WENDELL, N.C. — Siemens has made a $36 million investment in renovations and upgrades at its Wendell, North Carolina Electrification and Automation U.S. headquarters. The investment has bolstered facility and production capabilities and includes an interactive Customer Experience Center, workforce training Power Academy classrooms, a conference center, and future on-site microgrid. The decision to expand the medium- and low-voltage power distribution and switchgear manufacturing facility was due in part to government funding-related opportunities, the need for a resilient domestic supply chain, and rising demand across industrial and energy markets, including data centers, semiconductor facilities, and utilities.
Further improvements to the North Carolina manufacturing facility include new prefabrication equipment, increasing the factory’s ability to conduct additional work in-house. The new capabilities optimize production processes, improve quality control, and enhance flexibility. The facility has already created over 250 new jobs over the past year, with plans to hire more than 200 additional employees over the next four years.
“As we witness the transformation and evolution of the electrical infrastructure in America, we are seeing a growing need for reliable, clean, and affordable energy. Our company’s ongoing investment in our U.S. footprint solidifies our commitment to not only continuing to drive innovation, but also provides the electrical foundation from which other industries can thrive,” said Matthias Rebellius, CEO of Siemens Smart Infrastructure. “We do this while scaling sustainable impact and growing the workforce of the future.”
Key elements of the expansion include a new Customer Experience Center and workforce training classrooms for the company’s “Power Academy” program to help provide both the technologies as well as the education to move the industry forward. Visitors can engage with Siemens’ power distribution equipment while exploring the comprehensive protection, control, and automation solutions that enable customers’ digitalization journeys. The Power Academy classrooms, with expert instructors and a rotating curriculum, provide in-depth training on complex topics ranging from mastering modern substation automation technologies to specific product and solutions applications. These hands-on courses equip Siemens employees and customers with the latest industry knowledge and practical skills to address real-world challenges, while building a workforce of the future.
“These strategic investments in our Electrification and Automation U.S. headquarters are not only an investment in critical U.S. electrical infrastructure but also in our customers, our employees and the future of energy,” said Brian Dula, Regional CEO of the Electrification and Automation business at Siemens Smart Infrastructure USA. “Wendell has been home to our U.S. medium-voltage business since 1980 and now these latest investments will introduce new and immersive spaces for our customers while significantly enhancing our local manufacturing capabilities.”
The investment in Wendell strengthens Siemens’ production capabilities while contributing to the local economy. Siemens has developed a successful apprenticeship program in partnership with Wake Tech Community College and the North Carolina Triangle Apprenticeship Program (NCTAP). Demonstrating alternative pathways to high-paying careers, the program supports students pursuing mechanical or electrical engineering degrees, ensuring a steady pipeline of skilled talent for the future.
Scheduled for completion by fall 2025, the future on-site microgrid, powered by a 1.5 MW AC solar photovoltaic array and supported by a 3.9 MWh battery storage system, represents a significant step toward Siemens’ net zero carbon footprint by 2030 goal. This renewable-powered microgrid will generate nearly 100 percent of the facility’s energy needs, enhancing energy reliability and resilience. The microgrid will integrate with more than 30 Siemens Versicharge Blue™ AC EV chargers, showcasing real-time charging statuses and load-shedding simulations as part of the Customer Experience Center. Additionally, the facility will further reduce its carbon footprint by replacing natural gas-fired heating units with electric heat pumps.
This announcement joins Siemens’ recent investment of more than $500 million in American manufacturing over the past year. These investments included a $150 million high-tech manufacturing plant in Fort Worth, Texas to help power American data centers and critical infrastructure, a $220 million investment in a new rail manufacturing facility in Lexington, North Carolina to establish a bicoastal “Made in America” rail manufacturing footprint and two electrical products manufacturing plants in Grand Prairie, Texas, and Pomona, California to meet booming demand for the electrification of critical infrastructure.
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