Following a May report that Schneider Electric is looking to expand its factory footprint in North America, the electrical and automation products manufacturing giant announced Sept. 14 that it has opened a new “smart factory” in El Paso, Texas that is part of a larger U.S. production investment.

The France-based company said the new 160,000-square-foot facility is its fourth in El Paso at its Northwest Corporate Center, making the city home to the company’s largest manufacturing operation in the U.S.

The new facility’s projected 400 new jobs will boost the company’s total number of employees in El Paso to about 1,500 by year-end, Schneider Electric said in a news release.

The company added that the new plant is part of a $300 million U.S. manufacturing investment the company has made to support customers who will use the electrical equipment produced at the plant, contributing to the “advancement of the energy transition and the build-out of America’s infrastructure.”

“Schneider Electric is proud to be at the forefront of America’s manufacturing renaissance, exemplifying our commitment to fostering innovation, job creation, and sustainable growth,” said Annette Clayton, CEO of Schneider Electric North America. “As we embark on this journey with the opening of our latest manufacturing plant in the United States, we look forward to providing the highest level of service to our customers while also contributing to the revitalization of American manufacturing.”

Schneider Electric has more than 20 factories in its U.S. footprint. The company detailed that, since 2020, it has invested in equipment and upgraded operations at its manufacturing facilities in Lexington, Kentucky; Lincoln, Nebraska; as well as Mechanicsburg and Middletown, Pennsylvania, in addition to the new El Paso plant. 

“The enhancements, made possible by the $300 million multi-year investment, have made these facilities smarter, more sustainable and highly efficient,” the company stated.

The news follows a string of recent executive leadership appointments announced by Schneider Electric, including new leaders for its Country President of Canada; Power Division; and Home & Distribution unit.