Fincantieri Marinette Marine. PC: Fox 11 Online
MARINETTE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK)– Fincantieri Marinette Marine is moving forward with $10 million in new U.S. Navy and U.S. Maritime Administration funding aimed at expanding advanced manufacturing and workforce investments across its Wisconsin shipyards, the company announced from Washington, D.C.
The funding, to be carried out through Fincantieri’s U.S. subsidiary Fincantieri Marine Group, is intended to accelerate modernization of the company’s Wisconsin System of Shipyards by adding advanced cutting, forming, welding and automation capabilities. The company said the upgrades are designed to improve production efficiency and strengthen the shipyards’ ability to execute the Landing Ship Medium program and meet other current and future shipbuilding requirements.
The initiative includes about $8.3 million in Navy Shipbuilding Capability Industrial Base funding and $1.3 million through a MARAD Small Shipyard Grant. Fincantieri said the new awards build on its long-standing investments to expand and modernize American shipbuilding.
“This investment is an important demonstration of the Navy’s confidence in Fincantieri, our people and our ability to be a partner in strengthening American shipbuilding,” said George Moutafis, CEO of Fincantieri Marine Group. “It also complements our efforts to put proven advanced manufacturing technologies into the hands of our employees so that we can deliver at speed. Together, these investments are helping create the industrial capabilities, skilled workforce and modern infrastructure needed to support the Navy’s future fleet requirements.”
The Navy agreement also allows the company to continue offering its Employee Dependent Care Contribution Program through 2027. The program provides an annual tax-free $5,000 payment that the company said has helped employees offset child care and elder care costs.
Fincantieri said previous Navy SCIB funding supported development of a new Weld Lab at Fincantieri Marinette Marine that is currently underway. The company said the facility will bring more welding training, qualification and recertification in-house, helping accelerate skills development for the shipyard workforce. It is also expected to serve as a model for expanding in-house skilled-trade development across Fincantieri Marine Group’s Wisconsin shipyards, building on existing training partnerships and programs.
Fincantieri said it has invested more than $800 million in its U.S. shipyards since establishing its presence in the United States two decades ago, transforming them into what it described as one of the most advanced shipbuilding networks in the country. Through Fincantieri Marine Group, the company employs about 3,000 skilled American workers.
In addition to the federal funding, Gov. Tony Evers announced state support a day earlier, including $232,788 to train Fincantieri workers to operate and program advanced robotic welding systems.
Comments