Atlas Copco Group has opened a factory expansion and a new vacuum-pump facility in New York and plans compressor assembly in South Carolina to broaden U.S. manufacturing.
The company described the three projects as part of Expansion Week US, a series of events held Oct. 26-29. Its Oct. 30 announcement said added U.S. capacity is meant to speed delivery, make supply more resilient and locate output nearer buyers.
At a new 200,000-square-foot site in Rock Hill, South Carolina, Atlas Copco Compressors plans to begin U.S. assembly of dedicated oil-free air compressor models from its flagship Z range. The Rock Hill site is set to take on compressor work alongside distribution and remanufacturing for several group businesses.
In Genesee County, New York, Edwards Vacuum, an Atlas Copco Group business, has opened a 250,000-square-foot plant to make advanced dry vacuum pumps for chip manufacturers. The facility runs on renewable hydroelectric power and is forecast to employ as many as 600 people, with the company linking it to domestic semiconductor supply-chain capacity.
At its 45-acre Voorheesville property, Atlas Copco Comptec has added 63,000 square feet of manufacturing space for large integrally geared centrifugal compressors and turboexpanders. Those machines serve liquefied natural gas, carbon capture, industrial gas, heat-pump and other applications, the company said. The expansion is expected to bring the site's workforce to about 340.
Aaron Prato, president of Atlas Copco North America Inc., said the projects are designed to put more output near buyers and make it easier for the company to respond to customer demand. He also connected the investment with stronger supply lines and continued industrial growth in the United States.
Across the country, Atlas Copco Group lists more than 160 locations, including 26 centers for production, remanufacturing and distribution. The company says it employs about 7,500 people in the United States.
