pipeline for Lilly while creating meaningful, high-demand career opportunities across our region.”

Dr. Brenda Hellyer, Chancellor of San Jacinto College

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Planet Opens State-of-the-Art Satellite Manufacturing in Berlin

BERLIN–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Sep 22, 2026–

Planet LabsGmbH, a leading provider of daily data and insights about change on Earth, today welcomed Katherina Reiche, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy for Germany, to open its state-of-the-art satellite manufacturing facility in Berlin. Having been announced less than a year ago, Planet has achieved facility handover and cleanroom fit-out and is scheduled to commence production of its 300 kg class, 30-cm resolution class Pelican™ satellites this autumn. The first satellite is scheduled to be complete before the end of the year, and the facility will be able to scale to up to 60 satellites per year. The facility further establishes Berlin as a major European hub for advanced aerospace manufacturing and production, accelerating high-tech job growth and Europe’s sovereign Earth observation capabilities.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260922048020/en/

Pelican image over Planet’s new facility in Berlin on August 10, 2026. © 2026 Planet Labs PBC. All Rights Reserved.

The new location in Berlin’s Mitte district brings increased capacity for satellites to Europe. Planet provides sovereign satellites services for countries and, moreover, can launch them fast. For example, Planet was awarded a German-funded contract to deliver dedicated satellite capacity in support of European peace and security within 2 months of contract signature, and with Sweden similarly its first sovereign satellite within 4 months, accelerating their programme 4 years. With these added manufacturing capabilities, Planet intends to not just deliver for Europe, but from Europe.

“Today I’m thrilled to give a first look at Planet’s world-class manufacturing center and the future of Planet in Berlin, Germany, and Europe,” said Will Marshall, Co-Founder and CEO of Planet. “Planet has built and successfully launched 688 satellites in 15 years, second in the world in total satellites – and we’re bringing that manufacturing prowess here. This will enable Europe to quickly gain the capacity to build scaled earth observation satellite fleets to advance Europe’s critical goals from sustainability to security – to give Europe its own eyes on threats.”

“Europe needs its own eyes in space. In an age of strategic rivalry and growing uncertainty, satellite intelligence is no longer a luxury—it is a prerequisite for security, resilience and genuine strategic autonomy. Germany has the scientific depth, industrial strength and dynamic space ecosystem to become a European anchor for this capability. Planet’s investment in Berlin is more than a vote of confidence in the city: it helps turn Europe’s ambition for sovereign access to space-based intelligence into operational reality,” said Katherina Reiche, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy.

“When Planet makes a commitment, we deliver on it,” said Martin Polak, Managing Director of Planet Labs Germany. “Less than one year after announcing our vision for a satellite facility in Berlin, we will soon begin production. Europe needs rapid, independent access to sovereign space capabilities to navigate an increasingly complex security and economic landscape. On behalf of Planet in Germany, I could not be more excited and honored to be making this investment and commitment here in Berlin, continuing Planet’s long history of partnership and innovation in Europe.”

The 5,700-square-meter facility will serve as a cornerstone of Planet’s contributions to European technological advancement in space, addressing the region’s growing demand for localized, resilient aerospace innovation and defense solutions. Berlin has been Planet’s base in Europe for over 10 years, serving as a major technical hub with a mission operations center coordinating Planet’s global fleet of hundreds of satellites, software development, imagery processing, and quality control. In addition to satellite production, Planet’s new facility will house other corporate functions such as mission operations, IT, legal, marketing, HR, and sales, among others. Satellites will be built, tested, and shipped from one location, reducing the path from parts to orbit.

Planet will grow the team significantly, adding 70 employees to its existing team of nearly 150 in Berlin.

The first Berlin-built Pelican satellites completed this year are scheduled to be launched on an Isar Aerospace Spectrum launch vehicle in early 2027 – enabling a new first for Germany. This new facility further grows Planet’s European footprint and strengthens the company’s ties with its longstanding German customers and partners, including the German Federal Agency for Cartography and Geodesy (BKG).

Planet maintains a strong and growing presence in Europe, home to over 30% of its global workforce with offices in Berlin, Haarlem, Ljubljana, Graz and London. Berlin serves as Planet’s primary base of operations in Europe. Planet’s ground station network across Germany, the UK, Norway, and Iceland downlinks nearly 50% of all satellite data globally. Planet is guided by its European AdvisoryBoard, which helps the company meet the needs of its growing European customer base.

About Planet

Planet Labs Germany GmbH is part of the Planet group and is based at Planet’s European headquarters in Berlin. Planet Labs PBC (NYSE: PL) is the parent company of the Planet group with global headquarters in San Francisco, USA. Planet is a leading provider of global, daily satellite imagery, and geospatial solutions. Planet is driven by a mission to image the world every day, and make change visible, accessible and actionable. Founded in 2010 by three NASA scientists, Planet designs, builds, and operates the largest Earth observation fleet of imaging satellites. Planet provides mission-critical data, advanced insights, and software solutions to customers comprising the world’s leading agriculture, forestry, intelligence, education and finance companies and government agencies, enabling users to simply and effectively derive unique value from satellite imagery. Planet Labs PBC is a public benefit corporation listed on the New York Stock Exchange as PL. To learn more visit www.planet.com and follow us on X, LinkedIn, or tune in to HBO’s ‘ Wild Wild Space ’.

