Prysmian is investing more than $1bn to expand its fibre optic manufacturing operation in Catawba County, North Carolina, creating 385 new jobs and more than doubling its US production capacity.
The expansion at the company’s 1.2 million-square-foot facility in Claremont will increase capacity across the fibre optic manufacturing process, including glass preform, fibre and cable production.
Prysmian currently employs around 680 people at the site. Once the expansion is complete, employment is expected to exceed 1,000, further strengthening North Carolina’s position as a hub for advanced manufacturing and digital infrastructure.
The investment was announced by North Carolina Governor Josh Stein, who said the project demonstrated the state’s ability to attract major manufacturing investment and skilled jobs.
“This billion-dollar investment is more proof that North Carolina is leading the way on innovation and job creation,” said Stein. “Companies understand the value of our highly skilled manufacturing workforce that helps to power their strategic growth.”
Expanding US fibre optic capacity
Milan-headquartered Prysmian operates in more than 50 countries and specialises in cabling and connectivity solutions. The company says it is one of only three US manufacturers producing fibre and optical cables.
The Claremont facility produces both the glass used within fibre optic cables and the finished cables themselves. The expansion will more than double Prysmian’s US fibre optic production capacity, while also increasing cable manufacturing capacity.
Andrea Pirondini, Prysmian North America CEO, said the investment reflected the company’s confidence in continued demand for advanced digital infrastructure in the US.
“This investment demonstrates our commitment to supporting the growth of the U.S. demand for advanced digital solutions,” he said. “We are one of just three U.S. manufacturers of fiber and optical cables, and now we are committing more than a billion dollars to new innovative solutions and transformational capacity growth.”
Manufacturing for the digital economy
The investment comes as demand for fibre optic infrastructure increases across North Carolina, driven by data centres, telecommunications companies and other industries requiring greater connectivity and data capacity.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in North Carolina’s fibre optic cable manufacturing sector has increased by 84% since 2015.
The Prysmian project is also the largest capital investment announced in Catawba County during the 11 years that the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) has tracked project data.
Melissa Smith, senior vice president of Business Recruitment & Development at the EDPNC, said the investment highlighted the importance of advanced manufacturing to the state’s future economy.
“Prysmian’s continued investment in Catawba County is a strong testament to the company’s confidence in North Carolina’s workforce and business environment,” she said.
“Fiber optic technology is critical to the economy of tomorrow, and we’re proud to support an expansion that will strengthen advanced manufacturing in Claremont and across North Carolina.”
The expansion will add significant manufacturing capacity to a supply chain that is becoming increasingly important as the US invests in data centres, telecommunications infrastructure and the wider digital economy.
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