The Hanwha Cimarron Opelika Manufacturing Facility is a carbon fiber tank plant located in Opelika, Alabama, and the latest confirmed status is Hanwha’s 2022 announcement that construction was well underway and due to finish later that year. Opening and staffing could not be confirmed, and the $51 million Hanwha cited sits against the $130 million announced in 2021.
Hanwha Cimarron Opelika Manufacturing Facility Capital Cost per Job Sits Far Below Hyundai Montgomery
Hanwha has lined up demand, including a Shell purchase order for hydrogen tanks in 2022 and a $260 million, 10 year Sunbelt Services contract signed in August 2021, according to Made in Alabama. In contrast, the Hyundai Alabama plant expansion in Montgomery carries $412.9 million for a reported 53 jobs, or about $7.8 million per job against roughly $0.5 million at Opelika.
Project Overview
- Project Name: Hanwha Cimarron Opelika Manufacturing Facility
- Location: Northeast Opelika Industrial Park, Opelika, Alabama
- Project Value: $130 million announced in 2021 (Hanwha Cimarron); $51 million investment plan cited by Hanwha in 2022
- Client or Owner: Hanwha Cimarron LLC, a subsidiary of Hanwha Solutions
- Main Contractor: Not publicly disclosed
- Key Components: Carbon fiber wrapped high pressure tanks and pressure vessels; capacity for up to 4,000 tanks a year (Hanwha, 2022)
- Jobs: 261 projected (2021 announcement)
- Construction Start: Groundbreaking held September 16, 2021
- Expected Completion: Later in 2022 according to Hanwha; opening not confirmed
- Strategic Impact: Supports Hanwha’s hydrogen tank business, with a Shell purchase order and a $260 million, 10 year Sunbelt Services contract for compressed natural gas tanks
Project Team
- Owner: Hanwha Cimarron LLC
- Parent Company: Hanwha Solutions
- Customer: Shell
- Customer: Sunbelt Services
- City Government: City of Opelika
- State Government: Office of the Governor of Alabama
- State Economic Development: Alabama Department of Commerce
- Workforce Training: AIDT
- General Contractor: Not publicly disclosed
- Related Project Owner: Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama
Reported 27th September 2021: The groundbreaking for Hanwha Cimarron‘s Opelika Manufacturing Facility took place recently in Alabama. This $130 million manufacturing facility is intended to produce carbon fiber-wrapped, hydrogen storage tanks and also provide 261 jobs on completion.
At the ceremony, David Jeon, the CEO of Hanwha Cimarron said the company was happy to have their new manufacturing facility located in Opelika. Jeon also shared the company’s vision and talked about the future of the Opelika Manufacturing Facility. He said the new manufacturing facility would give the company more room to grow in the carbon overwrap pressure vessel industry and also expand the reach of their services, which include catering to the needs of aerospace, drone, defense, marine, rail, on-vehicle, gas transport and ground storage solutions
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Governor Kay Ivey and Mayor Gary Fuller also graced the occasion. They spoke highly of the project and commended the efforts of the company.
Ivey described the new Opelika Manufacturing Facility as an exciting new venture coming to Alabama. He also commended Hanwha Cimarron for bringing this development to the state, which has the potential to create new high paying jobs for the hard-working citizens of Opelika.
Ivey added, “Our partnership with Hanwha Cimarron starts symbolically today with a groundbreaking ceremony, but I know that this relationship will grow and thrive in the future as the company puts down roots in Sweet Home Alabama.”
Fuller also praised Hanwha Cimarron for their decision to invest in the city and he said, “We’re honored to welcome yet another world-class company to Opelika.”
Hanwha Cimarron is now set to begin construction on its Opelika Manufacturing Facility and the company has come a long way since the time they received their approval from the Opelika City Council. The company is now working with AIDT, the primary workforce development agency in Alabama, to recruit suitable candidates for leadership positions in the facility and they intend to start recruitment in spring 2022.
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