Kentucky officials announced on Friday that Hydro Aluminum Metals is set to invest $85 million into its Henderson recycling facility, bolstering it with 31 new employment opportunities and integrating advanced manufacturing equipment within the next two years.

Hydro Aluminum's Henderson plant, established in 1999, currently yields approximately 90,000 tons of aluminum annually, primarily catering to the automotive and construction sectors.

The forthcoming investment will augment the Henderson facility by an additional 80,000 square feet, as per the disclosure from Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear's office, thereby expanding its total capacity to approximately 200,000 square feet.

Notably, the expansion will encompass the adoption of aluminum casting technology, which has demonstrated efficacy in both Norway and Germany, as affirmed by company officials. In 2022, Hydro Aluminum had previously injected $15 million into its Henderson operations.

The governor's office conveyed in a news release, "The new HyForge casthouse at the Henderson facility is anticipated to commence operations by 2026. Once operational, this new addition will fulfill the automotive market's demand for smaller diameter, high-quality billets, suitable for direct forging into premium automotive components."

Henderson County Executive Brad Schneider expressed his elation over the decision of a multinational corporation to designate Henderson County for such a substantial investment. He pledged full cooperation from the county government to ensure Hydro's satisfaction with its decision.

This sentiment was echoed by local industrial and political leaders, who also welcomed the news with enthusiasm.

Eivind Kallevik, President of Hydro Aluminum, remarked in a statement that the Henderson plant has been a pioneering force in producing recycling-based automotive products for nearly two decades. "We maintain close collaboration with the automotive industry, and the introduction of Hydro's HyForge technology will confer a sustainable advantage upon Hydro and our partners," Kallevik affirmed, according to a prepared media release. "Made in America."