Wiwynn Corp, a leading provider of cloud IT infrastructure, has announced plans to invest $300 million in a new manufacturing facility in Texas, USA. This strategic move aims to enhance the company’s global production capabilities and strengthen its support for major clients such as Meta Platforms Inc. and Microsoft Corp.

As part of this expansion, Wiwynn has raised its capital expenditure to NT$18 billion ($548.2 million) for the year. The investment will fund not only the Texas facility but also a new factory in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, and capacity enhancements at existing plants in Mexico and Malaysia.

The decision comes amid growing demand for AI servers and increasing U.S. tariffs on goods from Mexico, prompting Wiwynn to diversify its production network.

This development highlights Wiwynn’s commitment to innovation and supply chain resilience, ensuring it continues to meet the evolving demands of the cloud computing and AI industries.

In a challenging economic climate, growth remains the ultimate benchmark of business success. The FT1000: Europe’s Fastest Growing Companies 2025, compiled in collaboration with Statista, highlights the 1,000 fastest-growing businesses across Europe, ranking them by compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2020 to 2023.

📈 𝗪𝗵𝗼’𝘀 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗸?

This year’s ranking is topped by Menlo Electric, a Polish distributor of photovoltaic panels and inverters, boasting an astonishing CAGR of 830.8%. The UK-based banking platform Allica follows in second place with a 652% CAGR, while Germany’s Almedia, a mobile advertising and marketing company, secures third place with 473.6% CAGR.

🌍 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗲

Despite economic uncertainty, many companies across the continent have displayed remarkable growth. The ranking reflects the dominance of key European markets, with Italy, Germany, France, and the UK collectively accounting for over three-quarters of the list.

The technology sector continues to be a major driver of growth, with IT & software companies representing 20% of the ranked firms. When combined with industries like construction, energy, marketing, and fintech, these sectors contribute to nearly 50% of the total.

Copper, a crucial metal for the energy transition and digital revolution, is seeing soaring demand, with forecasts predicting a 30% growth by 2029 and a potential doubling by 2045. This surge is driven by the rise of electric vehicles (EVs), renewable energy infrastructure, and AI-powered data centers.

KME Group, a German-Italian copper processor, is expanding its presence in Germany and across Europe to meet this rising demand. With €1.9 billion in sales and 200,000 metric tons of production in 2023, the company has strengthened its position through strategic acquisitions, including MKM, Ilnor, and Sundwiger, making it a leading supplier of rolled copper for electronics, transportation, and aerospace.

Sustainability is a core pillar of KME’s strategy, as the company prioritizes environmentally responsible copper production. Currently, 43% of KME’s total copper output comes from recycled materials. The company has implemented advanced copper recovery techniques in its production facilities, ensuring efficient reuse of scrap metal and industrial waste.

Another major shift is KME’s transition from gas-powered to electric furnaces, a move designed to cut CO₂ emissions and enhance energy efficiency. The company is actively exploring the integration of renewable energy sources into its manufacturing processes to further decarbonize its operations.

♻️ Looking ahead, KME is planning a series of investments and technological advancements to strengthen its position in the copper processing industry:

A new $1.7 billion pipeline, the Trident Intrastate Pipeline, will transport 1.5 billion cubic feet of Permian Basin gas daily to the Port Arthur industrial corridor. The project, a collaboration between Entergy Texas, Kinder Morgan, and Golden Pass LNG, aims to meet surging industrial and power demands in Southeast Texas.

Set to begin operations in early 2027, the 216-mile pipeline will fuel power plants, industrial facilities, and LNG exports. Texas energy demand is projected to double in six years, driven by data centers and heavy industries.

While boosting energy supply, the expansion also raises environmental concerns, as natural gas production and combustion contribute to carbon emissions and methane leaks. The pipeline is designed for future expansion to 2.8 billion cubic feet per day, reinforcing Texas' role in the global energy market.

Saudi Arabia is accelerating its push into lithium production through a joint venture between Saudi Aramco and Ma’aden, marking a significant milestone in the kingdom’s efforts to diversify its economy beyond oil. The project aims to tap into Saudi Arabia’s vast mineral resources, estimated to be worth $2.5 trillion, as part of the Vision 2030 strategy.

The new initiative is expected to boost the country’s mining sector, increasing its GDP contribution from $17 billion to $64 billion by 2030. With global lithium demand growing at a 15% annual rate, this venture positions Saudi Arabia as a key player in the global battery supply chain, supporting electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy storage solutions.

The venture plans to start commercial lithium production by 2027, leveraging Aramco’s geoscience expertise and Ma’aden’s mining capabilities. Early assessments have identified lithium concentrations of up to 400 parts per million in the kingdom’s existing oilfields. Saudi researchers have also successfully extracted lithium from brine samples, with a commercial pilot project for direct lithium extraction underway.