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Manufacturing Space News

12 Feb 2024

Victaulic Acquires Utility Coatings & Fabrication

(Photo: Victaulic)

Victaulic, manufacturer of mechanical pipe joining, fire protection, and flow control solutions based in Easton, Pa., announced it has acquired Utility Coatings & Fabrication, Inc. (UCF) located in West Jordan, Utah.“This acquisition represents Victaulic’s fourth consecutive investment in the last four years, highlighting the company’s strategic vision for ongoing growth,” remarked Rick Bucher, President and Chief Executive Officer of Victaulic. “Victaulic remains dedicated to…

09 Feb 2024

Metal Shark Boosts Production Capacity with Third Louisiana Facility

(Credit: Metal Shark)

U.S.-based boat builder Metal Shark is expanding its presence in its home state of Louisiana with the addition of a third manufacturing facility and a new recruitment effort.The expansion follows the recent divestiture of its Alabama-based ship refit and repair business, after the company sold its operations to Birdon America.With a new 40,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Iberia Parish, Louisiana, Metal Shark is looking to boost its production capacity.Together with its nearby Jeanerette and Franklin production facilities…

06 Feb 2024

Austal USA Plans New Facility and Shiplift in Mobile

(Image: Austal USA)

Shipbuilder Austal USA announced it is planning to boost capacity at its Mobile, Ala. shipyard with the addition of a new manufacturing facility.The infrastructure expansion, which will be to the south of Austal USA’s current waterfront facility, will include a new assembly building, waterfront improvements, and a new Pearlson-designed shiplift system. Start of construction on the project is planned for summer 2024.The construction of this new building and waterfront support area continues the expansion Austal USA began in March 2021 with the groundbreaking of the steel panel line.

12 Jan 2023

Port of South Louisiana Buys Avondale Global Gateway

The Avondale Global Gateway is a logistics hub at site of the former Avondale Shipyard. (Photo: Port of South Louisiana)

The Port of South Louisiana (Port SL) said it has reached a deal with T. Parker Host to buy the Avondale Global Gateway, a logistics hub at site of the former Avondale Shipyard.The acquisition of this 254-acre facility at mile 108 of the Mississippi River will allow the port to be more competitive in traditional international trade and focus on the new frontier of renewable energy development, Port SL said.The purchase and sale agreement was announced Thursday by Port SL CEO Paul Matthews following unanimous approval from the port commission.

30 Nov 2020

Interview: John Batten, CEO, Twin Disc

John Batten (Photo: Twin Disc)

How have major events such as the U.S./China trade war, oil price fall and COVID-19 impacted Twin Disc’s commercial marine business to date, and what adjustments have you made in response?These are the three things that I’ve been highlighting in employee communications and with investors over the last few months. For us, COVID was just the third punch after the other two. China is typically our second largest market after the U.S., and we lost lots of orders to our competitors as the trade war started to affect us. It’s rebounding a little, but it definitely impacted our sales into China.

03 May 2018

Rhode Island Backs Electric Boat Expansion

(Photo: Rhode Island Commerce Corporation)

The state of Rhode Island announced it will provide $20 million in incentives to General Dynamics Electric Boat to help the submarine builder expand its facilities.The infrastructure investment announced today by Rhode Island Governor Gina M. Raimondo will allow Electric Boat to accelerate the hiring of 1,300 new employees over the next decade as the builder is slated to produce 29 Virginia Class Submarines and 12 Columbia Class submarines for the U.S. Navy.Over the next 10 years…

12 Jan 2018

Victaulic to Add Manufacturing Space in Pennsylvania

Victaulic, a manufacturer of mechanical pipe joining solutions, has unveiled a plan to build an additional state-of-the-art manufacturing center in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. The 400,000 square foot facility is the result of increased domestic demand for the company’s products. The facility is expected to break ground later this year and be fully operational in 2019. “This new facility will play an important role in meeting increased customer demand, while also producing the highest quality products in the industry -- something our customers have come to expect from us since our first innovation nearly 100 years ago,” said John F. Malloy, CEO of Victaulic.

27 Nov 2017

Brunswick: Ramping up Quality for the Long Haul

As Brunswick Commercial & Government Products expands its capabilities and product line, the Florida-based boatbuilder is positioned to safely provide increased efficiencies, and an expanded, multi-mission product line. When Brunswick Commercial & Government Products (BCGP) broke ground on a facility expansion at the company’s Florida headquarters in early May, it served notice that this well-known boatbuilder had ramped up both its delivery capabilities, and an expanded array of new hulls. With a new large-boat building that includes added manufacturing space and other facility improvements, the 10,500-square-foot facility increases the company’s manufacturing capacity by 50 percent.

