$500M Multistate Investment Expands Critical Grid Electronics Manufacturing

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories is investing more than $500 million to expand its US manufacturing footprint, adding facilities and production capacity across four states. The projects, scheduled from 2026 through 2028, aim to meet growing demand for equipment used to monitor, control, and protect critical infrastructure.

Six Projects Target Production Growth

The expansion includes new electronic device manufacturing facilities in Moscow, Nampa, and Post Falls, Idaho, as well as a new manufacturing operation in Pullman, Washington. SEL is also expanding circuit board assembly in West Lafayette, Indiana, and adding panel assembly space in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The Idaho projects include investments of more than $70 million in a 305,000-square-foot facility in Moscow and $150 million each in facilities in Nampa and Post Falls. The Moscow site is expected to open by the end of 2027, while the other two locations are scheduled to begin operations in early and late 2027, respectively.

Equipment Upgrades Boost Output

Beyond facility development, SEL plans to invest more than $100 million in manufacturing equipment. The upgrades, combined with additional production shifts and more than 600 assembler positions in Pullman and Lewiston, Idaho, are expected to increase electronic device output by 40% to 60%.

In Indiana, a $25 million investment will expand board assembly capacity by more than 35%. Meanwhile, the $15 million Charlotte project will add more than 50,000 square feet of custom panel assembly space.

Expanding Domestic Supply Capacity

The multistate expansion will increase US production of electronic devices, circuit boards, and custom control panels used in critical infrastructure applications. SEL’s products support electric power systems, where equipment reliability and operational security are important considerations for utilities and industrial operators.

The projects are expected to strengthen its domestic production network while supporting customers in the United States and international markets.

Image credit: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories

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Enphase Energy Expands U.S. Manufacturing for Solar, Battery and AI Data Center Power Electronics

Enphase Energy has reaffirmed its commitment to designing and manufacturing critical power electronics in the United States, expanding domestic production across residential and commercial solar, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and next-generation power infrastructure for artificial intelligence (AI) data centers.

The company said it currently manufactures its IQ® Microinverters and IQ® Batteries at facilities in South Carolina and Texas, and plans to manufacture its upcoming IQ® Solid-State Transformer (IQ® SST) platform for AI data centers in the United States.

According to Enphase, the move supports U.S. energy security, strengthens domestic supply chains, and addresses the increasing importance of secure power electronics as electricity demand rises from electrification and the rapid growth of AI data centers.

The company noted that its U.S.-manufactured IQ Microinverters and IQ Batteries, identified with a “DOM” suffix, can help eligible solar and storage projects meet domestic sourcing requirements and qualify for U.S. domestic content tax incentives. Select products also comply with Buy American Act and Build America, Buy America requirements, while certain products may qualify as Foreign Entity of Concern (FEOC)-compliant for rooftop solar and distributed battery energy storage applications.

Enphase also plans to manufacture the power electronics for its forthcoming IQ® Bidirectional EV Charger in the United States, further expanding its domestic clean energy product portfolio.

The company’s upcoming IQ SST platform is designed for AI data centers and other high-power applications. Based on gallium nitride (GaN) technology, the platform will convert medium-voltage alternating current (AC) directly into 800 V direct current (DC) required by modern AI computing infrastructure through a modular architecture featuring distributed control, software intelligence, and built-in redundancy.

Enphase estimates that a 1 GW AI data center would require approximately 250,000 IQ SST power modules, excluding redundancy, while 10 GW of deployments could require around 2.5 million modules, highlighting the significant scale of future demand.

The company said its manufacturing experience provides a strong foundation for scaling the platform, having shipped approximately 89.4 million microinverters globally, including 5.5 million units manufactured in the United States during 2025.

While expanding U.S. manufacturing capabilities, Enphase emphasized that it remains committed to serving international markets, including Europe, Australia, India, and other regions, where it will continue developing products tailored to local grid requirements, regulations, and customer needs.