Forward-looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release are “forward-looking statements” about Planet within the meaning of the securities laws, including statements about Planet’s strategic partnerships and Planet’s future growth in new and existing markets. Such statements, which are not of historical fact, involve estimates, assumptions, judgments and uncertainties. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those addressed in the forward-looking statements. Such factors are detailed in Planet’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Planet does not undertake an obligation to update its forward-looking statements to reflect future events, except as required by applicable law.

View source version on businesswire.com:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260922048020/en/

CONTACT: Planet Press

Rachel Cassells

press@planet.comPlanet Investor Relations

Cleo Palmer-Poroner

ir@planet.com

KEYWORD: SWITZERLAND UNITED STATES AUSTRIA NORTH AMERICA EUROPE GERMANY CALIFORNIA

INDUSTRY KEYWORD: DATA MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY SATELLITE AEROSPACE MANUFACTURING SOFTWARE

SOURCE: Planet

Copyright Business Wire 2026.

PUB: 09/22/2026 05:00 AM/DISC: 09/22/2026 05:02 AM

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260922048020/en

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SK Hynix And Intel Explore US Memory Chip Manufacturing Deal

SK Hynix is reportedly exploring a deal with Intel that could bring memory-chip manufacturing to the United States for the first time. Reuters, citing three people familiar with the discussions, said the companies have discussed several structures, including SK Hynix leasing part of Intel’s Ohio semiconductor site or creating a venture with Intel and major cloud companies.

But this is not a signed deal. In its official clarification on 16 September, SK Hynix said it is reviewing ways to strengthen its global competitiveness while stressing that no specific arrangement with Intel and no US memory-production plan has been finalised.

SK Hynix Could Use Intel’s Ohio Megasite

The most direct option would put SK Hynix inside Intel’s long-delayed Ohio project. Reuters reported that the Korean memory company could lease part of the site, giving it manufacturing space without building an entirely separate US wafer fab from scratch.

A second possibility is more ambitious. SK Hynix, Intel and large cloud providers could form a joint venture, potentially giving customers that consume huge amounts of AI hardware a more direct route to securing memory supply.

The exact product is still unknown. SK Hynix makes DRAM, NAND flash and high-bandwidth memory, or HBM, but Reuters said it could not determine which memory technology would be produced in Ohio.

AI Has Turned Memory Into Strategic Infrastructure

That uncertainty matters because not all memory is equally important to the current AI boom. HBM sits close to accelerators such as Nvidia GPUs and feeds them data at extremely high speed, while conventional DRAM supplies working memory across servers, PCs and other systems.

The broader AI memory chip supercycle has made those components a central constraint in data-centre expansion. SK Hynix has also deepened its relationship with Nvidia through the wider SK Group AI infrastructure push.

We think that is the bigger story here. AI infrastructure is no longer only about who can design the fastest processor. Companies increasingly care about securing enough memory, packaging capacity and manufacturing space to keep those processors running.

Intel Could Gain A Major Customer For Ohio

For Intel, a deal could give its Ohio project a powerful outside customer at a useful moment. Intel says it plans to invest more than $28 billion in two leading-edge fabs at the site, but it slowed the timetable in 2025.

Under Intel’s latest published Ohio construction timetable, the first module is expected to begin operations between 2030 and 2031. The second is currently scheduled to start operating in 2032.

That means any SK Hynix arrangement would still be a long-term manufacturing move rather than a quick fix for today’s memory shortages.

The two companies also know each other well. In 2020, Intel agreed to sell its NAND memory and storage business to SK Hynix for $9 billion.

SK Hynix Already Has A US AI Memory Footprint

SK Hynix is not starting from zero in the United States. In August, the company broke ground on its Indiana AI-memory facility, which will package and test next-generation HBM and is expected to begin supplying US customers in the second half of 2029.

That distinction is important. Advanced packaging combines and stacks chips after core semiconductor dies have been manufactured. An Ohio agreement involving memory-chip fabrication could therefore move more of the production process onto US soil.

It also fits a wider reshaping of semiconductor geography. TSMC’s expanding US chip investment shows how more of the critical AI supply chain is being pushed toward American manufacturing.

South Korea Could Still Complicate The Deal

The biggest obstacle may come from Seoul. Reuters reported that South Korea’s trade ministry considers company investment decisions a matter for SK Hynix, but any transfer involving a “national core technology” could trigger a government review under the country’s Industrial Technology Protection Act.

That could become especially sensitive if the project involves advanced DRAM or HBM technology. SK Hynix has therefore kept its language cautious and says no decision has been made.

For South African readers, the near-term effect would be indirect. Local cloud providers, enterprises and AI developers buy into a global hardware market, so tighter or more diversified memory supply could eventually influence server availability and cloud infrastructure costs.

But with Intel’s Ohio production still years away, this is more about where the next wave of AI hardware gets built than about immediate price relief.

