As part of its ongoing modernization efforts, Southwire announced an expansion at its campus in Florence, Alabama, that is designed to increase production capacity at the plant it acquired from Essex in 2006.

A press release said that the existing 300,000-sq-ft plant, which produces commercial and residential building wire, will more than double in size. The expansion plans call for some 340,000 sq feet of added space for new equipment and the creation of approximately 120 jobs. Construction is expected to begin this quarter and should be completed in 2025.
The investments and upgrades will effectively streamline Southwire’s commercial and residential building wire efforts, complement existing products and emphasize the facility’s culture and labor pool. The project will also include renovating the existing building to enhance the team member experience, including locker rooms, training space and an outdoor picnic and activity area.

“Southwire is committed to remain generationally sustainable for the next 100 years and beyond and be an employer of choice, and we look forward to the growth opportunities that this expansion will bring to our company,” said Norman Adkins, president of wire and cable and COO.

“At Southwire, we’re making a multi-year investment of more than a billion dollars to integrate newer and better equipment, systems and technology into our operations to increase efficiency, enhance competitiveness and ensure the operational capability and capacity to support our strategic growth,” said Rich Stinson, Southwire’s president and CEO. “The Florence expansion is a testament to those efforts.”