Manufacturers Take Unlawful EPA Air Standard Fight to Supreme Court

New NAM Analysis Finds Rule Threatens Nearly $1 Trillion in Manufacturing Investment and More Than 122,000 American Jobs

Washington, D.C. – Today, the National Association of Manufacturers joined a coalition of leading business groups in filing a petition for certiorari asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review and reverse the D.C. Circuit’s decision allowing the Environmental Protection Agency’s unlawful and unworkable air quality standard for fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, to stand.

“The Biden administration took an unlawful regulatory shortcut to impose an unworkable air standard that makes it harder to grow manufacturing in America and create well-paying jobs,” said NAM Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary Linda Kelly. “Manufacturers have fought this rule from the beginning because the consequences for investment, growth and American competitiveness are enormous: investment, jobs and America’s ability to compete.

“In 2025, the EPA under the Trump administration agreed, asking the court to vacate the new PM2.5 standard and echoing manufacturers’ concerns that the previous administration had exceeded its authority.

“Yet, the D.C. Circuit allowed the rule to stand, relying on a legal argument the previous administration never invoked to defend its actions. An agency cannot simply disregard the substantive safeguards required by Congress to impose a sweeping new regulatory burden—and a court should not rescue an unlawful rule with an argument the government never raised.

“Manufacturers need the ability to obtain permits, expand operations, modernize facilities and invest in communities across the country. This standard puts those investments and the jobs they support at risk.”

In 2024, the EPA lowered the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for PM2.5 from 12 micrograms per cubic meter to 9. According to new NAM analysis, a standard of 9 threatens at least 474 manufacturing projects announced in the United States since Jan. 1, 2025—representing nearly $1 trillion in investment and more than 122,000 American jobs.

Background:

The Clean Air Act requires the EPA to conduct a thorough review of the NAAQS every five years to determine whether existing standards should be retained or revised. Following a complete review in 2020, the EPA retained the PM2.5 standard of 12 micrograms per cubic meter.

The previous administration subsequently reopened that completed review and in 2024 lowered the standard to 9 micrograms per cubic meter. The NAM and seven leading business groups challenged the rule in the D.C. Circuit, arguing that the EPA lacked authority to revise the standard through an off-cycle reconsideration without conducting the thorough review required by the Clean Air Act.

In November 2025, the EPA reversed the federal government’s position in the litigation and asked the D.C. Circuit to vacate the rule, agreeing with the NAM that the previous administration had used an unlawful regulatory shortcut.

On June 26, 2026, the D.C. Circuit nevertheless upheld the rule, concluding that the EPA could revise the standards outside the five-year review cycle without completing a thorough review. In reaching that conclusion, the court relied on a provision of the Clean Air Act that the previous administration had not invoked in defending the rule.

-NAM-

The National Association of Manufacturers is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs nearly 13 million men and women, contributes $3 trillion to the U.S. economy annually and accounts for nearly 52% of private-sector research and development. The NAM is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the NAM or to follow us on Twitter and Facebook, please visit www.nam.org.

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Supreme Group establishes first U.S. manufacturing facility to strengthen nonwoven materials business

By K. Gopalakrishnan

$25.8 Million Investment in North Carolina to Drive Innovation, Application Development and Customer Collaboration

Supreme Group, one of India’s leading manufacturers of advanced nonwoven materials and engineered textile solutions, has announced a major strategic investment in the United States through its subsidiary, Supreme Nonwoven Inc. The company will invest approximately US$25.8 million to establish its first manufacturing facility in the U.S., marking a significant milestone in its global expansion journey.

Located in Lexington, North Carolina, the new facility will serve as an integrated hub for application engineering, product development, technical collaboration, and manufacturing, enabling the company to strengthen its presence in North America and work more closely with customers across a wide range of industrial and automotive applications.

Amit Kavrie, Managing Director, Supreme Group

The investment underscores Supreme Group’s long-term commitment to the U.S. market and reflects its strategy of bringing advanced material technologies closer to customers while enhancing responsiveness, innovation, and localized manufacturing capabilities.

Building a Stronger Presence in High-Performance Nonwovens

Over nearly four decades, Supreme Group has established a strong reputation in the development and manufacture of advanced nonwoven materials serving diverse sectors including automotive, apparel, filtration, and industrial applications. The company has built a broad technology platform that enables it to transform specialized materials into value-added solutions tailored to customer requirements.

The new manufacturing facility, spanning more than 200,000 square feet, will significantly enhance the company’s ability to collaborate with customers in North America on customized material solutions. By integrating product development, application engineering, and manufacturing under one roof, Supreme aims to accelerate innovation cycles and improve speed-to-market for new products.