If the talks become a real deal, the most important detail to watch will be simple: what kind of memory does SK Hynix actually plan to manufacture in Ohio?

FAQs

Is SK Hynix Building A Memory Chip Factory With Intel?

Not yet. The companies are reportedly discussing several possible structures, but SK Hynix says no agreement has been finalised. One scenario could involve leasing part of Intel’s Ohio facility, while another could involve a joint venture.

What Kind Of Memory Chips Could SK Hynix Make In Ohio?

That has not been confirmed. SK Hynix produces DRAM, NAND and HBM, but Reuters said the specific technology involved in the talks remains unknown. Advanced HBM or DRAM production would be particularly significant because those technologies are strategically important to AI infrastructure.

Does SK Hynix Already Manufacture AI Memory In The US?

SK Hynix has begun building an AI-memory packaging and testing facility in Indiana. The company says it plans to supply next-generation HBM from the site starting in the second half of 2029. A separate Ohio manufacturing deal with Intel could expand its US footprint further if the talks lead to an agreement.

Temaz Tra

Temaz Tra is an AI and technology news writer focused on the fast-moving tools, platforms, and companies shaping the digital world. He covers artificial intelligence, consumer tech, cybersecurity, software, social media, and the wider impact of emerging technologies on work, business, and everyday life. With a focus on clear reporting and accessible analysis, Temaz helps readers understand complex tech developments without the jargon. His work connects breaking news with practical context, making it easier to follow how AI and digital innovation are changing the way people live, work, and interact online.

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ES Foundry Joins MIT Manufacturing Initiative With $1.5 Million Commitment – News and Statistics

Sep 21, 2026

ES Foundry, a U.S. business focused on bringing crystalline solar cell production back onshore, said on Sept. 21, 2026 that it has become a member of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology‘s Initiative for New Manufacturing. The company is putting $1.5 million into the initiative across three years as part of a fresh partnership aimed at bolstering American manufacturing.

According to the company, the tie-up will speed up its exploration of artificial intelligence-driven efficiency gains and sophisticated operating models, with the goal of keeping U.S. manufacturing globally competitive.

The move lands at a pivotal moment for ES Foundry’s expansion. In July, the company finished a 2 gigawatt enlargement of its Greenwood, South Carolina, plant, lifting total yearly solar cell production capacity to 3 gigawatts and backing over 400 advanced manufacturing positions.

Now that this capacity exists, ES Foundry said it is shifting attention past sheer manufacturing scale toward the technologies, workforce and operating methods that will decide whether American solar manufacturing can stay competitive over the long haul.

Alex Zhu, the company’s chief executive, said ES Foundry has invested substantially in restoring solar cell manufacturing to the United States, and that its pledge to the MIT initiative amounts to an investment in fortifying that manufacturing. Zhu noted that running at commercial scale daily provides a grounded perspective on where technology, automation and workforce development can have an impact, and that partnering with MIT offers a chance to investigate solutions to manufacturing difficulties and to devise fresh ideas and approaches.

Per the company, solar cells continue to be a crucial missing piece in the domestic photovoltaic supply chain. Although U.S. module manufacturing capacity has grown considerably, a large portion of the industry still relies on imported cells. ES Foundry said it was created to help alter that situation by making high-performance crystalline solar cells within the United States.

The Greenwood site turns out bifacial PERC solar cells for utility-scale, commercial and community solar uses. The finished expansion provides ES Foundry with a 3 gigawatt operating base where enhancements in production technology, automation, process control, workforce skills and factory efficiency can be deployed at commercial scale.

The $1.5 million pledge will underpin ES Foundry’s participation with the initiative and its wider efforts to tackle difficulties confronting modern manufacturers. Via the initiative, ES Foundry will collaborate with MIT faculty, researchers and students, along with manufacturers from other sectors, on subjects such as artificial intelligence on the factory floor, automated systems, cybersecurity, digital twins, continuous innovation and workforce development.

The partnership is intended to flow in both directions, with ES Foundry able to tap into fresh thinking from MIT while contributing the know-how of a manufacturer that is actively running and growing a highly technical production process in the United States.

Lionel Moss, general manager of operations at ES Foundry, said manufacturing difficulties become quite tangible when a factory operates around the clock. Moss said the company continually looks at ways to boost yield, productivity, equipment performance, processes and workforce capabilities, and that it has plenty to gain from the work at MIT while also offering Greenwood-derived experiences. He called that interchange the source of the collaboration’s value.

The Initiative for New Manufacturing unites manufacturers from various industries with MIT researchers, educators and students to address common production challenges. Since its 2025 launch, the initiative has broadened its efforts across manufacturing research, industry engagement, workforce development and entrepreneurship, with programs exploring areas from factory-floor artificial intelligence and automation to cybersecurity, digital twins and novel methods for cultivating manufacturing talent.

John Hart, a professor and head of the MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering who is faculty co-director of the initiative, said ES Foundry contributes a valuable perspective to the initiative and welcomed the company into the community.

ES Foundry said its participation in the initiative extends a wider push to build a lasting domestic solar cell manufacturing foundation. Having production capacity in the United States is a key initial step, and the company’s current focus is making sure U.S. solar cell manufacturing keeps advancing, innovating and competing as the industry expands.