03 May 2017

Brunswick Expanding Its Boat Building Facility

L-R: Jeff Hubert, Ken Sahibs, John Ratto, Boston Whaler President Nick Stickler, Mike Hertweck, David Adams. (Photo: BCGP)

Brunswick Commercial & Government Products (BCGP) has officially broken ground on a facility expansion at the company's Edgewater, Fla. headquarters. The addition includes a new large-boat building with added manufacturing space and other facility improvements. The new 10,500-square-foot facility will be located on the east side of the commercial boats manufacturing campus and will increase the company's manufacturing capacity by 50 percent. "Today, by breaking ground on the BCGP facility expansion, we are greatly increasing our capabilities," said Boston Whaler Group President Nick Stickler.

06 Sep 2016

MN100: H.O. Bostrom Company Inc.

Photo: H.O. Bostrom Company Inc.

H.O. Bostrom provides seating solutions for marine, transportation, and other niche markets. The firm’s facility boasts 60,000 square feet of manufacturing space located on a 4.5 acre campus. The firm has about 85 employees. The SeaPost family of pilot chairs and mechanical suspension seating for commercial marine vessels serves a valuable niche in the mid-range price segment of the global commercial vessel market. New product development in the SeaPost line has benefited the company’s portfolio of seating systems and accessories for the commercial marine vessel market.

20 Jan 2015

Seakeeper Poised for Growth in 2015

Image: Seakeeper

Shipments of gyros increased 46% over 2013 as more boat manufacturers added Seakeeper as standard and optional equipment on new builds. A sizable portion of its sales also came from refits. Additional sales personnel, third party partners and industry acceptance helped to increase this segment. The company expanded its markets in 2014 with its portfolio of five new models, scaled to fit a wider range of boats from 30'–220'. The updated units are more compact than earlier versions and cost less due to the company's investment in manufacturing efficiency.

14 Jan 2015

Boston Whaler Holds Ribbon Cutting Event

In 2014, Boston Whaler broke ground on a new era in its history, introducing its largest model ever with the new 420 Outrage. On Jan. 13, 2015, Whaler celebrated the expansion to its facility that makes production of the 420 Outrage possible: the addition of nearly 60,000 square feet of under-roof manufacturing space. At an event held on site in Edgewater, Boston Whaler President Huw Bower led a ribbon-cutting ceremony beforea crowd of local and state politicians, executives from parent company Brunswick Corporation including President and Chief Operating Officer Mark Schwabero, members of the press and the entire Boston Whaler staff. “We’re here to commemorate the expansion that our facility has undergone, but more than that, we’re here to acknowledge all that it symbolizes,” said Bower.

09 Sep 2014

Energy Markets Buoy U.S. Shipbuilding

McAllister Towing marks its 150th anniversary this year, and the company’s fleet includes more than 75 tugs serving the U.S. East Coast from Maine down to Puerto Rico. Pictured are Buckley McAllister, President; Brian McAllister, Chairman; and Eric McAllister, Chief Operating Officer.

Proliferation of energy related transport continues to drive commercial U.S. As the United States aims towards energy independence by the end of this decade, domestic shipyards and vessels owners are reaping rewards from this most unexpected turn of events. Hydraulic Fracturing, or fracking, has been the main (and well publicized) culprit in the rapid turn of events. While the proliferation of gas has been widely known for years, the presence of oil, in quantity, was a pleasant…

04 Sep 2014

MN 100: Metal Shark Aluminum Boats

Established in 1986, Gravois Aluminum Boats and its government/commercial entity Metal Shark Boats are leading suppliers of welded aluminum boats for defense, law enforcement, and commercial entities. Customers include the U.S. Coast Guard, Navy, Army, Air Force, the militaries of partner nations worldwide, and a growing list of state and local law enforcement agencies. Metal Shark has entered the shipbuilding sector with a new 25-acre shipyard, maintaining in excess of 110,000 SF of combined manufacturing space (both yards), and a full slate of new builds underway.

