Metal manufacturer invests $8.5M to open production plant in Tennessee
O’Neal Manufacturing Services (OMS) has announced plans to open a new facility in Kingsport, Tennessee. The company, which specializes in carbon steel and aluminum parts, will invest $8.5 million into the project, generating 29 new jobs for the surrounding area. The new plant will support medium- to heavy-gauge steel fabrication, including steel plate burning, machining, shot blasting and flattening.
What people are saying
In a recent quote, Kent Brown, President and CEO, O’Neal Manufacturing Services, said, “We are excited to be opening our first location in the beautiful state of Tennessee. The state and local agencies were incredibly supportive, and their involvement and assistance were instrumental in choosing Tennessee for this expansion.”
Governor Bill Lee added, “Tennessee continues to be a hub for business, thanks to our quality of life and exceptional workforce. We are proud to have nationally recognized brands like O’Neal Manufacturing Services investing in the Volunteer State and look forward to seeing the positive impact this investment will bring to Northeast Tennessee for years to come.”
Manufacturers investing in Tennessee
Nashville Wire Products invests $20M to build new manufacturing plant in Tennessee
This will be the company’s sixth facility in the state.
MD Carts invests $10M to open golf cart manufacturing plant in Tennessee
The new facility will allow for larger production capacity of its current golf cart line.
John Deere Power Products invests $15 million to expand manufacturing plant in Tennessee
The company hopes this expansion will allow it to keep up with customer demand for the Z300 and Z500 zero-turn mowers.
Investing in American manufacturing in 2024
This map shows where manufacturers are choosing to invest their resources, whether they are building new production facilities or expanding existing plants.
About the Author
Alexis GajewskiAlexis Gajewski
Senior Content Strategist
Alexis Gajewski is a manufacturing writer and editor with nearly 20 years of experience covering the people, practices, and technologies that keep industrial facilities running. For more than a decade, she served as Senior Content Strategist for Plant Services, creating content for plant managers, engineers, and maintenance professionals on a variety of industrial topics.
During her tenure, Alexis worked to develop the brand’s digital strategy and helped launch and produce Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast. She also created The Lighter Side of Manufacturing, a weekly blog that explored the inventive and sometimes humorous side of the industry.
Alexis co-founded Influential Women in Manufacturing, a recognition program that honored 49 women in its first two years, earned an industry award for Best Product Launch, and received a proclamation from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and a commendation from U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth.
She also led newsroom operations and development at a large media company where she set editorial standards, developed training curriculum, and helped support AI adoption for more than 150 editors across 80+ brands spanning manufacturing, industrial processing, automation, and more.
Additionally, Alexis works as a freelance writer and editor, and her areas of interest include continuous improvement, the skilled workforce, and the role of emerging technology on the plant floor.
Connect with Alexis on LinkedIn
