Apple to Open New Manufacturing Plant in Arizona

Staying true to their word Apple is bringing work back to U.S. soil. On Monday it became known that Apple was purchasing a facility in Mesa, AZ. The new purchase is the currently vacant facility that formerly housed the First Solar Inc factory.

Thanks to a recent statement by GT Advanced Technologies Inc. we know that they will be supplying equipment for the new facility. The machines purchased from GT Advanced make materials from sapphires, which is commonly used in smart phones and iPads to make scratch resistant lenses.

This new Mesa based facility will employ about 700 people when it is in full operation. In the meantime, it is expected that modification and construction additions to the existing facility will create a significant amount of much needed jobs in construction, engineering and support related positions. According to Apple spokeswoman, Kristin Huguet “We are proud to expand our domestic manufacturing initiative with a new facility in Arizona, creating more than 2,000 jobs in engineering, manufacturing, and construction”

Apple states that the new plant will run on 100% renewable resources and will be running on it’s own solar power grid. Jan Brewer, Arizona’s governor, was thrilled to welcome Apple to her state, “Their investment in renewable energy will also be greening our power grid, and creating significant new solar and geothermal power sources for the state.”

This follows on the heels of the October announcement the Mac Pro will be assembled in the U.S. It looks like Tim Cook is keeping is word when he promised earlier in the year that they would bring manufacturing jobs back to the United States. It may just be a drop in the bucket, but it is a start. Perhaps other major companies will begin to follow suit.

What do you want Apple to bring to the U.S. next?

Originally posted 2013-11-05 23:44:01.