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Qblox to Begin Manufacturing Quantum Control Electronics in Massachusetts

Insider Brief

• Qblox announced that effective April 1st, it will manufacture quantum control electronics in the United States at a facility in Canton, Massachusetts, in partnership with Prodrive Technologies, and begin shipping products to customers from this location.
• The shift to U.S. manufacturing aims to reduce lead times, improve supply-chain security, and align with U.S. procurement, compliance, and funding requirements while supporting Department of Energy and National Lab research through open-architecture manufacturing.
• The Canton facility will support skilled technical roles across manufacturing, systems integration, logistics, and customer support, building on Qblox’s 2025 expansion into Boston and collaborations with universities, government, and industry partners.

PRESS RELEASE — Qblox, a leading provider of open-architecture quantum control electronics, today announced that effective April 1st, in partnership with Prodrive Technologies, products will be manufactured in the U.S. and will begin shipping to customers from its facility in Canton, MA. 

Building on the company’s 2025 expansion into Boston and its growing collaborations with universities, government, and industry partners, this milestone underscores Qblox’s commitment to strengthening the American quantum ecosystem across innovation, workforce development, and now manufacturing, while further cementing Massachusetts’ role as a hub for quantum innovation.

The shift to manufacturing quantum control systems in the U.S. brings meaningful advantages for customers, including reduced lead times, greater shipping efficiency, improved supply-chain security, and stronger alignment with U.S. procurement, compliance, and funding requirements. Advantages that will be integral for the U.S. to remain competitive in the global quantum industry as it moves closer to full-scale use. 

It also enhances Qblox’s ability to provide onshore support and service while advancing transparent, open-architecture manufacturing that supports the Department of Energy and National Lab research. 

The Canton facility will support skilled technical roles across manufacturing, systems integration, logistics, and customer support, contributing to the growth of a high-tech workforce aligned with the future needs of quantum infrastructure. As public and private investment in quantum technology accelerates nationwide, Qblox’s expansion in Massachusetts reinforces both its role as a trusted infrastructure partner to the American quantum ecosystem and the Commonwealth’s growing reputation as a place where emerging technologies can be developed, built, and deployed at scale.

“Massachusetts is proud to be a global hub for quantum innovation, and Qblox’s investment in manufacturing in Canton strengthens our leadership in the technologies that will define the future,” said Governor Maura Healey. “I want to congratulate the Qblox team on this milestone and am proud that they are growing in Massachusetts, where our world-class research institutions, talented workforce and innovation ecosystem make it the ideal place to build the technologies of tomorrow.”

“Massachusetts is where breakthrough technologies move from research to real-world deployment,” said Economic Development Secretary Eric Paley. “By establishing its U.S. manufacturing and fulfillment hub in Canton, Qblox is strengthening domestic supply chains while tapping into Massachusetts’ deep bench of scientific talent, world-class research institutions and advanced manufacturing capabilities.”

“Building and shipping our systems in the United States allows us to be closer to the researchers, engineers, and institutions driving quantum innovation forward,” said Niels Bultink, Co-founder and CEO of Qblox. “This expansion reflects our long-term investment in the U.S. quantum ecosystem and our belief that proximity matters operationally, strategically, and economically.”

“Advanced technologies like quantum control systems require precise manufacturing and trusted partnerships,” said Pieter Janssen, co-founder & CEO at Prodrive Technologies. “As two companies with roots in the Netherlands and growing operations in Massachusetts, Prodrive and Qblox are proud to work together to strengthen the quantum ecosystem and deliver the reliability, quality, and scalability required for the next generation of quantum innovation.”

“Quantum technology is strategic infrastructure,” said Gregg Carman, General Manager and Head of North America for Qblox. “By manufacturing and shipping from the U.S., we are not only optimizing logistics, but also aligning with the long-term goals of American research institutions and the broader innovation economy. We’re proud to be growing that presence in Massachusetts, which offers a uniquely strong foundation for innovation-driven manufacturing and collaboration.”

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