18 Aug 2014

Thrustmaster Reaches 30-year Milestone

Photo courtesy of Thrustmaster

Thrustmaster of Texas announced the achievement of an important company milestone: 30 years in the marine propulsion industry. Established in 1984 by its current president, Joe R. Bekker, Thrustmaster has grown from a small manufacturer of outboard, deck-mounted propulsion units to a worldwide leading manufacturer of marine propulsion systems. From the first order for 13 deck-mounted propulsion units for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and a follow-up order for the U.S. Navy…

10 Jun 2014

Port of Cleveland Europe Express Service Benefits AT&F

Large scale welding & fabrication firm, AT&F, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, says that the new Port of Cleveland to Antwerp service is a welcome addition to the service lines for AT&F’s European customers. Service direct from Cleveland is four days faster than from U.S. East Coast ports, and at a lower cost. “This regular service coincides with AT&F’s export strategy to deliver around the world the large scale products and components for heavy industrial markets that have been the cornerstone of our business in the U.S. for decades. Access to direct ocean shipping allows us to deliver easily what once took special trucking and rail to deliver to East and West Coast ports prior to loading for overseas deliveries,” stated Michael Forde Ripich, AT&F’s president.

24 Jan 2014

Metal Shark Acquires Shipyard, Announces Expansion

Metal Shark 75 Defiant Underway

Louisiana-based boat manufacturer Metal Shark Aluminum Boats is significantly expanding its operations and has acquired a large waterfront parcel to accommodate the production of larger vessels. The builder has signaled its entry into the shipbuilding sector with the purchase of a 25-acre waterfront tract located in South Louisiana’s St. Mary Parish. Plans for the new facility call for over 60,000 square feet of manufacturing space, with approximately 100 new employees expected to be hired within the next few years.

18 Nov 2013

Tour the World's Largest Thruster Factory Online

Thrustmaster of Texas

Have you ever wanted to tour the largest dedicated thruster factory in the world located in Houston, Texas? Now you can. A peek behind the curtain of Thrustmaster of Texas, Inc. was typically available for customers and open day events but now this experience is available online. Thrustmaster of Texas, working with a partner of Google’s Business Photos has developed a virtual tour showcasing the scale of operation underway in the 200,000 square feet of manufacturing space. The tour highlights the scope of the azimuth thrusters in the assembly area…

08 Apr 2013

Ingalls Gulfport Facility Reaches Milestone

Ingalls Shipbuilding's Gulfport facility recently turned the DDG 1001 hangar ship shape to allow final outfitting.

Huntington Ingalls Industries announced  its Ingalls Shipbuilding division achieved a milestone in the construction process of the composite hangar that will be used on the U.S. Navy's second Zumwalt-class guided missile destroyer, Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001). Recently, the shipbuilders at the company's Gulfport, Miss., facility turned the inverted hangar to an upright position, or ship-shape, which is an important and necessary feat in the construction schedule of this component.

02 Nov 2011

Cortland Expands Anacortes Facility

US cable, rope and umbilical specialist Cortland has expanded its Washington facility in Anacortes. The expansion focus is on the creation of upgraded sales, engineering and administrative spaces. The Anacortes expansion will add an additional 4,800 square feet to the facility, bringing the total square footage to over 82,000. The new area will include 13 new offices, 2 conference rooms, a staff break room and create nearly 3,000 square feet of manufacturing space where the administrative offices are currently located.

01 Aug 2008

Austal USA Expands

Austal’s operation located in , celebrated the start of work on its Modular Manufacturing Facility (MMF) with a groundbreaking ceremony on July 31, 2008. Located on , just south of , the MMF project when complete will include 700,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing space, 80,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space, and 60,000 sq. ft. of office space. The MMF expansion will be constructed in two phases and will ultimately accommodate a total workforce of up to 1,200 personnel in the new buildings.

02 Jul 2012

Princess Yachts Use Goliaths by Street Crane

Photo courtesy of Street Crane Company

Princess Yachts, luxury yacht builders, are using freestanding Goliath cranes from Street Crane Company to produce their new 30 to 40 metre M Class tri-deck yachts. The cranes, installed at the historic South Yard of the Devonport Dockyard, will allow large fabrications to be lifted, transported and accurately placed as the yachts are fitted out. There are three cranes in use. The main manufacturing area is serviced by two mirror image Goliath cranes of 16 tonnes safe working load, each spanning 13.75 metres.

10 Nov 2009

Austal Opens New Shipbuilding Facility

Photo courtesy Austal

Austal has officially opened its new Modular Manufacturing Facility (MMF), equipping its U.S. shipyard with the ability to build up to three 328-ft-plus vessels each year. Phase One of the new $88m facility boasts 35,000m2 of manufacturing space under one roof, including a 7900m2 warehouse, as well as paved parking for more than 2000 vehicles. An official ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of Phase One was held at Austal’s Mobile, Ala. shipyard. The event was attended by more than 300 dignitaries, including Alabama Governor Bob Riley, U.S.