Henry County will soon be home to the nation’s first large-scale tin processing facility.
Nathan Trotter, the largest tin and solder alloys manufacturer in North America, announced it will invest $65 million to construct Tin Ridge, a metal production and processing facility at the Patriot Centre Industrial Park. The 115,000-square-foot facility will be built on Tract 4 of the park and is expected to create about 118 new jobs once operational.
Tyler Morris, vice president of Nathan Trotter, said the family-owned business was founded in 1789 in Pennsylvania by Nathan Trotter. The company currently operates four tin refining and finishing plants in Pennsylvania. The Henry County project will be its first outside the state.
“We’re here to break ground on a state-of-the-art facility focused on helping the U.S. produce and recycle more tin and tin alloys for mission-critical defense systems as well as commercial purposes,” Morris said. “The U.S. considers tin a critical mineral. That’s a word you hear a lot nowadays, right, as people have started to focus again on the raw materials that feed our economy. That’s what we’re here to do amidst intense competitive pressures around the world for metals that will produce essential technologies.”
Without tin, Morris said there would be no electronics, semiconductors, data centers, flat-panel displays or fighter jets.
Tin is also used in circuit boards and electronics components for countless commercial and government applications, including defense systems, smartphones, electric vehicles, batteries, advanced robotics and aerospace technologies.
“This project demonstrates how government and business can work together to improve the lives of Americans, boost national security and strengthen our economy,” he said.
Morris said the new facility represents an upstream move for the company, which traditionally focused on downstream products.
“Now we’re trying to move as far upstream as we can and secure this supply chain. That’s the idea, to have as durable of a supply chain as we can in the U.S.,” he said.
Henry County was chosen in part because of its pro-business attitude, skilled workforce, utilities and transportation infrastructure, Morris said. Proximity to the port of Norfolk was also a key factor.
“That was very big in our site selection process,” he said. “We’re humbled to be a part of this community and this state.”
The site also allows for potential expansion.
“In a perfect world, we’d keep growing and definitely have the opportunity to develop a little bit more here and continue to grow,” Morris said.
Construction is expected to begin by the end of the year.
“Our construction partners might get mad at me if I say too soon, but we’re certainly looking to move as quickly as possible to start getting shovels in the ground this year, then look to see if we can commission the facility by the end of next year,” he said.
Morris said the name Tin Ridge honors Henry County’s location in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
“That brand is something we’re launching brand new here today, and you’ll see it eventually” on what “we produce at this facility,” he said.
Co-President Evan Morris said the company is eager to take this step outside Pennsylvania.
“The community’s been very welcoming and made us feel comfortable about making this step,” he said. “We’re really excited about the opportunities here and the people who are here that are going to be our partners going forward. We’re really excited about the labor force that’s here that aligns with our values as a company and we’re ready to get started.”
Gov. Glenn Youngkin made the announcement, and thanked the company for its investment.
“Thank you for trusting us. Thank you for understanding that Virginia will work hard to support you, because we not only want you to be successful, we need you to be successful,” he said.
Youngkin said the project is significant both for economic development and national security.
“We talk about critical supply chains, and we talk about the critical minerals that are necessary in order to drive industries that are at the heart of the national security of the United States, and we need this facility,” he said.
The project also supports reshoring production back to the U.S., he said.
Henry County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jim Adams, of the Blackberry District, said the announcement reflects years of collaboration among state leaders, local officials, economic development professionals and the community.
“For our board of supervisors, economic development is not just an afterthought, it’s a core pillar of our budget and our priorities each and every year,” Adams said. “We know that when companies choose to invest here they are investing not only in bricks and mortar, but in our workforce and the future of our families.”
Adams said the county has long been known for the resilience and determination of its people.
“These qualities define our workforce and make this region an ideal place for advanced manufacturing and for companies that require both skill and determination,” he said. “When you combine that with our partnership and our commitment to progress, you get the kind of success that we’re celebrating today.”
Henry County Administrator Dale Wagoner called the announcement a major win.
“This is a great day for Henry County in that Nathan Trotter has selected Henry County to grow its business in Virginia, creating 118 new, good jobs in advanced manufacturing, and invest a $65 million capital investment into our community,” Wagoner said.
Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp. (EDC) President Mark Heath said the deal was nearly a year in the making.
“We’ve been marketing this site for 20 years almost, and it seems like we found the perfect client for it,” he said. “It’s a new build, which is good, and complements what we’re doing with our other sites and shell buildings. It’s good to be a part of a company that’s part of the rare earth minerals initiative.”
Heath said the company’s smelting operation will help diversify the area’s labor force.
Before the press conference, the Henry County Board of Supervisors and Industrial Development Authority approved a performance agreement with Nathan Trotter.
In exchange for the $65 million investment, Henry County and the IDA committed $500,000 in local performance-based incentives. The Martinsville-Henry County EDC committed $500,000, and the Harvest Foundation committed $650,000.
A $1.5 million grant from Virginia’s Development Opportunity Fund was also approved by Youngkin to assist with the project.
For more information about the company, visit www.nathantrotter.com.
