en.Wedoany.com Reported - AMG Critical Materials has opened a chromium metal manufacturing facility in New Castle, Pennsylvania (outside Pittsburgh), with a total investment of $15 million. This move makes AMG the only primary producer of chromium metal in the United States. Currently, only three plants in the West produce this material, two of which are owned by AMG, located in the UK and the U.S., while the remaining production capacity is concentrated in China and Russia.

Chromium metal is a key component of advanced alloys used in jet engines, rockets and other aerospace launch vehicles, as well as clean energy systems such as solid oxide fuel cells, with demand accelerating. The commissioning of the new plant will enhance U.S. national security, provide jobs, tax revenue, and other support to the local community, while strengthening the domestic critical minerals supply chain, reducing reliance on foreign sources, and supporting developments in aerospace, defense, advanced manufacturing, and energy innovation.

Kevin Lawson, President of AMG Chrome US LLC, stated in response to questions that the new plant's operation involves converting chromium oxide into chromium metal, distinct from the electroplating process using hexavalent chromium. Chromium metal is a critical material for specialty alloys used in aerospace, military, space, and fuel cell applications. The facility will initially create 24 jobs, with plans to increase based on market demand. Before the plant's commissioning, the U.S. heavily relied on imports of chromium metal from China, Russia, and AMG's European facility. The new facility makes AMG the only primary producer in the U.S. Lawson also mentioned that AMG currently does not recycle chromium but has begun developing related processes. Due to its strong wear and corrosion resistance, chromium metal is a key component of specialty alloys that withstand extreme high temperatures, widely used in aerospace engines, defense systems, and advanced manufacturing equipment.