Announced in the same week, Beretta-owned Swedish-headquartered Norma is launching a $60 million/600-job factory project in Georgia while Italy’s Fiocchi is growing its operations in Arkansas with a $41.5 million/120-job ammo primer plant (which will be just one of six in the country).
I guess it is easy to figure out that Americans want bullets and, as overseas car makers have long ago figured out, it is probably cheaper to make them here rather than to ship them here.
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Fiocchi
LECCO, Italy, and LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (November 15, 2022) – Fiocchi, a global leader in defensive, target, and hunting ammunition, announced today the selection of a 281-acre site in the Port of Little Rock, Arkansas for a new ammunition primer manufacturing facility, expanding its operations presence in Little Rock. Representing a $41.5 million investment and a 120-person workforce expansion, the new production operation will pave the way for future growth in Arkansas and provide much-needed primer supply relief for the broader ammunition manufacturing segment.
The new facility will be one of only six primer manufacturing operations in the U.S. and the only dedicated lead-free primer plant in the world. Fiocchi evaluated five locations across three states for the expansion. Little Rock was selected as the preferred location after a thorough site selection search that evaluated real estate compatibility, logistical infrastructure, workforce capability, and support from state and local leadership.
This new initiative follows three major acquisitions by Fiocchi over the last two years, including premium shotshell manufacturers Baschieri & Pellagri and Lyalvale Express, plus a division of Grandeur Fasteners of Little Rock, AR. The latter provided Fiocchi the opportunity to stand up the expansive Little Rock Operations and to pave the way for the new primer manufacturing facility.
“This groundbreaking represents another significant milestone in Fiocchi’s long-term plan to strengthen and expand our manufacturing capabilities,” said Maurizio Negro, Fiocchi Group CEO, “and to bolster primer supplies not only for Fiocchi products but also to increase supplies for the ammunition manufacturing industry at large. We sincerely appreciate the support of Governor Hutchinson, Secretary of Commerce Mike Preston, Jack Thomas of the Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, Bryan Day of the Port of Little Rock, and all partners involved who helped make this possible.”
Part of Fiocchi’s ongoing vertical integration strategy, the new primer facility will allow the company to meet internal primer supply needs, focus on its low environmental impact initiatives, and present second-sourcing opportunities for industry contracts.
Fiocchi is the technology leader in lead- and heavy-metal-free primers and is the only manufacturer of lead-free primers to receive NATO qualification. This new initiative compliments Fiocchi’s major commitments to the sustainable technology segment, which includes lead-free projectiles, non-toxic shot, and biodegradable components under the company’s EnviroShield initiative.
“Our focus on Little Rock for this major expansion comes from an ideal alignment of several considerations,” said Fiocchi of America President and CEO Anthony Acitelli. “Aside from our strong ties with the state and local governments, Arkansas has a highly experienced and energetic labor force to call upon. Furthermore, streamlined logistics with other plant operations combined with management and supply chain efficiencies make Little Rock a logical choice. We will also benefit from logistical synergies with our ammo manufacturing industry partners.”
“Today I am pleased to celebrate Fiocchi’s growth, which is also a demonstration of the continued expansion of the firearms and ammunition industry in our state,” Governor Asa Hutchinson said. “Over the past several years, my team and I have had opportunity to build a relationship with Fiocchi—meeting with Fiocchi leadership during our visits to the SHOT Show, which is the industry’s leading trade show, and even during my most recent trade mission to Europe. Fiocchi’s decision to grow in Arkansas speaks to the significance of maintaining the business-friendly climate that Arkansas is becoming so well known for.”
“Fiocchi is another wonderful example of foreign direct investment in Little Rock and the 120 jobs created will have a lasting impact in our community,” said Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott, Jr. “Fiocchi had multiple options for this expansion and we are thankful for their investment in Little Rock.”
“For the past eight years, Governor Hutchinson has made firearms and ammunition a priority industry to grow and diversify our state’s economy,” said Secretary of Commerce Mike Preston. “Governor Hutchinson was the first Arkansas governor to attend the SHOT Show, and he has led an Arkansas delegation to the show every year since then in an effort to actively pursue and welcome premier companies like Fiocchi to Arkansas. For more than a century, Fiocchi has been a leader in its industry, and we have witnessed firsthand their commitment and excellence in business. This expansion will help Fiocchi reach more customers as they continue to strengthen their brand throughout the region, and we are excited to celebrate alongside them today.”
