Kanthal's New NC Plant Fuels America's Green Manufacturing Boom

CONCORD, NC – March 19, 2026 – In a move that signals a major commitment to both industrial decarbonization and the American manufacturing renaissance, Alleima's Kanthal division has officially inaugurated a new service center in Concord, North Carolina. The facility is set to become a critical hub for producing high-temperature electric heating solutions, aiming to help U.S. industries slash their carbon footprints while strengthening domestic supply chains.

The expansion centers on the local manufacturing of Kanthal's Globar® silicon carbide (SiC) heating elements. These advanced components are designed to replace fossil fuel-burning systems in high-heat industrial processes, capable of operating at temperatures up to 2,950°F (1,625°C). This technology is pivotal for sectors like electronics, glass, and steel, which are under increasing pressure to adopt cleaner, more efficient production methods.

The Push for Industrial Electrification

The timing of Kanthal's expansion is no coincidence. It comes as industries face a critical juncture in the global effort to combat climate change. According to the Congressional Budget Office, combustion emissions from manufacturing represent a staggering 75 percent of the sector's total greenhouse gas output. Electrifying these heat-intensive processes is widely seen as one of the most effective strategies for deep decarbonization.

Kanthal's technology directly addresses this challenge. By enabling a switch from natural gas or other fossil fuels to electricity, manufacturers can dramatically reduce their direct CO2 emissions, improve local air quality, and enhance workplace safety. This shift is part of a burgeoning industrial electrification market that analysts project will more than double in value, from roughly $44 billion in 2024 to nearly $96 billion by 2034.

"We have served the U.S. market since the 1930s," said Robert Stål, President of Kanthal, in a statement. "The opening of our Concord service center is the next step in strengthening our local presence in the region which is experiencing a surge in advanced manufacturing." The growing demand is driven not only by environmental mandates but also by the operational benefits of electrification, which include superior process control and improved energy efficiency.

A Strategic Bet on American Manufacturing

The new Concord facility represents more than just an environmental initiative; it is a strategic investment in the resilience of the U.S. industrial base. For years, American customers relied on Kanthal's main Globar® production site in Perth, Scotland. By localizing manufacturing, the company aims to significantly shorten lead times, streamline logistics, and create a more responsive supply chain for its largest geographical market.

This move aligns with a broader national trend of reshoring and foreign direct investment aimed at bolstering domestic manufacturing capabilities. North Carolina, in particular, has emerged as a powerhouse for advanced manufacturing, attracting over $55 billion in capital investment since 2021. Kanthal's expansion taps directly into this growth, leveraging the state's skilled workforce and robust industrial ecosystem.

The Concord facility is not merely a replication of its Scottish counterpart. "This is not just a new service center," noted Simon Lile, President of Kanthal's Business Unit Heating Systems. "We have implemented technology improvements in Concord that allow us to adapt product configurations based on customer furnace setups and order cycles. The result is a more responsive operation, faster to quote, faster to ship, and better aligned with U.S. customer needs."

A Global Investment with Local Impact

The Concord expansion is a key component of a larger, approximately $11 million global investment by Alleima. This funding also supported a 19,000-square-foot expansion of the main production site in Perth, Scotland. Together, these two upgraded facilities are expected to boost Kanthal's global production capacity for Globar® elements by an estimated 40 percent.

This latest development builds on a significant consolidation effort in 2022, when Kanthal merged its operations from three separate U.S. locations into the single, state-of-the-art manufacturing and distribution center in Concord. The existing facility already produces a range of products, including Metallic Heating Elements and Fibrothal® Heating Elements. Adding Globar® production allows the company to leverage its existing infrastructure and expertise to better serve the surging demand for high-temperature solutions.

Decades of Innovation in Heating Technology

While the Concord expansion is forward-looking, it is rooted in a deep history of innovation that stretches back over a century. The Kanthal® brand itself was born from a 1926 patent for an iron-chrome-aluminum alloy that could withstand extreme heat, a discovery that revolutionized the industrial heating industry. The company established its U.S. presence in the 1930s, initially supplying material for everything from industrial applications to car cigarette lighters for Ford.

Kanthal's leadership in high-temperature applications was significantly enhanced in 1994 with the acquisition of the Globar® trademark from Carborundum, a brand with its own storied history dating back to 1895. Subsequent strategic acquisitions throughout the 1990s and 2000s, including H.P. Reid for ultra-fine wire and MRL Industries for furnace elements, steadily built out Kanthal's portfolio. These moves expanded its capabilities into highly specialized sectors like medical devices, electronics, and even nuclear applications.

By bringing the manufacturing of its premier high-temperature heating elements to American soil, Kanthal is not just expanding its footprint but also reinforcing its long-standing partnership with U.S. industry, positioning itself to power the next generation of clean and efficient manufacturing.