Youngstown, OH; Toronto, ON; and Stuttgart, Germany – Last week, the U.S. defense sector reached a major milestone with the official construction launch of UNION’s new production facility, ‘Factory 1” in Texas. Once fully operational, the facility, aptly called the “Factory of the Future”, will house two identical, fully automated Macrodyne USA Inc. press lines, significantly strengthening US 155mm manufacturing and rebuilding critical domestic and global stockpiles.
“At a time when collective defense is more important than ever, this project reinforces our commitment to America’s wartime readiness and the strength of our global partnerships,” said Kevin Fernandes, President of Macrodyne Technologies USA Inc. “We’re proud to play a role in enabling production that supports not only U.S. forces, but also our NATO allies and defense partners around the world.”
Jeffrey Walsh, Director of Business Development at Macrodyne, was on-site for the inauguration, joining UNION leadership, defense stakeholders and industry officials to mark the beginning of this critical national security initiative.
Each line will be fully equipped to manufacture a 155mm shell from start to finish, beginning with raw steel bars and ending with finished, painted shells ready for crating. Key production cells include billet cutting and heating, forging, drawing, initial and final machining, nosing, heat treating, banding, painting, and crating. The entire process is fully automated and features end-to-end part tracking and state-of-the-art inspection at every stage.
“We’re honored to play a role in reshoring critical munitions production,” said Walsh. “This isn’t just a project. It’s a mission. Macrodyne’s presses and automation are engineered for reliability, performance and precision, which is exactly what this moment calls for. We’re proud to support UNION and the U.S. defense industry in delivering security through manufacturing.”
Production of first article shells is expected to begin by the end of this year, with the second line ramping up in 2026.
“Building a factory from a clean sheet is a chance to do it right. That’s why UNION picked Macrodyne for the most crucial process in our factory: our forging equipment,” said Russell Varone, Head of Factory Operations at UNION.
Chip Hayden, VP of Kinetics and Energetics Systems at Regulus Global, standing in front of a 20’ tall banner of the twin forging presses. The actual presses will be 40’ tall. “Watching Macrodyne and UNION working together to design and build this factory of the future is awe-inspiring,” said Hayden in an interview with Macrodyne. “There are certainly a lot of smart people on both teams.”
From left to right: Jeffrey Walsh, Director of Business Development at Macrodyne Technologies USA Inc.; Joe Musselman, Adam Hoch, and Sam Weintraub, Co-Founders of UNION; Jonathan Reiland, Head of Manufacturing; and Will Somerindyke, CEO — all gathered in Texas to celebrate the launch of UNION’s Factory of the Future: a state-of-the-art facility for 155mm shell production, powered by Macrodyne.
“America should never encounter a fair fight. We have this decade to win the next century of deterrence — we must forge steel in America once again,” said Joe Musselman, Co-Founder and Chairman of UNION, and Managing Partner of BVVC. “The safety of Americans will be won by production, not false promises or panel discussions. UNION will lead the way.”
That spirit of bold execution is exactly what drew Macrodyne to the partnership.
“UNION isn’t just building a plant. They’re building the blueprint for the future of defense manufacturing,” said Walsh. “Smart, fully automated, and built with bold vision. It’s exciting to be part of something this forward-thinking, and we’re proud they’ve chosen to partner with Macrodyne to help bring that vision to life.”
The energy on the ground reflects that ambition.
The scale of the project demands a partner that can move fast and deliver flawlessly.
“Big projects need serious capability,” says Fernandes. “Macrodyne brings the scale, speed and execution needed to get it done, with facilities across North America and Europe to prove it.”
Mission accepted. Timeline locked. American production is back, and it’s just getting started.
Built for the future. In Texas, a new generation is watching the rebirth of American manufacturing, one massive press at a time.
Crowded house! Over 600 dignitaries and invited guests gathered to witness the launch of a new benchmark in U.S. defense manufacturing.
About Macrodyne Technologies USA Inc.
With manufacturing locations in the U.S., Canada, Germany, and Mexico, Macrodyne Technologies USA Inc. is the low-risk partner of choice for defense manufacturers worldwide. Our presses and turnkey manufacturing lines are purpose-built for defense applications, and every system we deliver is engineered for maximum uptime, safety, and repeatability.
Macrodyne doesn’t just build great presses. They deliver fully integrated automated solutions that include all upstream and downstream equipment required to fill an entire manufacturing facility. These turnkey lines maximize performance, efficiency, and reliability from start to finish.
Macrodyne systems support a wide range of mission-critical defense and aerospace applications, including:
- Weaponry, barrels, breeches, and large projectile shells
- Aerospace and drone components
- Ceramic and metal ballistic plates and body armor
- Submarine and shipbuilding forged components
- Energetics compaction, TNT filling, and cryofracture for EOD
- Steel and rubber tracks, drive systems, and armored vehicle components
Learn More About Our Defense Capabilities
Watch a Video on Our Press and Automation Solutions for the Defense Industry
Media Contact:
Katrina Geenevasen
Marketing Manager for Macrodyne
kgeenevasen@macrodynepress.com
About UNION Technologies
UNION Technologies is rebuilding America’s defense manufacturing backbone with a groundbreaking Factories-as-a-Stockpile™ model — software-defined, automation-driven, and built for resilience.
Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, UNION integrates advanced robotics, agile manufacturing, and continuous improvement into sovereign, scalable factory systems. The mission? Restore U.S. industrial dominance and ensure strategic deterrence for the challenges of the 21st century and beyond.