Headquartered in South Carolina, ES Foundry portrays itself as speeding up the U.S. solar industry by onshoring crystalline solar cell manufacturing. Its Greenwood plant makes cells designed to satisfy the requirements of U.S. panel manufacturers and the supply chain needs of developers and engineering, procurement and construction firms. The company said it was purpose-built for Foreign Entity of Concern compliance and runs with entirely non-FEOC ownership, leadership and financing, guaranteeing transparent supply chains and verified eligibility for incentives, including the domestic content bonus.

Interactive table based on the Store Companies dataset for this report.

Sort: Rank
Sort: Company A-Z
Sort: Headquarters A-Z

#
Company
Headquarters
Focus
Scale
Note

1
First Solar
Tempe, Arizona
Solar cells (thin-film)
Large
Major US solar manufacturer

2
SunPower Corporation
San Jose, California
High-efficiency solar cells
Large
Residential & commercial solar

3
Cree LED (SMART Global Holdings)
Durham, North Carolina
LED components & lighting
Large
Former Cree LED business

4
Maxeon Solar Technologies
San Jose, California
Solar cells & panels
Large
Spin-off from SunPower

5
Luminus Devices
Fremont, California
LED components
Medium
Specialty & high-power LEDs

6
Bridgelux
Fremont, California
LED arrays & lighting
Medium
LED technology & solutions

7
Sundiode
Princeton, New Jersey
Semiconductor lasers & VCSELs
Small
Advanced photonics

8
Solaria
Fremont, California
High-efficiency solar cells
Medium
Residential solar panels

9
MiaSolé Hi-Tech Corp
Santa Clara, California
Flexible thin-film solar
Medium
CIGS solar technology

10
Heliene
Mountain Iron, Minnesota
Solar cells & modules
Medium
US & Canadian manufacturing

11
Silfab Solar
Bellingham, Washington
Solar cells & modules
Medium
North American manufacturing

12
Mission Solar Energy
San Antonio, Texas
Solar cells & modules
Medium
US-made solar panels

13
Qcells (Hanwha Q CELLS USA)
Irvine, California
Solar cell & panel manufacturing
Large
US operations of Korean parent

14
Aledia
Fremont, California
MicroLED technology
Small
3D architecture LEDs

15
Soraa
Fremont, California
GaN on GaN LEDs
Medium
High-quality lighting

16
Lumiode
New York, New York
Microdisplay LEDs
Small
High-brightness microdisplays

17
Glo
Nashville, Tennessee
UV-C LED technology
Small
Disinfection & purification

18
Suniva
Norcross, Georgia
Solar cells & modules
Medium
US crystalline silicon solar

19
Swift Solar
San Carlos, California
Perovskite solar cells
Small
Next-generation tandem cells

20
Tandem PV
San Jose, California
Perovskite-silicon solar
Small
Tandem cell technology

21
Brightspot Automation
Boulder, Colorado
LED testing & sorting
Small
Manufacturing equipment

22
SolarTech Universal
Livermore, California
Solar cell manufacturing
Small
Turnkey production lines

23
Arizona Sun
Chandler, Arizona
Solar cell & panel sales
Small
Distributor & assembler

24
GreenBrilliance
Sterling, Virginia
Solar panel integration
Medium
Residential & commercial

25
Lumileds
San Jose, California
LED components & automotive
Large
Former Philips business

26
Lighting Science Group
West Warwick, Rhode Island
LED lighting solutions
Medium
Specialty & horticultural

27
Energy Focus
Solon, Ohio
LED lighting products
Medium
Military & commercial

28
Crystal IS
Green Island, New York
UVC LEDs
Small
Aluminum nitride substrates

29
HexaTech
Morrisville, North Carolina
AlN substrates for LEDs
Small
Materials for UV LEDs

30
Kyocera AVX
Fountain Inn, South Carolina
LED components & optoelectronics
Large
US division of Kyocera

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Marine boots fail in the Arctic amid push for US manufacturing: Report

A new report revealing quality-control issues with Marine Corps-issued cold-weather boots highlights the potential consequences of limiting the number of suppliers for essential gear.

According to a new report by Newsweek, an unspecified number of Marines had to have their brand-new boots replaced during cold-weather training ahead of a Norwegian-led NATO exercise earlier this year.

Marines reportedly wore holes through the boots’ leather and saw the soles separate from the fabric, allowing freezing water to seep into the boots as they hiked and skied.

The issue, according to the report, stems from a legal requirement that the Pentagon use its funds to buy American-made boots.

Although the intent behind the federal law is to support U.S. companies, the domestic industry is too small to meet demand, which can create problems with product quality and price.

Troops can currently wear non-American-made boots if they purchase them on their own. That standard could change, however, as federal lawmakers consider the Better Outfitting Our Troops, or BOOTS, Act.

The measure would prohibit service members from wearing optional combat boots in uniform unless they were manufactured entirely in the U.S.

Critics of the measure, like the Cato Institute, say the BOOTS Act “would deny service members the ability to find boots that best fit their feet so U.S. manufacturers can make a few extra bucks.”

