Precision ag firm Netafim has opened a 30,000-square-metre manufacturing plant in Hermosillo, Mexico. The plant will produce thin-wall drip irrigation solutions. The company, a subsidiary of Orbia, also plans to add heavy-wall dripline production in the future.

The facility features automated systems designed to improve manufacturing efficiency and reliability. Localising production is expected to reduce lead times for farmers in the region. It is the company’s third production site in the country and its 21st globally and will serve both North and South America.

The Hermosillo site was chosen for its proximity to major agricultural hubs and logistics infrastructure, including adjacent rail access. The region of Sonora is a significant producer of commodity crops but faces high water stress, increasing the local requirement for precision water management tools.

“The new Hermosillo facility strengthens regional supply, brings us closer to customers and positions us to better serve markets where adoption is accelerating,” said Sameer Bharadwaj, Chief Executive Officer of Orbia.

The project is expected to create approximately 200 direct jobs. It joins Netafim’s existing North American network, which includes manufacturing and recycling facilities in Reynosa, Mexico, and California.