“Fiocchi joins a growing list of world-class international businesses choosing to locate at the Port of Little Rock,” said Pulaski County Judge Barry Hyde. “Fiocchi is a leader in sustainable technology, and we are proud to welcome their investment in Pulaski County.”
“The best compliment a community can receive is when a company invests, then turns around two years later and doubles down on their investment,” said Jim Cargill, 2022 Chairman of the Little Rock Regional Chamber. “This significant investment signals that Fiocchi is pleased with our regional workforce and business climate in Central Arkansas.”
“We are proud to welcome Fiocchi to the Port of Little Rock, said Bobby Brown, Chair of the Little Rock Port Authority Board of Directors. “Fiocchi’s advanced manufacturing facility will be a great addition to our growing industrial park, and we look forward to their success.”
Fiocchi will begin construction in 2023 and anticipates its first stage of operational capacity of its Little Rock primer manufacturing facility in early 2025. For more information about Fiocchi ammunition, including inquiries about available positions, visit FiocchiUSA.com. To view a site map and approved images, visit this link.
About Fiocchi:
Since 1983, Fiocchi of America has been based in Ozark, Missouri. As a stand-alone US-based arm of the greater Fiocchi global brand, Fiocchi of America continues to integrate and launch new products directed towards the US market. In 2020, Fiocchi furthers its expansion of products in the hunting, conceal carry, self-defense, and law enforcement market channels. Fiocchi offers a full portfolio of target and hunting shotshells, centerfire rifle and pistol ammunition, match and standard grade rimfire .22LR, specialty and classic cartridges, reloading components and blanks.
About the Arkansas Economic Development Commission
The Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC), a division of the Arkansas Department of Commerce, seeks to create economic opportunity by attracting higher-paying jobs, expanding and diversifying local economies in the state, increasing incomes and investment, and generating positive growth throughout The Natural State. Arkansas is a pro-business environment operating leaner, faster and more focused through a streamlined state government designed to act on corporate interests quickly and decisively. For more information, visit www.ArkansasEDC.com. The Arkansas Department of Commerce is the umbrella department for workforce and economic development drivers. Its divisions and regulatory boards include Division of Aeronautics, Waterways Commission, Wine Producers Council, Division of Workforce Services, Office of Skills Development, State Bank Department, Insurance Department, Securities Department, Economic Development Commission and Development Finance Authority. It was established July 2019 as part of Governor Asa Hutchinson’s wide-sweeping efficiency and transformation efforts to reduce 42 cabinet agencies to 15 while maintaining services for all Arkansans.
About the Little Rock Regional Chamber
The Little Rock Regional Chamber is the principal business-driven leadership organization responsible for fostering the economic growth and development of the Little Rock region to ensure that business and industry may operate profitably and enhance the earning opportunities and quality of life for every citizen. For more information, visit littlerockchamber.com.
About the Port of Little Rock:
Established in 1959, the Port of Little Rock drives economic development by providing a world-class transportation hub that connects Arkansas to the global economy. Under the leadership of the Little Rock Port Authority, the Port is a unique intermodal transportation center featuring a 4,000-acre industrial park, two full-service river terminals, its own switching railroad and a slackwater harbor on the 448-mile McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System. The Port is designated as a U.S. Customs Point of Entry and Foreign Trade Zone 14.
Norma
ATLANTA – November 20 – Governor Brian P. Kemp today announced that Beretta Holding S.A., through its subsidiary Norma Precision Inc., will expand its footprint in Georgia and build a new manufacturing, assembly, and distribution facility in Bryan County. The $60 million project will create 600 new jobs for which the company is currently hiring.
“It is a testament to Georgia’s strong workforce and economy that companies continually choose to further invest and expand their operations in the No. 1 state for business,” said Governor Kemp. “Norma Precision is already hiring hardworking Georgians on our coast, and this new facility will support healthy communities across the Savannah area. We look forward to the opportunities this creates for years to come.”