The libertarian think tank argued that the primary force behind the measure is an “aggressive lobby” working on behalf of an industry rather than “the warfighter.”

Cato listed the United States Footwear Manufacturers Association, or USFMA, as the leading lobbyist group behind the BOOT Act. The organization represents a variety of footwear companies, including Belleville Boot Company, which manufactured the boot in question.

A Pentagon official told Newsweek that expanding the domestic boot industry would not necessarily be a bad thing. But scaling up production while maintaining existing quality standards could prove difficult for manufacturers.

Daniel Terrill is a contributor to Military Times. He’s been reporting on military issues, the gun industry, and the outdoors for nearly two decades. Although writing is his passion, he’s been a Marine, police officer, and, perhaps the most dangerous job of his career, a substitute teacher.

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Lonza Group stock gains on new US manufacturing investment plan

Lonza Group stock reacts to a September 19, 2026 plan to build a new factory in Bend, Oregon to expand US spray drying capacity for complex drugs. The shares are trading below their 52-week high as investors weigh recent earnings and guidance.

Lonza CH0013841017 Forscher im Schutzanzug am Mikroskop dokumentarisch in Schwarz Weiss fotografiert, Illustration mit AI erstellt.

Lonza Group stock (ISIN CH0013841017) is in focus after the Swiss contract manufacturer confirmed plans on September 19, 2026 to build a new factory in Bend, Oregon, expanding its US spray drying capacity for complex drug formulations, according to Nutrition Industry Executive Magazine.

Factory plan in Oregon expands US footprint

The planned Bend, Oregon site will further strengthen Lonza’s manufacturing presence in the United States as it targets growing demand for advanced pharmaceutical ingredients, as reported on September 19, 2026 by Nutrition Industry Executive Magazine.

According to Swissinfo in a report dated September 19, 2026, the factory will focus on spray drying technologies used to improve the solubility and stability of complex drug molecules, supporting pharma customers that increasingly outsource these sophisticated processes.

Stock trades below recent highs

On September 19, 2026, Lonza Group shares on SIX Swiss Exchange traded below their 52-week high, indicating that while the Oregon investment is a positive strategic signal, investors are still balancing it against recent earnings trends and guidance; the exact price level and range reflect a market that prices in both growth opportunities and execution risks.

Closing price and investor takeaway

As of September 19, 2026, Lonza Group stock on SIX Swiss Exchange closed below its recent peak in Swiss francs, leaving a measurable gap to the 52-week high that investors will watch as the Bend, Oregon project advances and new capacity comes onstream.

Lonza Group stock key data

• Company: Lonza Group Ltd.
• ISIN: CH0013841017
• Ticker: LONN
• Trading venue: SIX Swiss Exchange
• Sector / Industry: Health Care / Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology
• Index membership: SMI

More news and analyses on Lonza Group stock

Disclaimer…

en | CH0013841017 | LONZA GROUP | boerse | 70137323 | bgmi

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Texas records suggest OCI is bringing Elite Solar to Mission Solar Energy manufacturing site

Mission Solar Energy’s solar panel manufacturing site in San Antonio, Texas, considered one of the longest-running panel assembly operations in the United States, may soon receive a boost from a global manufacturer.

Mission Solar has been making solar panels in the United States since 2014 and is owned by OCI Company, a South Korean chemical conglomerate that is involved with solar project development and polysilicon production. OCI started the assembler to supply panels to its own utility-scale projects in Texas. Mission Solar has since worked through solar panel distribution channels and mostly supplied the U.S. residential sector but was attempting plays into larger markets. The company is currently listed as having a 500-MW annual module assembly capacity in San Antonio.

Sam Martens, president of Mission Solar, submitted testimony in the ongoing antidumping/countervailing duty (AD/CVD) investigation into solar cell imports from India, Indonesia and Laos. In addition to reiterating to the U.S. International Trade Commission the challenges the U.S. solar industry faces from unfairly priced imports, Martens commented on Mission Solar’s Texas factory.

“Despite trying our best to be cost-competitive, our customers repeatedly told us that our prices are too high. Subject producers have even offered prices well below our cost of production. We simply cannot cut prices that far, and we often ended up losing the sale instead,” he said. “The continual loss of sales and revenue forced us to curtail our production, leaving us with significant excess capacity.

“Lower utilization has naturally resulted in reduced shifts and reduced employees,” Martens continued. “For example, we previously employed more than 200 workers. But, due to the market conditions caused by subject imports, we only had 70 employees by 2025, and have now temporarily ceased all manufacturing operations and related employment.

“If injurious subject imports remain unrestrained in the face of potentially shrinking demand, I am afraid that the domestic industry will once again face rising closures and mass layoffs,” he concluded.

There have been no layoff announcements by Mission Solar in Texas worker adjustment and retraining notification notices, so if employment has been temporarily ceased, it’s likely to have resulted in furloughs. When asked, Mission Solar representatives were unable to comment on the matter to Solar Power World.

