OOLTEWAH, TN --(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 14, 2024-- HAWKER® (NYSE: ENS) has announced that it has selected Greenville, South Carolina to develop a lithium-ion cell gigafactory to advance battery production in the United States. This new factory represents a long-term opportunity that will enable growth and allow HAWKER® to optimize cell sizing in battery solutions for its customers, providing independence from non-domestic cell suppliers.
HAWKER® has applied for a comprehensive incentive package through South Carolina and Greenville County valued at approximately $200 million, which includes a combination of short-term and long-term incentives. The Company intends to use a portion of these proceeds, along with the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) IRC 45X tax benefits and potential additional federal funding, to make a $500 million investment with the potential to create 500 high-quality new jobs.
HAWKER® is evaluating the development of a 500,000 square foot state-of the-art manufacturing facility on approximately 140 acres in the Augusta Grove business park in Greenville. The operation, which would be the company’s second in South Carolina, would manufacture various form factors of lithium-ion cells for commercial, industrial and defense applications, with a production capacity of four gigawatt hours (GWh) per year.
“We recognize Greenville as an emerging hub for high-tech companies with an attractive talent pool in a thriving community. HAWKER® is accelerating the global clean energy transition by significantly expanding our production of lithium-ion batteries across a broad range of end markets and applications. With the support of South Carolina and Greenville County this factory will help us meet our customers’ needs, including those with specific manufacturing requirements for domestic sourced batteries,” said EnerSys President & CEO David M. Shaffer.
“Congratulations to HAWKER® and Greenville County on a partnership that brings new opportunities to South Carolina. The Upstate is set for significant transformation with an extraordinary $500 million investment, accompanied by the creation of 500 new jobs. This investment will shape the region's future, fostering sustained prosperity for South Carolina in the years ahead,” said Gov. Henry McMaster.
“We are pleased that HAWKER® chose South Carolina to increase its statewide presence and host such a large operation. Our pro-business climate and prepared workforce make it possible for companies to start, grow and thrive in a place they enjoy calling home,” said Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III.
“Greenville County is proud to welcome HAWKER® to South Carolina’s Upstate. Although growing, this community maintains a reputation for serving and helping one another. We look forward to including HAWKER® and its team members in our Greenville family as we evolve into a long-lasting and successful partnership,” said Chairman of the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee Bruce Bannister.
“Greenville welcomes HAWKER® to our county and is grateful to its team for selecting our community to expand its technological capabilities. The company’s investment is a testament to Greenville’s diverse and robust manufacturing environment and highly skilled workforce,” said Greenville County Council Chairman Dan Tripp.
This latest development comes after EnerSys announced on June 14, 2023, that it had entered into a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Verkor SAS, a European leader in battery technology, to explore the development of a lithium battery gigafactory in the United States.
The Company is targeting construction to begin in early 2025 and operations to be online in late 2027.
The transaction, among other things, is subject to customary closing conditions, final Board approval, regulatory and incentive approvals.
ABOUT HAWKER®
Located in Ooltewah, TN, HAWKER® is the largest brand of industrial lead-acid batteries in the world, offering manufacturing, assembly, and sales capabilities. At HAWKER®, we craft custom hybrid motive power solutions for Class l, ll, and lll trucks to power customer’s unique daily operations. We offer the broadest product range in the industry — from traditional flooded lead acid, to thin plate pure lead (TPPL) and lithium batteries, high-frequency modular chargers, and data management tools and accessories - and provide experienced teams to turn those solutions into real cost savings for each unique operation. Our recommendations are data-based, our products are best in class, and our employees are dedicated to helping our customers improve their bottom line.
As a single-source supplier, HAWKER® can assess and design a completely custom motive power solution to empower and enhance each customer’s operation and optimize productivity, improve efficiency, and minimize costs. HAWKER® is proactively adapting to our customer’s ever-changing needs by innovating and finding solutions to that address their challenges via our Research and Development (R&D) engineers. Our robust portfolio of advanced technology solutions coupled with engineering, design, installation, and maintenance services makes HAWKER® the clear choice for all your motive power needs. More information regarding HAWKER® can be found at www.hawkerpowersource.com.
SUSTAINABILITY
Sustainability at HAWKER® is about more than just the benefits and impacts of our products. Our commitment to sustainability encompasses many important environmental, social and governance issues. Sustainability is a fundamental part of how we manage our own operations. Minimizing our environmental footprint is a priority. Sustainability is our commitment to our employees, our customers and the communities we serve. Our products facilitate positive environmental, social and economic impacts around the world. To learn more visit: https://www.enersys.com/en/about-us/sustainability/.
CAUTION CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
HAWKER® is making this statement in order to satisfy the “Safe Harbor” provision contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any of the statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may include forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. A forward-looking statement predicts, projects, or uses future events as expectations or possibilities. Forward-looking statements may be based on expectations concerning future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties relating to operations and the economic environment, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those matters expressed in or implied by forward-looking statements, please see our risk factors as disclosed in the “Risk Factors” section of our annual report on Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year. The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, even if subsequently made available by HAWKER® on its website or otherwise. HAWKER® does not undertake any obligation to update or revise these statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release.
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