U.S. Forged Rings (USFR), a specialty steel manufacturer, plans to develop a large-scale production facility in Hertford County, North Carolina, representing a total planned investment of $875 million.

The project will be built in three phases. The first two phases are expected to create approximately 625 full-time jobs, with total employment projected to exceed 700 positions once all phases are complete. Average annual wages are anticipated to range between $80,000 and $85,000, according to state and local documents.

Construction timelines outlined in draft agreements indicate the first phase could be completed by the end of 2028, the second by 2029, and the final phase by 2030.

The facility will include piping, forging, ring-rolling, and large fabrication operations. The company intends to manufacture steel forgings and tubular components for industries including power generation, wind energy, nuclear energy, construction, mining, shipping, oil and gas, defense, and aerospace.

The planned site is located near the town of Cofield and will be adjacent to an existing plant operated by Nucor. Nucor maintains a supply chain partnership with USFR. The location offers access to rail infrastructure and waterways connected to the Chowan River and the Albemarle Sound.

Infrastructure Commitments

State lawmakers previously approved $51 million for construction of a public dock and $11 million for a public road designed to accommodate heavy industrial loads in the area. While the legislation did not name the company, it described a steel forgings manufacturer planning a capital investment of approximately $974 million and the creation of more than 800 jobs.

County officials have been reviewing a proposed economic development agreement outlining the three-phase, $875 million project. The company is not expected to receive discretionary state job-development grants.

USFR incorporated in 2022 and began evaluating East Coast sites in early 2023 to expand domestic steel fabrication capacity.

US Forged Rings’ announcement follows other recent manufacturing investments in North Carolina. About a month ago, John Deere unveiled plans for a new excavator manufacturing facility in Kernersville, highlighting a continuing trend of heavy-industry expansion and job creation across the state.

New US Forged Rings Steel Manufacturing Facility in Hertford County, NC

Project Overview

Location: Hertford County (near Cofield)

Total Planned Investment: $875 million

Development Structure: Three phases

Expected Completion: 2028–2030

Employment

Phase I & II Jobs: Approximately 625 full-time positions

Total Projected Jobs: 700–725+ (depending on final phase buildout)

Average Annual Wage: $80,000–$85,000 (per draft agreements)

Project Team

• U.S. Forged Rings — Project developer and facility operator
• Nucor — Supply chain partner; adjacent steel processing facility operator
• North Carolina Department of Commerce — State-level economic development coordination
• Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina — Investment facilitation and business recruitment support
• North Carolina General Assembly — Approved funding for supporting public infrastructure
• North Carolina Community College System — Workforce training support
• North Carolina Department of Transportation — Industrial access infrastructure coordination
• North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality — Environmental oversight and permitting
• North Carolina Railroad Company — Rail infrastructure support
• CSX Transportation — Freight rail connectivity
• Dominion Energy — Energy supply provider
• Hertford County Board of Commissioners — Local government oversight
• Hertford County Economic Development Department — Local project coordination

Facility Components

Planned operations include:

Forging plant

Ring-rolling facility

Large-diameter fabrication plant

Piping and tubular production

Target Markets

USFR intends to manufacture components for:

Power generation (including nuclear and thermal)

Wind energy

Oil and gas

Construction

Mining

Shipping

Defense

Aerospace

Site & Infrastructure

Facility will be located adjacent to a plant operated by Nucor.

Nucor maintains a supply-chain partnership with USFR.

Site offers rail access via the North Carolina & Virginia Railroad.

Waterway access through the Chowan River and Albemarle Sound system.

Public Infrastructure Commitments

$51 million approved for construction of a public dock.

$11 million approved for a heavy-load industrial access road.

Draft county agreements outline additional potential local support measures.

Strategic Focus

Domestic production of steel forgings and fabrications

Reduction of reliance on imported specialty steel components

Expansion of U.S.-based industrial manufacturing capacity