It’s just business: manufacturing moves from GlobalFoundries, MGS and more

The business of manufacturing never stops. Industrial companies merge, invest and strategically expand to keep competitive, even under adverse business conditions. Read on for more details on five such recent business actions made by industrial and manufacturing companies, including new pharmaceutical manufacturing expansion, a partnership between two chipmaking companies, and a new acquisition in school bus manufacturing.

Expansion: MGS, a healthcare contract manufacturer, announced February 19 that it had opened a new manufacturing site in Richfield, Wisconsin. The 300,000-square-foot site will produce pharmaceuticals on a contract basis and create 300 jobs. In a statement, Senior VP of sales and marketing Bob Bordignon said the new factory will “accelerate life-changing therapies.”  

Acquisition: Reddy Ice announced February 18 that it had closed the deal to buy Arctic Glacier, a fellow ice manufacturer and distributor, for undisclosed terms. In a statement, Lonny Warner, CEO of Reddy Ice, said the purchase would unlock new value as the companies combine. Before the purchase goes through, Reddy Ice agreed with the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division to divest four of its factories and associated contracts.

Partnership: GlobalFoundries announced February 16 that it would expand its partnership with Japanese semiconductor manufacturer Renesas. In a joint release, the companies said the partnership would give Renesas access to GlobalFoundries’ “Fully Depleted Silicon On Insulator” (FD-SOI, branded FDX) chip platform. In statements, the CEOs of GF and Renesas said the move would help reinforce U.S. leadership in semiconductor manufacturing and enables a steadier supply of semiconductors to market.

Expansion: Siccet USA announced plans to open its first factory in the U.S. in Grove City, Ohio, for manufacturing temperature sensing cables for use in aircraft and industry. According to local news source The Scioto Post, the company – a subsidiary of Siccet SRL, an Italian firm — picked Grove City for its proximity to Columbus, Ohio, which a spokesperson told the paper offers infrastructure and proximity to key markets.

Acquisition: Blue Bird Corporation announced February 17 that it had reached an agreement to buy out Girardin Group’s stake in the Micro Bird joint venture, taking full ownership. Blue Bird said it will pay $200 million for the half-share it doesn’t already own. The deal brings Micro Bird’s Type A school and electric bus business fully under the wing of Blue Bird’s school bus business. In a statement, John Wyskiel, Blue Bird CEO, said full control of Micro Bird would strengthen the company’s long-term performance.