A groundbreaking was held today (September 10) to officially announce the expansion at Prysmian in Claremont. As WHKY previously reported, hundreds of new jobs are headed to Catawba County as a result of the project. The major expansion of Prysmian’s existing Claremont facility will add more than 385 new jobs and represent an investment exceeding $1 billion — the largest manufacturing project in Catawba County history. The expansion, which includes a new glass manufacturing facility, additional cable production capacity, and an expanded research and development center, is expected to be complete by 2030.

Prysmian, the Milan-headquartered parent company of Prysmian North America, is the world’s largest manufacturer of cables and systems for energy and telecommunications. The company employs more than 34,000 people across 50 countries and serves customers across broadband infrastructure, power transmission, and advanced communications markets. The Claremont facility — one of the company’s flagship North American production sites — has been a cornerstone of Catawba County’s advanced manufacturing economy for decades, producing the fiber optic cable that underpins broadband expansion, 5G and 6G networks, and the high-capacity digital infrastructure driving demand for connectivity nationwide.

At today’s event there were several speakers who discussed Prysmian and the expansion. The presenters included Brian DiLascia the company’s Digital Solutions Senior Vice President, Global CEO Massimo Battaini, Dr. Valentina Cecchi, the Honorable Consulate of Italy in NC, Reginald Speight, the Assistant Secretary for NC Rural Development, Catawba County Commisioners Chair Randy Isenhower, and Claremont Mayor Shawn Brown.

The announced expansion will add approximately 900,000 square feet to the existing campus, including a new glass factory that will vertically integrate the facility’s fiber production capabilities, a significant expansion of cable manufacturing operations, and new R&D facilities that will strengthen the site’s role as a center of technical innovation within the Prysmian footprint.