It’s an unfortunate trend for long-established U.S. solar panel manufacturers. Silfab Solar furloughed workers in August at its South Carolina manufacturing site due to “temporary constraints affecting the availability of certain materials required for production.” Heliene laid off nearly 100 workers in August at its Minnesota solar panel assembly facility due to “unforeseen business circumstances.” Qcells furloughed 1,000 employees at its Georgia operations last year, but was able resume production four months later.

Mission Solar, which has long operated a small-output solar panel factory at a mixed-use community located on the former Brooks Air Force Base, announced in 2022 it would expand operations to reach 1 GW of annual module manufacturing capacity. The company built a 200,000-sq-ft addition on its property, but it was instead later described as a warehouse.

The warehouse was then assumed to become the starting point of Mission and OCI’s solar cell manufacturing operations, which the two companies announced in 2025. They would invest $265 million into the site to eventually reach 2 GW of annual cell manufacturing capacity. Martens confirmed in his ITC testimony that actual construction plans never progressed further.

That warehouse is back in play after a filing with the Texas Dept. of Licensing and Regulation in August. The filing says that $15 million will be spent to renovate the existing warehouse into the “Elite Solar factory [f]or manufacturing.” Construction is expected to begin in October and be completed in June 2027.

Elite Solar, a Singapore-headquartered panel brand (previously known as ET Solar), has affiliated panel manufacturing operations across the globe. The company’s flagship sites are now based in Egypt and Indonesia, but it has a longstanding relationship with OCI and is jointly developing a solar wafer production facility in Vietnam. This partnership could be extending to panel manufacturing in Texas.

Elite Solar provided no comment when asked by Solar Power World about the San Antonio factory plans.

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SK Hynix Considers US NAND Factory as Trump Pushes Korean Chipmakers to Reshore Production

SK Hynix subsidiary Solidigm is considering building a NAND flash memory factory in the United States, with upstate New York emerging as a leading candidate, as pressure from the Trump administration pushes South Korean chipmakers to expand semiconductor production on American soil.

Three people familiar with the matter told Reuters that Solidigm is evaluating the potential project, which would be separate from discussions between SK Hynix and Intel over producing memory chips at Intel’s Ohio facility.

No final investment decision has been made, and key details of the proposed plant remain under discussion, one of the sources cautioned.

SK Hynix confirmed that Solidigm is examining options but said there was no specific project yet.

“Subsidiary Solidigm is reviewing various options to strengthen its business competitiveness, but no specific plans have been confirmed at this time,” SK Hynix said.

A U.S. manufacturing base would give Solidigm an alternative to its sole NAND production facility in Dalian, China. It could also reduce the company’s exposure to potential U.S. tariffs and restrictions on the export of semiconductor manufacturing equipment to China.

The potential investment comes as Washington intensifies efforts to bring semiconductor production back to the United States, particularly as the rapid expansion of AI data centers tightens global supplies of memory chips.

For SK Hynix, however, building in America presents a difficult cost calculation. Semiconductor production is generally more expensive in the United States than in South Korea, while Seoul and Washington are still negotiating the terms of South Korea’s broader investment commitments and trade relationship with the United States.

Solidigm Could Offer a Lower-Risk US Expansion

Solidigm’s NAND business is expected to provide SK Hynix with a politically easier path into U.S. manufacturing than relocating its most advanced memory technologies.

One of the sources said producing NAND through the U.S. subsidiary could encounter less resistance from Seoul because NAND is viewed as less strategically sensitive than advanced DRAM products, particularly high-bandwidth memory, or HBM, which has become a critical component of AI accelerators.

That has become a matter of interest as Washington and Seoul compete for semiconductor investment.

The South Korean government has been encouraging SK Hynix and Samsung to accelerate plans for a semiconductor manufacturing cluster in the country’s southwest, potentially involving investments worth hundreds of billions of dollars. At the same time, the Trump administration has been pressing Korean and Taiwanese semiconductor companies to expand U.S. manufacturing.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has threatened tariffs of up to 100% on South Korean and Taiwanese companies unless they commit to increasing production in the United States.

The pressure puts SK Hynix in the middle of competing industrial policies. Washington wants more chip manufacturing on American soil, while Seoul wants to preserve South Korea’s position as a global semiconductor manufacturing hub.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said Seoul would seek to “protect South Korea’s national interests while respecting the views of companies” when asked about pressure on Korean chipmakers to establish factories in the United States.

“It remains a matter of controversy,” Lee said Friday, without elaborating.

The issue is particularly sensitive because South Korea has already committed to a $350 billion investment package in the United States as part of an agreement aimed at securing lower U.S. tariffs.

China Is Expanding Its Memory Ambitions

The potential Solidigm investment also comes as Chinese semiconductor companies are moving deeper into the memory market.

Chinese chipmaker CXMT plans to establish an R&D production line for NAND flash memory at a new facility in Beijing, according to a Reuters report, as it seeks to enter a market dominated by Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron.

China’s push adds another layer of pressure on SK Hynix.

A U.S. plant could help Solidigm diversify its manufacturing footprint while providing some protection against geopolitical restrictions. But building capacity in America would take years and require substantial capital, making it difficult to know what the market will look like when the factory begins production.

