BLACKSBURG, S.C. — USA Uncommon Earth, Inc. (Nasdaq: USAR) (“USA Uncommon Earth,” “USAR” or the “Firm”), a uncommon earth, vital minerals and superior supplies firm, this week broke floor on its new uncommon earth metallic and magnet manufacturing facility in Blacksburg, South Carolina, marking a significant step within the Firm’s effort to construct a safe, built-in uncommon earth provide chain for the US and its allies.
Situated on a 124-acre web site in Bailey Industrial Park in Cherokee County, the roughly 800,000-square-foot facility represents an roughly $1.2 billion funding and is anticipated to create roughly 490 high-skill, high-wage manufacturing jobs in South Carolina’s Upstate. As soon as on-line, the power is focusing on manufacturing capability of 6,400 metric tons every year (tpa) of sintered neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) everlasting magnets and 5,000 tpa of strip-cast metallic and alloy, with commissioning focused to start in 2028.
“Breaking floor in Blacksburg is a vital second as a result of it strikes our imaginative and prescient from plans on paper to infrastructure taking form,” stated Barbara Humpton, Chief Government Officer of USA Uncommon Earth. “We’re constructing the capabilities America must make vital uncommon earth supplies and magnets at dwelling, whereas making a long-term funding within the folks and communities that can assist us do it. We’re proud that the following chapter of USA Uncommon Earth’s development is being constructed right here in South Carolina.”
Investing in South Carolina and the Upstate
USA Uncommon Earth chosen Blacksburg following a complete analysis of practically 275 potential websites throughout the nation. South Carolina stood out for its expert superior manufacturing workforce, dependable energy, transportation infrastructure, proximity to prospects and suppliers, and robust assist from state and native companions. Situated alongside the Interstate 85 hall, the operation will add to a sophisticated manufacturing ecosystem that has made the Upstate an essential middle of American industrial manufacturing.
As a part of its broader dedication to Cherokee County and the area’s rising manufacturing economic system, USA Uncommon Earth at the moment additionally introduced a $250,000 contribution to Spartanburg Group Faculty to assist its new SPARK Middle in Cherokee County. The brand new middle will join schooling, workforce improvement and financial improvement, offering assets to assist companies finding, launching and rising within the county whereas serving to strengthen the native expertise pipeline and broader enterprise ecosystem.
“This Blacksburg group has the infrastructure, expertise and manufacturing heritage to assist what we’re constructing, however simply as essential has been the dedication we’ve seen from folks throughout Blacksburg, Cherokee County and South Carolina,” stated David Bushi, Senior Vice President of Manufacturing at USA Uncommon Earth. “We intend to construct one thing right here that creates alternative domestically and strengthens American manufacturing for many years to come back.”
“South Carolina’s biggest energy has at all times been our folks and their capability to construct issues the world is dependent upon,” stated South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster. “USA Uncommon Earth’s resolution to place down roots in Blacksburg is one other super vote of confidence in our workforce and within the manufacturing way forward for our state. In the present day, we have a good time the beginning of a undertaking that can create new alternatives for households throughout Cherokee County and the Upstate whereas serving to America rebuild a vital trade right here at dwelling.”
Constructing a Safe, Built-in Uncommon Earth Provide Chain
The groundbreaking additionally marks an essential milestone in USA Uncommon Earth’s broader technique to construct and develop a safe, globally built-in uncommon earth worth chain that reduces reliance on concentrated sources of provide. Uncommon earth metals and everlasting magnets are important inputs throughout protection, aerospace, semiconductor manufacturing, bodily AI, mobility, vitality, healthcare and different superior industries. But the US stays closely depending on international sources for a lot of of those vital supplies and manufacturing capabilities, with China dominating vital parts of the worldwide uncommon earth provide chain.
USA Uncommon Earth is working to vary that by constructing capabilities throughout the complete worth chain — from mining and processing to separation, metal- and alloy-making and everlasting magnet manufacturing.
The Blacksburg facility will complement USA Uncommon Earth’s current magnet manufacturing operation in Stillwater, Oklahoma, the place the Firm commissioned its first industrial manufacturing line earlier this yr. Collectively, Blacksburg and the deliberate enlargement at Stillwater are anticipated to supply USA Uncommon Earth with 10,000 tpa of home NdFeB magnet manufacturing capability. The Firm can be investing in and increasing capabilities throughout its broader international platform, supporting native manufacturing and financial improvement whereas connecting vital uncommon earth assets with superior manufacturing markets globally.
“A safe uncommon earth provide chain isn’t constructed with a single mine or a single manufacturing unit. It requires rebuilding each hyperlink,” stated Gregory Bowman, Chief International Coverage Officer of USA Uncommon Earth. “Blacksburg provides vital manufacturing capability to that broader platform and brings the US nearer to producing extra of the supplies and magnets our industries depend upon exterior of Chinese language management. What begins with a groundbreaking right here in South Carolina finally strengthens America’s industrial and nationwide safety.”
Partnership Turning Imaginative and prescient Into Actuality
USA Uncommon Earth is working with a group of building, improvement, engineering and expertise companions to convey the Blacksburg facility on-line.
Clark Development Group and Frampton Development are serving as design-builder by the Clark/Frampton three way partnership, with Trammell Crow Firm serving as developer. McMillan Pazdan Smith is serving as undertaking architect in collaboration with Bennett & Pless, Thomas & Hutton and Salas O’Brien. Chang Robotics is bringing experience in superior manufacturing, automation and robotics.
“Massive-scale manufacturing investments succeed when ambition is matched by disciplined execution,” stated Spencer Middleton, vp with Clark Development. “Our focus is on translating the importance of this undertaking right into a building effort that’s equally rigorous, bringing the suitable folks, assets, and planning collectively to ship for USA Uncommon Earth and South Carolina.”
“Tasks of this scale demand a unique degree of alignment from the beginning,” stated Dave Florence, chief technique officer at Frampton Development. “The selections made early, the belief established throughout the group, and the flexibility to unravel issues collectively all form what occurs within the area. We’re proud to assist ship an funding that can develop superior manufacturing in South Carolina and strengthen home manufacturing for years to come back.”
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