Irrigation solutions company opens new production site in Mexico

Orbia Advance Corporation’s precision agriculture business group Netafim has opened a new manufacturing plant in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico.

The facility, the company’s third production site in Mexico, expands Orbia Netafim’s global production capacity and improves service across North and Central America, according to a news release.

Last February, Netafim launched its Hybrid Dripline system featuring a built-in outlet, combining the benefits of integral and on-line dripper systems into a leak-free, clog-resistant and labor-saving solution.  

The 323,000-square-foot facility meets growing demand for precision irrigation across the region and features advanced automation and responsible manufacturing practices, according to the company. The plant, expected to create 200 jobs, will primarily produce thin-wall drip irrigation solutions, with the future introduction of dedicated heavy-wall dripline production.

The new plant joins the company’s four existing sites across North America, including manufacturing facilities in Reynosa, Mexico, and Fresno, California, as well as two recycling plants in California and Culiacán, Mexico.

The Hermosillo facility is Orbia Netafim’s 21st plant worldwide.

 “We are seeing strong and sustained demand for precision irrigation solutions across the Americas as farmers navigate water constraints, rising costs and the need to improve productivity,” Orbia CEO Sameer Bharadwaj said in the release. “The new Hermosillo facility strengthens regional supply, brings us closer to customers and positions us to better serve markets where adoption is accelerating.”

Hermosillo offers proximity to major farming areas and logistics infrastructure, including rail access adjacent to the plant. Sonora is a hub for commodity crops and fresh produce, yet it is also one of Mexico’s most water-stressed agricultural regions, according to the release. Improving access to precision irrigation and automation solutions aligns with broader efforts to modernize agricultural water infrastructure.

“At Orbia Netafim, we start with the farmers, working closely with them to understand the realities they face each season,” said Gaby Miodownik, president of Orbia Precision Agriculture (Netafim). “The Hermosillo plant is a major milestone for Orbia Netafim in the Americas, strengthening our ability to be there when growers need us most. It reflects our commitment to staying close to the field and helping farmers become more resilient and grow with confidence.”