According to the company, the facility will play a critical role in strengthening its ability to develop, test, and refine materials closer to their end-use environments.

“Our decision to establish this facility in North Carolina reflects a long-term commitment to serving the U.S. market with locally manufactured nonwoven materials,” said Amit Kavrie, Managing Director, Supreme Group. “We see this as an important step in bringing our material technologies and development capabilities closer to customers in the region while building a foundation for long-term growth.”

Focus on Application Development and Customer-Centric Innovation

A distinguishing feature of the investment is its emphasis on technical collaboration and application-focused innovation. Rather than serving solely as a production facility, the site is being designed as a center where customers and partners can work closely with Supreme’s technical teams to develop customized material solutions for evolving market requirements.

The company believes that proximity to customers will enable a deeper understanding of application challenges while supporting more efficient product trials, validation processes, and commercialization efforts.

In its announcement, Supreme noted that the facility will focus on enhancing performance, consistency, and application relevance across its product portfolio. The local presence is expected to improve alignment with customer requirements and ensure more consistent execution across projects.

“Over time, it will strengthen our ability to develop and trial materials closer to their end use, with a focus on performance, consistency and application relevance,” the company stated.

The investment also reflects Supreme’s intention to establish a stable and scalable manufacturing platform that can evolve in line with future market demand.

Supporting Automotive and Industrial Growth Opportunities

The new U.S. facility is expected to play a key role in serving high-growth sectors such as automotive and industrial manufacturing, where demand for advanced nonwoven materials continues to increase.

As automotive manufacturers seek lighter, more sustainable, and performance-driven material solutions, nonwovens are becoming increasingly important across interior applications, acoustic systems, filtration, insulation, and engineered components. Similarly, industrial markets continue to require specialized nonwoven solutions that combine durability, functionality, and cost efficiency.

By locating closer to major customer bases, Supreme aims to strengthen technical support, improve responsiveness, and create stronger partnerships with OEMs, Tier suppliers, and industrial manufacturers throughout North America.

“Lexington offers us a strong base from which to support customers with responsiveness, technical collaboration, and reliable execution,” said Manoj Swain, Director of International Operations, Supreme Group. “As we build this operation, our focus will be on creating the right competencies locally while also drawing on the broader capabilities of the Group to serve regional customer requirements over time.”

A Strategic Step in Global Expansion

The establishment of the company’s first U.S. manufacturing presence represents far more than a capacity expansion. It reflects Supreme Group’s broader vision of building a globally integrated nonwovens business supported by localized manufacturing, customer collaboration, and innovation-driven growth.

By combining its extensive materials expertise with a strong local presence, the company is positioning itself to serve the evolving needs of North American customers more effectively while strengthening its role in the global nonwovens industry.

As demand for advanced materials continues to grow across automotive, industrial, filtration, and technical textile applications, Supreme Group’s latest investment marks an important step in expanding its international footprint and reinforcing its commitment to delivering high-performance, customer-focused nonwoven solutions worldwide.

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Supreme Nonwoven opens first US manufacturing plant in North Carolina

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein has announced that Supreme Nonwoven Inc, a manufacturer of advanced nonwoven materials and products, will establish its first manufacturing facility in the United States in Lexington. The project is expected to create 50 new jobs in Davidson County and involve an investment of $25.8 million.

The company, which has built a strong reputation over the past four decades, serves customers across the apparel, automotive, filtration, and industrial sectors through its broad portfolio of material technologies and value-added solutions.

Supreme Nonwoven Inc will invest $25.8 million to establish its first US manufacturing facility in Lexington, North Carolina, creating 50 jobs.
The 200,000-square-foot plant will serve apparel, automotive, filtration, and industrial customers across North America, while strengthening technical collaboration and supporting the company’s regional growth strategy.

Stein said, “Our state is a premier destination for textile innovation. Our history in this industry is enhanced by a skilled workforce that is ready to support global companies seeking to establish and expand their presence in the US.”

The new facility, spanning more than 200,000 square feet, will function as a centre for technical collaboration, allowing the company to work more closely with North American customers and partners on customised material solutions. The site is expected to enhance responsiveness, support tailored applications, and provide access to the latest developments in nonwoven technologies.

Amit Kavrie, managing director of Supreme Group said, “We see this as an important step in bringing our material technologies and development capabilities closer to customers in the region while building a foundation for long-term growth.”

“Lexington offers us a strong base from which to support customers with responsiveness, technical collaboration, and reliable execution,” said Manoj Swain, director of international operations of Supreme Group adding, “As we build this operation, our focus will be on creating the right competencies locally while also drawing on the broader capabilities of the Group to serve regional customer requirements over time.”

