The expansion, being developed with the Pomeranian Regional Development Agency, will nearly double FMD’s overall production capacity for davits and maritime handling equipment. The systems are used to launch and recover crewed and autonomous vessels from naval platforms.
FMD broke ground on the project on August 13 alongside representatives of the regional development agency and local and regional officials. The facility is scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of 2027 and will have capacity to produce as many as 150 davits annually.
“Poland’s Słupsk District was a clear choice for establishing our Davit Manufacturing Centre of Excellence given its strategic location, strong regional infrastructure and skilled workforce,” said Rolf Andreas Wigand, FMD Managing Director of Davits. “The nearly 7 million euro investment will not only enhance production capacity and output, it will also advance European strategic autonomy. By strengthening nearshore European manufacturing and supply chains, FMD can ensure allied navies have lifecycle support on the continent to execute increasingly dynamic missions in a contested maritime domain.”
Around €5 million of the investment will fund new buildings, while €1.9 million will go toward production equipment and a test yard. The project will expand the plant from 3,000 square meters to 5,600 square meters, adding dedicated areas for steel fabrication, machining, assembly and testing.
The enlarged facility will produce systems from FMD businesses Vestdavit and Welin Lambie and support hydraulic and electrical assembly and winch installation. Its layout will allow multiple davits to be assembled in parallel, while additional CNC machining and testing capacity is intended to shorten production cycles and support higher output.
FMD expects employment at the facility to increase by about 30% over the next three years as production expands. The company is working with local municipalities and educational institutions to recruit welders, electricians, hydraulic technicians, assemblers and engineers for manufacturing, maintenance and lifecycle support.
The investment will also strengthen FMD’s manufacturing and sustainment presence in Europe as NATO countries increase demand for naval equipment. By locating additional production capacity in Poland, the company aims to reduce delivery and support timelines while relying more heavily on regional supply chains.
The Redzikowo expansion forms part of FMD’s effort to increase production of shipboard handling systems while maintaining capacity for future manufacturing programs. The site is being designed to support both current davit production and additional FMD programs as European and NATO requirements develop.