Norma Precision, formerly a U.S. subsidiary of Ammotec Inc., was recently acquired by Beretta Holding S.A., one of the world’s oldest industrial groups. Norma Precision will continue to develop and produce high-end ammunition to serve key markets in the hunting, sporting goods, optics, military, and law enforcement sectors.
“Norma Precision manufactured ammunition in the United States for 12 years as RUAG Ammotec USA. The past four years have been remarkable in terms of steady growth. With this expansion and focus on the Norma ammunition brand, we will continue to grow while better serving our customers and industry partners in the United States and abroad,” said Dr. Pietro Gussalli Beretta, President and CEO of Beretta Holding S.A. “I am pleased with all that Georgia has to offer to our company, and I am confident this long-term partnership will be mutually beneficial.”
“This new facility offers Norma Precision a significant opportunity to expand our small arms ammunition manufacturing and distribution operations to meet our customer expectations in the United States and abroad,” said Paul Lemke, CEO of Norma Precision. “We are thankful for the support provided by Bryan County, Chatham County, local communities, and the State of Georgia, and look forward to partnering with everyone as we hire, train, and transfer the staff required to manufacture, sell, and distribute Norma world-class ammunition and trade goods.”
Norma Precision’s new 300,000-square-foot facility will be located at Interstate Centre III in Bryan County, a Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development (GRAD) certified site. To earn GRAD certification, a property must undergo due diligence and complete specific certification requirements prior to a visit by a prospective business. Following completion of the new facility, operations from the Chatham County location will be moved to Bryan County. Current employees at the Chatham County facility will have the option to transfer to the new facility.
The company is currently hiring multiple positions and experience levels in manufacturing, distribution, HR, marketing, and sales. Individuals interested in career opportunities with the company are encouraged to visit www.NormaShooting.com for additional information.
“We are very excited to share the news about the decision of Norma Precision to locate a new manufacturing facility in Interstate Centre III,” said Development Authority of Bryan County Chairman Jon Seagraves. “It’s not often you are able to work with a company like Norma Precision, which is backed by the nearly 500 years of experience and tradition that comes with Beretta Holding. Our team has been working hard on this project for a few years now, and we are thrilled to celebrate this great win for our community and officially welcome the company to Bryan County.”
“GPA welcomes Norma Precision’s growth in the region,” said Griff Lynch, Executive Director of the Georgia Ports Authority. “The company is a valued member of our manufacturing community, and its expansion here in Georgia is a testament to the state’s broad logistics network and its ability to reach major domestic and global markets efficiently.”
Senior Project Manager Fernanda Kirchner represented the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) on this project in partnership with the Development Authority of Bryan County, Georgia Ports Authority, Georgia Power, the State of Georgia Europe Office, and Georgia Quick Start.
“Projects of this size benefit entire regions of the state. Whether it’s through hiring or partnering with local suppliers, the economic impact of Norma Precision’s new facility will be felt across county lines,” said GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson. “Part of having a business-friendly environment is cooperation between communities, and it’s one of the reasons that Georgia’s a top state to do business. Bryan and Chatham counties worked together to create an innovative solution to secure Norma Precision’s new jobs for Georgians in the region. Thank you to everyone who helped make this happen!”
About Norma Precision Inc.
Norma Precision Inc. was a wholly owned subsidiary of RUAG Ammotec Inc., a Lichtenstein holding company. Recently, Beretta Holding S.A., a 500-year-old family company, purchased RUAG Ammotec Inc. Through its international subsidiaries, RUAG Ammotec Inc. developed and produced high-end munitions with key markets in the defense, law enforcement, hunting, and sporting goods sectors. The company employed over 2,257 through operations in 12 countries, which will now be managed by Beretta.
About Beretta Holding S.A.
Beretta Holding S.A., led by Dott. Pietro Gussalli Beretta, is the parent company of the famous industrial Group, recognized worldwide leader in the sector of premium light firearms, premium ammunition, optics, clothing, and accessories dedicated to hunting, sporting, outdoor, defense, and law enforcement. The Beretta Holding Group is one of the oldest family-owned businesses in the world, with a prestigious heritage of 500 years of experience in the industry.
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