MSS Steel Tubes USA will establish its first U.S. production facility in Memphis, Tennessee. The $6 million project is expected to create 129 jobs in Shelby County.

The manufacturing operations will be located in an existing facility on Outland Road and will position the company to better serve its U.S. customer base of solar panel manufacturers.

“We are excited to open this new plant in Memphis and contribute to the development of the region and become part of the local community. Our business relies heavily on fast, affordable and reliable transportation, and Memphis is uniquely positioned to meet our requirements. This region is a destination of choice for manufacturers, and we believe that we will find locally the answer to a wide range of ancillary needs to our industrial activity,” Margarida Caetano, CFO, Metalogalva Group said.

MSS Steel Tubes USA is a subsidiary of MSS Steel Tubes SA, which is based in Portugal, with participation from Metalogalva Group, from Portugal, and Soufer Group, from Brazil. Once operational in Tennessee, Metalogalva Group will employ more than 1,800 people across its production facilities in four continents.

“Centrally located in the Southeast and a hub for logistics, we can’t think of a better location for MSS Steel Tubes’ first U.S. production facility than Memphis, Tennessee. We appreciate MSS Steel Tubes for placing its confidence in Shelby County and look forward to the growth and prosperity that this project will bring to the region,” noted TNECD Commissioner Stuart McWhorter.

Founded in 1971, the company Metalogalva – Irmãos Silvas S.A. is the oldest company of the VigentGroup and has industrial companies in four continents (Europe, South and North America, Africa, and Middle East) and industrial units in 17 locations in nine different countries.

“TVA and MLGW congratulate MSS Steel Tubes?on its decision to establish operations and create new job opportunities in Memphis. Supporting companies, like MSS Steel Tubes, that create jobs and investment in the region is fundamental to TVA’s mission of service. We are proud to partner with the Greater Memphis Chamber, Memphis Shelby County EDGE and the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development to further that mission and celebrate this announcement together.” added John Bradley, TVA senior vice president of Economic Development.

Founded in 1966, Soufer Industrial Ltda. is a company of the Soufer Group. The company manufactures steel products, tubes, sheets, profiles, metal tiles, thermo-acoustic tiles for varied and usual applications and also develops innovative solutions in the use of steel products in Brazil for industrial, agro-industrial, and civil construction areas.