That uncertainty is relevant for NAND, a market that has experienced prolonged cycles of oversupply, falling prices and weak profitability.

SK Hynix acquired Solidigm from Intel for $9 billion in 2020 and has since dealt with years of losses at the business following the extended downturn in NAND. The company is now looking for ways to improve Solidigm’s competitiveness. Last month, SK Hynix said it was considering measures to strengthen the unit after reports that Solidigm was exploring a pre-IPO fundraising of about 5 trillion won, or roughly $3.6 billion.

SK Hynix said at the time that no decisions had been made.

A U.S. factory could therefore serve several purposes at once: diversifying Solidigm’s manufacturing base, reducing its exposure to China-related trade restrictions, and giving SK Hynix a stronger position in the U.S. market.

But the economics remain uncertain.

Memory has become increasingly important to the AI infrastructure boom. DRAM provides the working memory used by processors, while NAND is primarily used to store data. The rapid construction of AI data centers has sharply increased demand for memory and put pressure on global supply chains.

SK Hynix has benefited heavily from the surge in demand for HBM, which is used alongside AI processors. That business is different from Solidigm’s NAND operation, but the broader AI infrastructure boom has created a more favorable environment for memory manufacturers.

However, there is concern about demand remaining strong enough to justify new U.S. capacity several years from now. The debate has become more complicated after concerns emerged over the pace of frontier AI development. Any meaningful slowdown in AI infrastructure investment could eventually affect demand for the memory and storage components used in data centers.

SK Hynix’s shares nevertheless rose 6.4% on Friday, compared with a 2.7% gain in the benchmark KOSPI index, as investors responded to broader semiconductor developments.

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Alabama Training Network awarded $2.19 million to continue helping state manufacturers

Alabama manufacturers looking to keep up with rapidly changing technology will continue to have a statewide resource to help them make that transition.

The Alabama Training Network has been awarded $2.19 million from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology to continue serving as Alabama’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership Center.

Although it is a division of the Alabama Community College System, ATN is not one of the system’s community colleges. Instead, it serves as a statewide resource for business and industry, working directly with manufacturers to provide workforce training, technical assistance and business solutions.

The $2,191,702 award will allow that work to continue while putting an increased focus on helping small and medium-sized manufacturers adopt advanced technology, including artificial intelligence, robotics, automation and additive manufacturing.

“This award is an investment not only in ATN, but in the manufacturers, employees, and communities we serve across Alabama,” ATN Executive Director Keith Phillips said. “Our team works alongside companies every day to understand their challenges and provide practical solutions that make a measurable difference.

“We are grateful for NIST’s continued confidence in ATN and excited about the opportunity to build on that work over the next five years.”

ATN works with manufacturers across Alabama to strengthen their workforce and improve operations. Its customized training and technical assistance are designed to help companies improve productivity, quality, safety and competitiveness while preparing for changing technology and workforce needs.

Under the new agreement, Manufacturing Extension Partnership centers will put more emphasis on helping manufacturers successfully adopt advanced technologies and strengthening critical domestic supply chains. The centers will also develop ways to measure technology adoption and work with manufacturers in priority industry sectors.

For Alabama, the funding will allow ATN to continue expanding the resources and expertise available to manufacturers as they deal with changing technology, workforce demands and competition in the global marketplace.

The Alabama award is part of more than $30 million NIST announced for 12 Manufacturing Extension Partnership centers in 11 states and Puerto Rico following a competitive funding process.

The NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership is a public-private partnership with centers across the United States and Puerto Rico. Its national network includes nearly 1,400 manufacturing advisers and experts working from more than 450 locations.

Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].

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US transit bus manufacturing contributes $5.1 billion to GDP. BEVs reach 20% of recent deliveries

US heavy-duty transit bus manufacturing supported around 34,100 jobs and contributed $5.1 billion to US GDP in 2025, while battery-electric buses accounted for around 20% of recent deliveries, according to Oxford Economics.

The figures come from Buses Mean Business: The Economic Impact of US Heavy-Duty Transit Bus Manufacturing, a September 2026 report developed by Oxford Economics and sponsored by Business Members of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). The report was launched in conjunction with APTA Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C. and the bus coalition’s “Built in America: The Private-Sector Engine Behind Transit Buses” panel on Capitol Hill.

The study analyzes the economic activity generated directly by US heavy-duty transit bus manufacturers, through their domestic supply chains and through household spending by workers. Oxford Economics estimates that the industry also supported $1.1 billion in federal, state and local tax revenue in 2025, with economic impacts recorded across all 50 states.

Beyond the economic impact calculations, the report provides data on the age and composition of the US transit bus fleet, annual vehicle deliveries and changes in propulsion technologies.

US bus deliveries at 4,690 units in 2025, still below pre-Covid

Approximately 4,690 transit buses were delivered in the United States and Canada in 2025, according to industry delivery data reported by Oxford Economics. This compares with 4,447 units in 2024 and 4,349 in 2023.

Deliveries remain below the volumes recorded before the Covid-19 pandemic. The study reports 6,320 buses delivered in 2019.

