WB Alloys, a U.K.-based wire alloy manufacturer, has announced plans to establish its first U.S. production facility, marking a significant milestone in the company’s international expansion. The plant, located in Virginia, represents a $6.6 million investment and is expected to create 30 jobs.

A press release said that WB Alloys, founded in 1974, produces alloy wire for welding, designs weld monitoring systems, and develops equipment for additive manufacturing. The company currently operates seven facilities in the U.K. and one in the Middle East. The new Danville site will become its first in the U.S.

Company executives said that the move was designed to strengthen WB Alloys’ ability to serve the U.S. defense and advanced manufacturing sectors. The Virginia facility will primarily support the U.S. Navy and Department of Defense, which are expanding investment in domestic manufacturing capacity. “Opening our first U.S. facility is a strategic milestone,” said company spokesperson Richie Barker. “The market is growing quickly, and this positions us to serve American customers more efficiently while aligning with defense industry priorities.”

The company added that proximity to advanced manufacturing partners in Virginia—such as FasTech, Phillips Corporation and the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research—was a critical factor in its location decision. WB Alloys already supplies FasTech with alloy products for 3D printing and machining, giving it a built-in customer and partner base in the U.S.

By localizing production, WB Alloys expects to reduce lead times and improve responsiveness to its American clients, particularly as defense supply chains move toward more resilient, domestic sourcing. Almost all of the 30 new roles will be filled by U.S. workers, with the potential to expand operations if demand grows.

A newly launched Uzbek-Tajik joint venture in Uzbekistan’s Fergana region demonstrates how emerging markets are transforming global supply chains and international investment—a development of increasing significance for U.S. industries and policymakers. With the U.S. elevating trade and investment in Central Asia, projects like this offer new sources of critical industrial materials while deepening economic ties across borders.

The new facility, named Osiyo Kabellari, is being established by Uzbek businesswoman Fatima Imomova and Tajik investor Shukhradzhan Ashurmatov as an entirely private greenfield venture. The plant, located in the Dangara district on a one-hectare site, is financed exclusively through $10 million in direct foreign investment, without public sector ownership or funding. Osiyo Kabellari is a purpose-built company formed specifically for this initiative, reflecting the region’s shift towards private-sector-led, cross-border industrial cooperation.

Set to begin operations by year’s end, the plant will boast an annual output capacity of 15,000 tons of copper wire and 1,700 tons of aluminum wire—products critical for infrastructure, energy, and manufacturing supply chains. Alongside production, the project is forecast to generate about 100 permanent jobs. Exports will be an important part of Osiyo Kabellari’s model, with the plant aiming to send up to $1 million of its wire products to neighboring CIS countries, especially Kyrgyzstan, in its first phase.

This joint venture reflects both countries’ broader goals: strengthening economic integration, expanding private sector opportunities, and diversifying the region’s export mix. For international observers—including the U.S.—such investments signal the potential for Central Asia to play a larger role as a reliable manufacturing and supply hub in the ever-evolving landscape of global trade and production.

Per Diplomatic Watch, Uzbekistan is one of the fastest-growing, most reform-minded economies in Central Asia, actively opening to foreign investment and global markets. U.S. trade with Uzbekistan is rising, with American investment in sectors like manufacturing, infrastructure, and energy reaching over $600 million in 2024—and growing connections between American and Uzbek companies.

Marinus Link has received a positive Final Investment Decision (FID) from government stakeholders, clearing the way for construction of a major electricity interconnector between Tasmania and Victoria,

A press release said that Stage One construction is slated to begin in 2026 with completion targeted for 2030. The project will establish a second high-voltage direct current (HVDC) connection across Bass Strait, adding up to 1.5 GW of capacity via two 750 MW links. Stage One includes a 750 MW cable between Burnie, Tasmania, and Hazelwood, Victoria, made up of approximately 250 km of undersea cable and 90 km of underground cable. This stage will proceed in parallel with the first phase of the North West Transmission Developments (NWTD) to reinforce Tasmania’s electrical grid.

Industry leaders have been selected for key components: Prysmian Group, through Prysmian PowerLink, will supply and install both the undersea and underground HVDC cables for Stage One. Hitachi Energy will supply the HVDC converter stations necessary for alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) conversion.

Stage Two, planned to deliver an additional 750 MW, remains subject to market conditions, regulatory approval, and further development of dispatchable generation in Tasmania. This second phase is intended to roll out alongside NWTD’s later phase, but has yet to be contracted.

Marinus Link forms the centerpiece of the broader Project Marinus initiative, which includes supporting transmission infrastructure within Tasmania and operates alongside the existing Basslink interconnector. The project aims to tap Tasmania’s hydro and wind resources for export, bolstering reliability and flexibility in the National Electricity Market (NEM). According to TasNetworks and Marinus Link Pty Ltd, it will facilitate greater renewable integration, complement mainland grid modernization, and support Australia’s energy transition targets.

Chinese electronics giant Luxshare-ICT has officially acquired German cable and wiring systems specialist Leoni AG, finalizing a transaction first announced last year.

A press release from Leoni AG said that the partnership between Luxshare-ICT and Stefan Pierer marks a key step in securing Leoni’s future growth and stability. Luxshare-ICT now holds a 50.1% stake in Leoni AG’s Wiring Systems Division, while its subsidiary TIME Interconnect has acquired 100% of the Automotive Cable Solutions (ACS) division, following all necessary approvals since the September 2024 agreement.

This deal enhances Leoni’s market access through Luxshare’s global customer network and enables ACS to expand in Europe and Asia. The combined strengths of Leoni and Luxshare will produce complementary products, drive vertical integration, and create supply chain efficiencies, while leveraging both firms’ automation expertise and global manufacturing networks.

Leoni’s CEO Klaus Rinnerberger noted that the partnership supports financial recovery and continued restructuring, with efforts underway to streamline operations and costs. “Our complementary portfolios, manufacturing strengths, and positive customer feedback prove that Leoni and Luxshare are an ideal match,” he said.

Per a Leoni LinkedIn posting, the deal brings “a time of transformations and new beginnings - not just in our business, but across our teams, our technology and our vision. ... (We look ahead) with confidence as we continue to innovate, collaborate and connect across the globe.”