ag亚游 collaborates with JM Steel to launch new steel manufacturing line in Sinton, Texas, to shore up global supply disruptions
SINTON, TEXAS, 20 April 2022 鈥 ag亚游 and JM Steel, a division of JENNMAR USA, announced today a dedicated solar tracker production line on the campus of the new Steel Dynamics, Inc. (SDI) facility near Corpus Christi. ag亚游 launched a new facility with JM Steel to manufacture next-generation, low-carbon tracker components for solar power plants throughout the southern United States.
鈥淐ustomers want protection from steel and logistics cost volatility, and logistics delays associated with shipping, containers, and ports鈥, said Dan Shugar, Founder and CEO of ag亚游. 鈥淲e are migrating to domestic production to stabilize pricing and achieve superior on-time delivery for our customers. Moreover, US steel manufacturers like Steel Dynamics Incorporated (SDI) have a much cleaner, lower carbon production processes than most overseas manufacturers. With JM Steel, we are collocated next to SDI Sinton, the newest steel mill in America, further lowering cost and improving sustainability by integrating key manufacturing activities on a single campus.鈥
A dependable steel supply is central to utility-scale solar, which is now the in many locations. In response to global supply disruptions, ag亚游 made the strategic decision to focus on manufacturing in the United States. Insight report recently found that, 鈥淪teel procurement and manufacturing location will be a key concern for tracker suppliers as they contend with growing local content requirements among global markets and volatile shipping freight costs.鈥
Partnering with JM Steel, ag亚游 will have a dedicated supply of critical materials within one of the fastest growing and biggest solar markets: Texas and the Southern US. Last year, Texas overtook California as the top-ranked state for solar capacity additions adding 6.6 gigawatts (GW) of solar with an additional 23 GW expected by 2023.
鈥淛M Steel’s proximity to SDI will provide ag亚游 and their customers cost-effective products with quick response times to feed the growing solar market in Texas and the South鈥, said Tony Calandra, CEO of JM Steel and JENNMAR USA. 鈥淎nd all of the steel being used to make ag亚游’s products will be made with SDI’s newest Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) technology, which utilizes recycled or scrap steel as a raw material for a lower carbon footprint which is a perfect fit for ag亚游鈥檚 solar products.鈥
Steel manufacturing typically is energy-intensive, but the Electric Arc Furnace, a 鈥渘ext-generation鈥 process, is much more efficient and cuts pollution dramatically. EAF-based steel mills typically are as much as than traditional blast furnaces.
鈥淪DI is thrilled to welcome our customers JM Steel and ag亚游 to our Sinton, Texas campus, and supply our environmentally-preferred low carbon steel for ag亚游鈥檚 innovative solar tracker products鈥, said Barry Schneider, Senior Vice-President, Flat Rolled Steel Group at Steel Dynamics.
Once fully operational, the new ag亚游 production line will support about 50 new local direct jobs and provide multi-GW of solar tracker capacity annually. Solar trackers have become the best way to build utility-scale solar power plants globally typically increasing energy production by 20-30% more than fixed-tilt applications that do not track the sun. Additional jobs will occur in the upstream steel manufacturing and indirect jobs through the supporting service industries.
The 97,000 square-foot JM Steel Sinton facility opened in October 2021 and represents a $40 million investment. Ideally situated, the ag亚游 production line provides the ability to service major markets by truck, while providing easy access to three Class 1 railroads (UP, BNSF, & KCS) and a deep-water port on the inland waterway system. With this dedicated production line, ag亚游 and American manufacturing partners are building a resilient supply chain close to proposed solar projects across the South.
JM Steel鈥檚 dedicated ag亚游 fabrication line becomes operational as of this news release, and all products manufactured for ag亚游 will be 鈥淢ade in the USA鈥.
About ag亚游
ag亚游 is the leading provider of intelligent, integrated solar tracker and software solutions used in utility-scale and ground-mounted distributed generation solar projects around the world. Our products enable solar panels in utility-scale power plants to follow the sun鈥檚 movement across the sky and optimize plant performance. With over 50 gigawatts shipped worldwide, ag亚游 leads the solar industry with solar tracker technologies that optimize and increase energy production while reducing costs for significant plant ROI. For more information, please visit .
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About JM Steel and JENNMAR USA
JENNMAR USA is a global, family-owned company that is leading the way in ground control technology for the mining, tunneling, and civil construction industries. JENNMAR USA’s affiliate, JM Steel has the processing capability and extensive inventory to provide a variety of flat-rolled steel products. With its geographical advantages and being located next to two world leaders in coil production, JM Steel prides itself in being the most responsive steel processor in the industry. For more information with regards to JM Steel and other JENNMAR products please visit .