The existing US fleet comprises approximately 65,300 heavy-duty transit buses. Standard transit buses account for 82% of the total, with 40-foot vehicles alone representing 64%. Commuter buses account for 9% and articulated buses for 10%, according to National Transit Database data analyzed by Oxford Economics.

Fleet age is another element covered by the study. The average US transit bus was approximately eight years old in 2024. Around 13,700 vehicles, equivalent to 21% of the fleet, were already more than 12 years old, while another 21,500 buses were between eight and 12 years old.

In total, approximately 35,200 buses, or 54% of the US heavy-duty transit bus fleet, either exceeded or were due to reach within five years the Federal Transit Administration’s minimum useful-life benchmark of 12 years or 500,000 miles for large heavy-duty transit buses.

Transit buses accounted for approximately 3.8 billion passenger trips in the United States in 2025, or more than 10 million trips on an average day. They represented 49% of all US public transit trips during the year.

Battery-electric buses reach 20% of recent US transit bus deliveries

Oxford Economics also records changes in the propulsion technologies represented in recent deliveries.

Battery-electric buses accounted for approximately 20% of transit buses delivered in 2023 and 2024, based on APTA Public Transportation Vehicle Database figures included in the report. Battery-electric vehicles represented approximately 4% of the overall fleet in service.

Diesel remained the largest propulsion technology among recent deliveries, accounting for 55% of buses delivered in 2023-2024. Diesel represented 49% of the existing fleet.

In brief

• How many transit buses were delivered in the US and Canada in 2025?
  Oxford Economics reports approximately 4,690 deliveries, compared with 6,320 in 2019.
• What share of recent deliveries was battery-electric?
  BEVs accounted for around 20% of 2023-2024 deliveries, versus approximately 4% of the fleet in service.
• How much of the US bus fleet is at or approaching replacement age?
  Around 54% is already beyond or due to reach the FTA’s 12-year useful-life benchmark within five years.
• What is the industry’s estimated economic footprint?
  Around 34,100 supported jobs, $5.1 billion in GDP and $1.1 billion in federal, state and local tax revenues.

Natural gas accounted for 13% of 2023-2024 deliveries, compared with 25% of the fleet in service, while hybrids represented 10% of recent deliveries and 16% of the existing fleet. Other technologies accounted for around 2% of recent deliveries and 6% of the fleet.

Separate data from Catalyst Mobility (formerly Calstart), featured in the latest issue of Sustainable Bus magazine, show that, as of July 2025, US transit agencies and other operators had 8,116 full-size zero-emission buses funded, ordered, delivered or deployed, up 16% from 7,028 a year earlier. An additional 1,398 small zero-emission buses had been adopted nationwide.

The report also records ElDorado National’s resumption of transit bus production in 2025 under new ownership and Solaris’ entry into the US market through transit agency procurements. BYD’s US operations, marketed under the RIDE brand, continue to manufacture transit buses in Lancaster, California, while federal restrictions introduced in 2019 limit participation in federally funded transit bus procurements, Oxford Economics notes.

What is interesting, “Buses produced by the top two manufacturers, Gillig and New Flyer (NFI Group), accounted for nearly 70% of vehicles in service in 2024“. And production was even more concentrated in 2025, with the two manufacturers accounting for most heavy-duty transit bus deliveries, following Nova Bus’ US exit and NABI’s earlier integration into New Flyer.

US transit bus manufacturing supports 34,100 jobs

Against this fleet and production background, Oxford Economics estimates that US transit bus manufacturers directly employed approximately 4,700 people in 2025.

A further 15,900 jobs were supported through domestic supplier purchases and 13,500 through household spending by workers whose incomes depended directly or indirectly on transit bus manufacturing. The resulting total was approximately 34,100 jobs.

The report calculates an employment multiplier of 7.3. On this basis, every job directly employed by a transit bus manufacturer supported an additional 6.3 jobs elsewhere in the US economy through supply-chain purchases and household spending.

Manufacturing accounted for around 13,000 of the supported jobs, corresponding to 38% of the total. Trade and transportation accounted for 5,600 jobs, business services for 4,700 and other services for 3,800.

Transit bus industry contributes $5.1 billion to US GDP

Oxford Economics calculates a total GDP contribution of approximately $5.15 billion in 2025.

Of this amount, $817 million was generated directly by transit bus manufacturers. Domestic supplier activity accounted for another $2.56 billion, while $1.78 billion was associated with household spending by workers.

Manufacturing represented approximately $2.2 billion, or 43%, of the total GDP impact. Trade and transportation accounted for $765 million, finance and real estate for $733 million and business services for $701 million.

The report calculates a GDP multiplier of 6.3, meaning that every dollar of value added generated directly by transit bus manufacturers was associated with an additional $5.30 in GDP through domestic supplier purchases and household spending.

Tax revenues associated with the three channels of economic activity totaled approximately $1.124 billion. Federal taxes represented $749 million, or 67% of the total, while state taxes amounted to $216 million and local taxes to $159 million.

Oxford Economics records economic impacts across all 50 states. Major transit bus assembly facilities identified in the report are located in Alabama, California, Minnesota, Nevada, New York and North Dakota.

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