IperionX, a titanium development company, is gearing up to begin its operations in the Southern Virginia Technology Park on the outskirts of South Boston.
The sign “IperionX,” with colossal bold lettering visible by motorists on U.S. 58, went up on the front of the building last week, marking the company’s presence in the technology park. The size of the sign matches the scope of IperionX’s plans for the site: to build the world’s largest 100% recycled titanium metal powder facility there by 2025.
IperionX plans to start its operations in the first quarter of 2024 in the facility previously known as the “shell building” built by the Halifax Industrial Development Authority specifically for the purpose of attracting new industry to Halifax County. IperionX and the Halifax IDA currently are in the process of design and engineering for the upfit of the facility, according to Halifax IDA Executive Director Kristy Johnson.
“We have now developed plans for the world’s first and largest recycled titanium powder facility, with initial production from the first stage 125 tonnes per annum titanium development facility forecast to come online in early 2024 with a simple and modular expansion to a 1,125 tpa titanium commercial facility by the end of 2025,” said IperionX’s co-founder and CEO Taso Arima, in an April 27 company news release.
The design of the titanium demonstration and commercial facility in Halifax County will be based on a “scaled-up version” of the industrial pilot facility in Salt Lake City, Utah, which IperionX has operated since January, the news release states.
IperionX’s goal is to create a sustainable supply chain for titanium in the United States for advanced manufacturing globally in industries such as space, aerospace, electric vehicles and 3D printing.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced IperionX’s plans to bring 108 jobs to Halifax County in an industry announcement in September. The average wage for the jobs is $54,765, Johnson shared in a recent email to The Gazette.
The titanium manufacturer will support existing businesses in Halifax County while also potentially attracting new business and industry to the area, according to Johnson.
“The ultimate goal of (economic development) projects is targeted supplier projects to support existing and new businesses,” Johnson said. “Traditionally the manufacturing sector has an impactful multiplier. We will work closely with IperionX to target supply chain projects.”
The shell building in the Southern Virginia Technology Park was an ideal location for IperionX’s titanium demonstration facility and titanium commercial facility in part because of the facility’s sufficient 50,000-square-feet of floor space for the planned expansion of the titanium commercial facility with the additional opportunity to increase floor space with an extra 100,000-square-feet, according to the news release.
The release cites further reasons for IperionX’s selection of the Southern Virginia Technology Park for its titanium commercial facility: “The Southern Virginia Technology Park site is an ideal location to scale up IperionX’s titanium manufacturing facilities as its includes direct access to major transportation networks, a large talent pool and installed access to 100% renewable power.”
IperionX is working with Dominion Energy to zero-emission wind and solar electricity through their Green Power 100% Option program.
Miranda Baines is a staff writer for The Gazette-Virginian. Contact her at mbaines@gazettevirginian.com.
