JM Steel, a subsidiary of JENNMAR Holdings, announced today it has expanded its Nextracker-dedicated manufacturing lines at its facility in Leetsdale, Pennsylvania. The facility is the former Bethlehem Steel factory, run by BCI Steel. The site began producing tracker torque tubes for Nextracker in 2022, and Solar Power World visited the plant.
A crane operator hauls completed torque tubes across the factory floor at Nextracker’s Leetsdale, Pennsylvania, factory. Billy Ludt/Solar Power World
“We are thrilled to be partnered with JM Steel and celebrate the expansion of the Pittsburgh facility to serve customer demand. This facility is also expected to produce core components of our new low-carbon tracker offering announced this week,” said Dan Shugar, founder and CEO of Nextracker.
Nextracker says that the expansion at the plant just outside Pittsburgh can now produce 4 GW of tracker torque tubes annually.
“We are proud to announce the expansion of this historic steel factory in Pittsburgh—which we have been honored to call our home for more than 100 years,” said Tony Calandra, CEO of JENNMAR. “This partnership with Nextracker allows for significant investment in advanced manufacturing and brings high-quality jobs back to our communities. We couldn’t be more thrilled to bring our Pennsylvania-based employee count to more than 500.”
To celebrate the new facility expansion, a dedication ceremony was attended by top government officials including David Crane, Under Secretary for Infrastructure at the Dept. of Energy; Lt. Governor of Pennsylvania Austin Davis; U.S. Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-D); State Representative Valerie Gaydos; and others.
