Expansion of Nidec facility in Mena to add 35 jobs

Kyoto, Japan-based Nidec Motor Corp. on Wednesday (Sept. 24) ceremonially broke ground on a $19 million expansion of its Mena, Ark., facility that is expected to add 35 jobs to the existing workforce of around 400 employees.

The company is planning a 61,000-square-foot expansion to support growth over the coming five years, according to information from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. The work will provide new capacity for the production of the company’s large-scale motors, and will include a “customer demonstration room.”

“This significant investment in our plant in Mena marks a milestone in our growth as a manufacturer of electric motors,” Claudemir dos Santos, Nidec Global ACIM chief operations officer and vice president of operations for North America and Latin America, said in the AEDC press release. “We’ve essentially outgrown our facility, and the new space we add will allow us to expand not only our manufacturing capabilities but also our testing labs and to improve the experience for customers who visit the location.”

Nidec’s Mena facility is now 347,000 square feet and is located at 500 Morrow St. N., in the Polk County city. Work on the expansion is set to be complete in the second quarter of 2027.

Nidec has operated in Mena since 1966, producing the U.S. MOTORS brand stock and custom electric motors. The Mena facility specializes in the manufacture of large vertical and horizontal motors, particularly for motors used for movement of liquids, including for the oil and natural gas industries and water and wastewater.

“Nidec has been a part of the Mena community for nearly six decades and this latest expansion secures their place in the Natural State for years to come,” Gov. Sarah Sanders said in a statement. “Since day one, my administration has worked to build an environment where great businesses like Nidec can thrive. This latest announcement shows that our strategy of lowering taxes, cutting excessive regulations, and investing in our workforce is working, and that there’s no better place to do business than Arkansas.”

AEDC officials recently visited Nidec’s corporate headquarters in Kyoto, Japan, as part of a business development mission, noted the AEDC press release.

“Nidec’s decision to expand in Mena is a big win for our community,” said Mena Mayor Seth Smith. “It shows their trust in the hardworking people of Polk County and their belief in the future of our city. With the support of AEDC, we’re excited about the new jobs and opportunities this project will create for our families.”

Nidec is a manufacturer of commercial, industrial and appliance motors and controls. The NMC product line includes high-efficiency motors, large and small, which serve industrial, residential and commercial markets in applications ranging from water treatment, mining, oil and gas and power generation to pool and spa motors, air conditioning condensers, rooftop cooling towers and commercial refrigeration. It also makes motors, controls and switches for automotive and commercial markets.