Fairlead Integrated Breaks Ground on 40,000-SF Manufacturing Facility in Virginia Beach
December 4, 2017
Fairlead Integrated, a leading supplier of integrated electrical and control systems, large-scale mechanical fabrications and structures, precision machined metal components and subsystems, and advanced mobile containerized products, officially started construction of a new 40,000-square-foot manufacturing facility at 561 London Bridge Road in Virginia Beach.The expansion project will extend Fairlead's manufacturing footprint and allow the Hampton Roads-based company to prepare for an increased demand from military customers for new hardware and software. "We are excited about expanding and moving our operations to Virginia Beach," said Fairlead Integrated President Fred Pasquine. The new facility will produce a variety of products made to military specifications including: Control Systems: Enclosures with mechanical/electrical controls, or HMI (Human Machine Interface) displays that allow the operator to control the respective equipment, such as the aircraft elevator on nuclear-powered aircraft carriersVariable Speed Drives: Allow motors to operate at varying amounts of power. Fairlead's variable speed drives are found on Nimitz-class aircraft carriers (CVN 68-class), Guided Missile Destroyers, (DDG 51-class), LPD 17-class and LHA/LHDsCommunication and Networking: Fabricated telephone junction boxes (JB) and video distribution equipment for Nimitz-class aircraft carriersThe facility will also include a test lab that is double the size of the company's current lab. "Manufacturing is a vital segment of our economy that employs more than 51,000 workers throughout Hampton Roads," said Virginia Beach Mayor Will Sessoms. "I'm pleased that Fairlead Integrated is joining this global business community, and that its work here will also support our military around the world.""Fairlead Integrated is a veteran-owned company that will join a prestigious group of businesses and manufacturers at Oceana East Industrial Park," said Virginia Beach Economic Development Director Warren D. Harris. Fairlead Integrated has retained The Miller Group as its developer and design build contractor. In Oceana East Industrial Park alone, The Miller Group has extensive history in turn-key projects with more than 500,000 square feet developed. "The Miller Group has an impressive track record of successful client relationships, and we look forward to working with them throughout this process," said Pasquine. Fairlead's products are part of mission critical systems in the U.S. Navy's Nimitz and Ford-class aircraft carriers, Virginia-class submarines, all classes of surface combatants and amphibious ships including Arleigh Burke Class DDGs, San Antonio Class LPDs and the Littoral Combat Ship, and many classes of support and auxiliary ships of the Military Sealift Command, the Maritime Administration, and the U.S. Coast Guard. Additionally Fairlead provides repair and maintenance services to small boats and craft through its Fairlead Boatworks Division in Newport News, Va. Fairlead Integrated is headquartered in Portsmouth, Va. with facilities in Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach and Newport News.The mission of the Virginia Beach Department of Economic Development is to attract and retain national and international businesses to stimulate capital investment and create jobs. Virginia Beach is the most populous city in Virginia with a population of 450,000, and it is the 37th largest in the United States. The Department of Economic Development received re-accreditation through the International Economic Development Council in 2016 and is one of only 50 economic development organizations in the world to have this recognition. Most recently, Virginia Beach was named America's #1 best big city to live in by wallethub.com. For more information, visit www.yesvirginiabeach.com.
