ErectaStep Featured in The New York Times Coverage of U.S. Manufacturing Renaissance
The New York Times recently published an in-depth feature on Phoenix Tailings, a Boston-area start-up working to break China’s dominance in rare-earth metal processing. The article, titled “Meet a U.S. Start-Up Trying to Break China’s Rare-Earth Monopoly,” highlights the company’s new metal-making plant in Exeter, N.H.—and prominently features ErectaStep access platforms supporting safe equipment access on the production floor.
A Critical Industry Returns Home
Phoenix Tailings represents a growing movement to reshore critical manufacturing to the United States. Rare-earth elements—used in electric vehicle motors, fighter jets, M.R.I. machines, and powerful magnets—have been almost exclusively processed in China, which refines more than 90 percent of the world’s supply. As The New York Times reports, the company’s New Hampshire operation uses innovative closed-loop processing that distinguishes it from traditional, more energy-intensive methods.
This is exactly the kind of advanced manufacturing environment where safe, OSHA-compliant access to elevated equipment is essential.
Why Safe Access Matters in Modern Manufacturing
At facilities like Phoenix Tailings, workers must safely access furnaces, drying ovens, and processing equipment—often at height. ErectaStep’s modular aluminum access platforms provide:
- OSHA Compliance – All ErectaStep products are pre-engineered to meet or exceed OSHA standard 1910.25, eliminating costly engineering reviews and ensuring worker safety from day one .
- Fast Installation – Bolt-together construction requires no welding, hot permits, or production shutdowns—critical for start-ups moving quickly to meet market demand .
- Made in the USA – Like Phoenix Tailings, ErectaStep is committed to American manufacturing. All products are designed, engineered, and manufactured in the United States, supporting domestic jobs and adhering to FTC standards .
- Reconfigurable Design – As production needs evolve, modular platforms can be reconfigured or relocated without replacement .
Supporting the American Manufacturing Revival
Phoenix Tailings’ journey—from near-bankruptcy to a $189 million valuation—demonstrates the renewed interest in domestic production of critical materials. As companies work to untangle supply chains from foreign dependence, they need infrastructure that supports both speed and safety.
We’re proud to be part of this movement. Our commitment to American-made quality aligns with the values driving manufacturers like Phoenix Tailings to build the future of U.S. industry—right here at home.