The new positions will offer an average annual salary of $55,800, above Davidson County’s average wage of $54,395. The project is expected to generate an annual payroll impact of approximately $2.79 million for the local economy.

To support the investment, the company has been awarded a performance-based grant of $100,000 from the One North Carolina Fund.

North Carolina Senator Steve Jarvis said, “Investments like this create good jobs, strengthen our local economy, and demonstrate confidence in the business-friendly climate we have worked hard to build across North Carolina. I look forward to the positive impact this project will have on our community and families for years to come.”

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (CG)

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Supreme Nonwoven opens first US manufacturing plant in North Carolina

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein has announced that Supreme Nonwoven Inc, a manufacturer of advanced nonwoven materials and products, will establish its first manufacturing facility in the United States in Lexington. The project is expected to create 50 new jobs in Davidson County and involve an investment of $25.8 million.

The company, which has built a strong reputation over the past four decades, serves customers across the apparel, automotive, filtration, and industrial sectors through its broad portfolio of material technologies and value-added solutions.

Supreme Nonwoven Inc will invest $25.8 million to establish its first US manufacturing facility in Lexington, North Carolina, creating 50 jobs.
The 200,000-square-foot plant will serve apparel, automotive, filtration, and industrial customers across North America, while strengthening technical collaboration and supporting the company’s regional growth strategy.

Stein said, “Our state is a premier destination for textile innovation. Our history in this industry is enhanced by a skilled workforce that is ready to support global companies seeking to establish and expand their presence in the US.”

The new facility, spanning more than 200,000 square feet, will function as a centre for technical collaboration, allowing the company to work more closely with North American customers and partners on customised material solutions. The site is expected to enhance responsiveness, support tailored applications, and provide access to the latest developments in nonwoven technologies.

Amit Kavrie, managing director of Supreme Group said, “We see this as an important step in bringing our material technologies and development capabilities closer to customers in the region while building a foundation for long-term growth.”

“Lexington offers us a strong base from which to support customers with responsiveness, technical collaboration, and reliable execution,” said Manoj Swain, director of international operations of Supreme Group adding, “As we build this operation, our focus will be on creating the right competencies locally while also drawing on the broader capabilities of the Group to serve regional customer requirements over time.”

The new positions will offer an average annual salary of $55,800, above Davidson County’s average wage of $54,395. The project is expected to generate an annual payroll impact of approximately $2.79 million for the local economy.

To support the investment, the company has been awarded a performance-based grant of $100,000 from the One North Carolina Fund.

North Carolina Senator Steve Jarvis said, “Investments like this create good jobs, strengthen our local economy, and demonstrate confidence in the business-friendly climate we have worked hard to build across North Carolina. I look forward to the positive impact this project will have on our community and families for years to come.”

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (CG)

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ZS2 Expands U.S. Manufacturing Through Supreme Insulated Panel Systems Integration

Strategic manufacturing expansion will strengthen material availability for high-performance construction projects across the U.S.

ZS2 TechPanel® integrates magnesium cement sheathing and insulation into a high-performance panelized system manufactured for climate resilience. Increased U.S. production capacity supports growing demand across North American construction markets. (CNW Group/ZS2 Technologies Ltd.)

CALGARY — ZS2 is expanding its North American manufacturing footprint into the United States through the integration of manufacturing assets from Supreme Insulated Panel Systems LLC, based in Mobile, Alabama. This expansion increases available production capacity for magnesium cement panelized building systems to support growing demand across U.S. and Caribbean construction markets.

Per a Feb. 12 press release, as demand continues to reportedly grow for materials that improve fire performance, durability, and long-term building resilience, expanding manufacturing capacity to meet increasing demand in key Southern and Eastern United States markets helps accelerate adoption of these systems while strengthening domestic access to advanced construction materials.

“Demand for higher-performance building materials is accelerating across North America as the industry responds to climate risk, insurance pressure, and evolving building performance expectations,” said Scott Jenkins, CEO, ZS2 Technologies. “Expanding manufacturing capacity into the United States strengthens the industry’s ability to access advanced building systems at scale and supports long-term material innovation across the built environment.”

Per the press release, Supreme Insulated Panel Systems has served residential and commercial construction markets with energy-efficient insulated panel systems. Their manufacturing background is being combined with ZS2’s magnesium cement technology to try and support broader adoption of higher-performance building envelope systems across U.S. construction markets.

Production capabilities at the Mobile facility are being phased in alongside standard third-party certification and facility qualification processes, with additional listed production capabilities expected to come online as certification pathways are completed later this year.

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