Pictured (l-r) in the primary groundbreaking photo are Port of Walla Walla Commissioner Kip Kelly; ROCKWOOL Executive Vice President, North America Region, ROCKWOOL Group Rory Moss; Walla Walla County Commission Chairman Todd Kimball; Port of Walla Walla Commissioner Amy Schwab; Walla Walla County Commissioner Gunner Fulmer; Walla Walla County Commissioner Bertha Clayton; Port of Walla Walla Commission President Ron Dunning; ROCKWOOL Group Wallula Project Director Dan Lund Sørensen; Port of Walla Walla Executive Director Patrick Reay; and ROCKWOOL Wallula Director of Operations Jørgen Amtoft.
Located on 250 acres in the Wallula Gap Business Park, the facility, which represents a $175 million local investment, will be ROCKWOOL’s fifth manufacturing plant in North America and its first in the western United States. Once operational, the plant will support 125 local jobs and significantly increase production capacity to meet growing demand for sustainable insulation solutions across the region.
The new facility will feature ROCKWOOL’s proprietary electric melting technology, reinforcing the company’s commitment to innovation and sustainability as it will reduce the carbon footprint of its manufacturing processes.
“This groundbreaking represents an important step forward for ROCKWOOL as we expand our presence in the United States,” said Rory Moss, President of ROCKWOOL North America. “We are proud to invest in Walla Walla County and look forward to building a facility that supports our customers, creates local jobs, and contributes to the region’s long-term economic growth.”
Local and state leaders joined ROCKWOOL executives and community stakeholders to commemorate the milestone.
“The Port of Walla Walla is proud to welcome ROCKWOOL as construction begins on this transformative project,” said Port of Walla Walla Commission President Ron Dunning. “This facility represents a major investment in our region and will serve as a cornerstone of sustainable industrial development in the Wallula Gap Business Park.”
“We are excited to see this project move from vision to reality,” said Port of Walla Walla Executive Director Patrick Reay. “ROCKWOOL’s investment underscores Washington’s
leadership in attracting advanced manufacturing and clean technology, while creating meaningful economic opportunities for local communities.”
With construction now underway, the factory is expected to be complete in order to begin commercial production in 2028. We anticipate beginning the hiring process this fall with staffing of the facility scheduled to continue through early 2028. Please visit www.rockwool.com/wallula for additional information and to sign up to receive further updates on timelines and operations as the project progresses.
ROCKWOOL’s stone wool products are made from volcanic rock and offer durable, fire-resilient, and energy-efficient insulation solutions for buildings, industry, and infrastructure. Fully recyclable, the material plays a key role in improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions over the lifetime of the buildings in which it is used.