Economy
MSS Tubes, Nextracker Commission Tennessee Plant
May 18, 2023
Solar tracker maker Nextracker and MSS Steel Tubes USA announced the commissioning of a new factory in Tennessee on Wednesday to make low-carbon steel components for Nextracker’s solar tracking systems.
Nextracker said the Memphis facility will manufacture Nextracker steel torque tubes, create 129 jobs, and generate millions of dollars in local economic investment.
In February, MSS Steel Tubes said it was investing $6 million to open its first US steel tubes production plant in Memphis.
“We chose Memphis for our first US plant to support Nextracker’s utility-scale solar demand across the Southeast,” António Pedro Antunes, CEO of Metalogalva Group, said in a statement.
MSS Steel Tubes USA is joint venture of Portuguese industrial company Metalogalva and Brazilian steelmaker Soufer.
Antunes noted that Memphis has the transportation, infrastructure, and workforce necessary to support a solar manufacturing program of this nature.
Nextracker said the dedicated tube mill will feed projects in Kentucky, South Carolina, Virginia, Mississippi, and Georgia.
MSS Steel Tubes and Nextracker held a ceremony on May 18 to dedicate the steel tube line in partnership with solar energy company Silicon Ranch based in Nashville, Tenn.
By Ethan Bernard, ethan@steelmarketupdate.com
Latest in Economy
ISM September survey captures deepening manufacturing gloom
The Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) latest monthly report on manufacturing reflects a bleak view of American industry in September.
Key industries concerned over government shutdown’s impact on steel, manufacturing
Trade groups cautioned that a prolonged shutdown could strain US industry.
Chicago Business Barometer catches cold winds of contraction in September
The Chicago Business Barometer's September reading indicates a softening in overall business activity in the Midwest for the third consecutive month, with new orders and backlogs retreating further.
Metalforming market sentiment takes a dive in September: PMA
Metalforming manufacturers anticipate a decrease in near-term conditions, according to the Precision Metalforming Association's (PMA) Business Conditions Report for September.
AIA: Architecture firms still under pressure
Architecture firms reported a modest improvement in billings through August, yet business conditions remained soft, according to the latest Architecture Billings Index (ABI) release from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and Deltek.