Ships, Robots Take Lead in U.S. Heavy-Manufacturing Kickoffs

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Written by Will Ploch, Assistant Editor-in-Chief for IIR News Intelligence (Sugar Land, Texas)

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Summary

Concerns surrounding domestic shipbuilding are driving much of the near-term big-ticket spending in the U.S. heavy-manufacturing sector, along with robotic equipment.

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Ships Ahoy!

Calls for more U.S.-based heavy-manufacturing development are only getting louder, and companies--particularly those involved in transportation and construction equipment--are responding with a variety of projects set to kick off in the near term. Industrial Info is tracking more than $14 billion worth of capital-spending projects in the U.S. heavy-manufacturing sector that are set to begin construction in the second quarter, about 80% of which is attributed to shipbuilding and aircraft projects.

Domestic shipbuilding, in particular, has received renewed attention in recent months. The U.S. has long neglected this aspect of industrial manufacturing; while the Jones Act mandates that all vessels transporting cargo between U.S.-based ports be built, owned and operated in the U.S., skilled labor for shipbuilding is in increasingly short supply, and the costs for manufacturing a ship from scratch can be astronomical when compared with Asian-based companies.

The Jones Act also says nothing about ships involved in direct foreign trade. China, South Korea and Japan accounted for more than 95% of global shipbuilding output in 2024, according to a report that year from the UN Conference on Trade and Development, with the U.S. relying heavily on these countries for its global-transport vessels.

But this might be changing. Davie Defense, a subsidiary of private British maritime developer Inocea Group, acquired U.S.-based Gulf Copper & Manufacturing Corporation in December and is planning significant upgrades to a dry dock and shipyard in Galveston, Texas. Davie is expanding and enhancing its production of icebreaker ships, specifically the Arctic Security Cutter (ASC) model, which was fueled by an agreement among the U.S., Canada and Finland to advance shipbuilding and defense collaboration for the Arctic regions.

Davie also is weighing its options on performing major upgrades to a pair of shipyards in Port Arthur, Texas, which are part of Gulf Copper's other major manufacturing facility. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Industrial Manufacturing Plant and Project databases can learn more about these developments--including capacities, investment values and necessary equipment--from detailed reports on the proposed updates to the Galveston, Port Arthur South and Port Arthur Central yards.

By the Numbers

• More than $14 billion: Total value of U.S. heavy-manufacturing projects set to kick off in the second quarter, according to Industrial Info
• More than 95%: Share of global output for international-grade ships produced by China, South Korea and Japan

Bring on the Robots!

The robotics sector also plays a significant role in heavy-manufacturing projects set to kick off in the second quarter. KMW Limited, a developer of farm equipment, is preparing to begin construction on a robotic machinery plant in Sterling, Kansas, that will produce systems used for loaders, backhoes and other agricultural necessities. Subscribers can learn more from a detailed project report.

While it was acquired by Czech-based Agrostroj Group in 2021, KMW said in a press release that its focus remained on its long-time customers: "In addition to current KMW products, we will continue to expand our manufacturing and sales activities for both our current and new OEM [original equipment-manufacturing] partners, meeting their needs in the North American market for many years to come."

Robotics also factors into the automotive sector, where Tesla Incorporated is preparing to upgrade production lines at its facility in Fremont, California, to produce its Optimus Humanoid Robots (also called "Tesla Bots"). Perhaps the closest any company has come to making the human-like robots seen in traditional science fiction, Tesla defines these machines as "general-purpose, bipedal, autonomous robotic assistants" used to perform dangerous or mundane manual labor.

Tesla also is halting production of its Model S and Model X electric vehicle (EV) models at the Fremont plant, in favor of its refreshed Model 3 and Model Y EVs. Subscribers can learn more from a detailed project report.

Drones are another hot property in this field. BRINC Drones Incorporated is preparing for equipment additions at its plant in Seattle, Washington, where it produces its LEMUR 2 model, an indoor tactical drone used by SWAT and emergency responders, and its Responder model, an outdoor drone used for first-responder tasks such as 911 calls. Subscribers can learn more from a detailed project report.

Subscribers to Industrial Info's GMI Project Database can click here for a full list of detailed reports for capital-spending projects in the U.S. heavy-manufacturing sector that are set to begin construction in the second quarter.

Subscribers can click here for a full list of detailed reports for projects mentioned in this article and click here for a full list of related plant profiles.

Key Takeaways

• Shipbuilding accounts for a significant share of second-quarter heavy-manufacturing project kickoffs in the U.S.
• Equipment used in farming machinery and public-safety drones are among the robotics to see more development.

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About IIR News Intelligence
IIR News Intelligence is a trusted source of news for the industrial process and energy markets, powered by Industrial Info Resources' Global Market Intelligence (GMI).

About Industrial Info Resources
Industrial Info Resources (IIR News Intelligence) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking more than 250,000 current and future projects worth $30.2 trillion (USD).