1st South Korean special alloy manufacturing facility to be built in Texas
(The Center Square) – The first South Korean special alloy manufacturing facility to ever be built in the U.S. is being built in Texas.
SeAH Changwon Integrated Special Steel Corporation, a leading manufacturer of high-tech industrial materials, is investing $110 million to build the first special alloy manufacturing facility in the U.S., choosing Temple, Texas, as its location.
SeAH Group’s new high-performance metal manufacturing facility is expected to create 100 full-time jobs. Construction begins this quarter in Temple’s Industrial Park; commercial production is slated to begin in the first quarter of 2026.
The facility is projected to produce 6,000 tons of special alloys per year, according to a company statement. “Special alloys are materials that are composed of alloys such as nickel, titanium, cobalt, and iron that maintain their mechanical properties even in the face of rapid temperature changes and continuous exposure to high temperatures, and are high value-added products.”
“The demand from North American and global customers for the best-in-line superalloys motivates us to have a strong team and assets where they need to be,” SeAH Superalloy Technologies CEO Michael King said in a statement. “With the support from the State of Texas and the community, we strongly believe that our first foray into the U.S. market will make a difference in the superalloy industry.”
Junghoon “Jay” Lee, CEO of SeAH Changwon Integrated Special Steel, said Temple’s location was “strategic” and enables the company to “better serve our North American customers and expand our global footprint.”
Pending final negotiations with Temple EDC and city officials, the new facility “will mark a significant milestone in the ongoing growth and development of Temple’s industrial sector,” Temple EDC said.
SeAH CSS, a subsidiary of SeAH Besteel Holdings Corporation within the SeAH Group family of companies, manufactures specialty metal products for the aerospace, power generation, automotive, and oil and natural gas markets. It received a Texas Enterprise Fund grant of $910,000 and a $7,000 Veteran Created Job Bonus to build the facility in Temple.
“Texas is the premier destination for business growth, which is why companies from across the globe continue to choose our state to expand their operations,” Gov. Greg Abbott said. The South Korean company choosing its first U.S. manufacturing base in Texas was a major win for the governor, who met with a range of political and business leaders on a three-country Asia trip last month.
“SeAH Group’s $110 million investment in Temple is a testament to the unique and unmatched business opportunities the Lone Star State has to offer businesses,” Abbott said, adding that he hoped working with South Koreans would “bring even more investments and jobs to our state.”
The news follows Texas once again ranking as the top state for the best business climate and leading the U.S. every month in job creation.
Texas again receiving the top designation, was “underpinned by sustained economic development activity throughout the entire state. From the Gulf Coast to the Panhandle, and from east to west, communities large and small are attracting a diverse range of companies,” Business Facilities Editorial Director Anne Cosgrove said.
