Major international player in the nuclear energy market moves from North Carolina to Virginia

Governor Ralph Northam announced April 4 that Framatome, a designer and supplier of nuclear steam supply system and nuclear equipment, services, and fuel for high levels of safety and performance, will relocate its North American corporate headquarters from Charlotte, NC, to the City of Lynchburg.

In January 2018, AREVA NP was officially rebranded as Framatome, and is known as Framatome Inc. in North America. The company has 1,300 employees in Lynchburg, 2,300 employees in North America, and 14,000 employees globally.

The headquarters move makes Lynchburg the central hub for Framatome’s 2,300 North American employees, more than half of which are in central Virginia. With this move, the company will preferentially hire into its Lynchburg offices where employment is expected to grow.

“Framatome Inc. is a thriving, U.S.-based company, and we couldn’t be prouder that this nuclear energy leader will center its operations in the City of Lynchburg and the Commonwealth as it grows in domestic markets,” the governor was quoted as saying in a news release. “The company’s decision to relocate its corporate headquarters is a testament to the importance of its major customers located in Virginia, as well as the key partnerships with our state and local universities and community colleges to ensure a skilled talent pipeline. I am confident that the world-class training facility in Lynchburg will continue to increase Framatome’s notoriety as a leader in a critical industry.”

Framatome is a major international player in the nuclear energy market recognized for its innovative solutions and value-added technologies for designing, building, maintaining, and advancing the global nuclear fleet. The company designs, manufactures, and installs components and fuel for nuclear power plants and offers a full range of reactor services.

With 14,000 employees worldwide, every day Framatome’s expertise helps its customers improve the safety and performance of their nuclear plants and achieve their economic and societal goals. Framatome is owned by the EDF Group (75.5%), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI – 19.5%), and Assystem (5%).

“We are honored to add Framatome to the impressive roster of businesses that call Virginia home,” Secretary of Commerce and Trade Esther Lee was quoted as saying. “The company is one of the largest employers in the region with three locations, making the City of Lynchburg an ideal fit for a headquarters operation of this caliber. We look forward to continuing the Commonwealth’s important partnership with Framatome.”

“We have been in the Lynchburg area of Virginia for more than 50 years and as we look to the future as Framatome, we are proud to once again make this the headquarters for our North American operations,” said Gary Mignogna, president and CEO of Framatome Inc. “When it comes to recruiting, we have access to some of the best university programs in the country and the region offers a growing diversity of activities and opportunities that make this a great place to live and work.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the City of Lynchburg and the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance to help secure the project for Virginia.