Industrial Manufacturing Lifts Alabama to $11 Billion in Projects Under Construction

Click on the image at right for a graph showing active projects in Alabama under construction by industry.

The automotive sector paces the industrial spending, and one such project accounts for Alabama's highest total investment value. Mazda Toyota Manufacturing (MTM) -- a joint venture between Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE:TM) (Aichi, Japan) and Mazda Motor Corporation (Fuchu, Japan) -- expects to complete an estimated $1.6 billion vehicle assembly plant in Huntsville in late October. MTM broke ground in late 2018. Also underway is an $830 million equipment addition, which will allow for more cutting-edge manufacturing technologies.

The facility will feature a capacity of up to 300,000 vehicles per year -- evenly split between the two automakers -- including Toyota's new Corolla Cross model; production is expected to begin later this year. MTM expects the plant to employ up to 4,000 workers once production is in full operation in 2022. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Industrial Manufacturing Database can see the detailed projects reports on the Huntsville assembly plant and equipment addition.

"We're confident that the groundbreaking collaboration between Mazda and Toyota will drive growth not only for the companies but also for North Alabama for generations," said Greg Canfield, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce, in a press statement. By the end of 2021, the state's auto industry will assemble 15 different models, according to the department.

Meanwhile, Amazon.com Incorporated (NASDAQ:AMZN) is in the middle of building a $500 million grassroot fulfillment center in Huntsville, which will focus on large customer items such as patio furniture and outdoor equipment. The 1 million-square-foot facility will create more than 500 jobs. Completion is expected at the end of the year. "Amazon's presence in Alabama helps the state's economic development team advance its goal of recruiting high-caliber projects with technology-focused jobs," Canfield said. For more information, see Industrial Info's project report.

The Power Industry accounts for the second-highest spend in the state. PowerSouth Energy Cooperative Incorporated (Andalusia, Alabama) is at work on a $608 million overhaul of the Charles R. Lowman Energy Center in Leroy. The project will replace three coal-fired units with a gas-fired unit, and the facility is expected to generate 640 megawatts for Alabama and northwest Florida. Completion is planned for June 2023. Black & Veatch Incorporated (Overland Park, Kansas) is providing construction management services. For more information, see Industrial Info's detailed project report.

In the Metals & Minerals Industry, SSAB North American Division, a subsidiary of SSAB (Stockholm, Sweden) is awaiting completion next month of a $100 million steel mill expansion in Axis (Mobile). The expansion calls for three buildings, to increase the facility's production of high-strength steel, while increasing efficiency and reducing raw material costs. In 2017, the company relocated its U.S. headquarters from the Chicago area to Mobile. For more information, see Industrial Info's project report.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, six offices in North America and 12 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. Follow IIR on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn.