Fairbanks Morse Expands Poland Naval Davit Production

Fairbanks Morse Defense is investing €6.98 million to expand its naval equipment manufacturing site in Redzikowo, Poland, establishing the facility as its global Davit Manufacturing Centre of Excellence. The project will increase annual davit production by 80%, with capacity for up to 150 systems per year when the expanded plant is completed in the fourth quarter of 2027. 

The investment gives the U.S.-based marine defense supplier a larger manufacturing and lifecycle-support base inside Europe as NATO navies expand fleets and introduce more crewed and autonomous maritime systems. Davits and related launch-and-recovery equipment allow warships and other vessels to deploy and recover boats, unmanned platforms and mission equipment at sea.

Redzikowo plant will grow from 3,000 to 5,600 square meters

Fairbanks Morse Defense broke ground on the expansion on August 13 in cooperation with the Pomeranian Regional Development Agency and local and regional authorities. About €5 million of the investment will fund new buildings, while €1.9 million will finance production equipment and a test yard. 

The project will expand the existing Redzikowo facility from 3,000 square meters to 5,600 square meters. New production areas will cover steel fabrication, machining, assembly and testing, while additional computer numerical control machining capacity will support higher throughput. 

The enlarged plant will handle hydraulic and electrical assembly as well as winch installation. Its production layout will allow several davit systems to move through assembly simultaneously, supporting the planned increase in annual output.

Fairbanks Morse Defense also expects employment at the Polish operation to rise by approximately 30% over the next three years. Recruitment will focus on welders, electricians, hydraulic technicians, assemblers and engineers, with the company working alongside municipalities and educational institutions. 

Vestdavit acquisition made Poland part of FMD network

The Redzikowo operation became part of Fairbanks Morse Defense through its 2025 acquisition of Norwegian marine handling specialist Vestdavit. Fairbanks Morse Defense acquired all equity in the company for an undisclosed amount, adding Vestdavit's Polish manufacturing operation and service facilities in the Netherlands and the United States to its network. 

Vestdavit brought more than four decades of experience and a record of more than 2,200 delivered davit systems. Its customer base includes the U.S. Navy, UK Royal Navy and Canadian Coast Guard, as well as NATO fleets including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Finland and Norway. 

The acquisition also placed Vestdavit alongside British davit manufacturer Welin Lambie within the Fairbanks Morse Defense portfolio. The expanded Polish facility is planned to manufacture systems from both businesses, consolidating a larger share of the group's European davit production at Redzikowo. 

Welin Lambie already supplies davits for major naval platforms, including U.S. Navy Ford-class aircraft carriers. Fairbanks Morse Defense has also secured a support framework covering Welin Lambie systems in the U.S. Coast Guard fleet, with options extending through 2030. 

Poland gains another role in NATO naval supply chains

The significance of the investment extends beyond an 80% increase in factory output. Redzikowo will give Fairbanks Morse Defense a larger European production base for equipment that navies require throughout a vessel's service life, including manufacturing, maintenance and lifecycle support.

Locating that capacity in Poland also shortens the industrial chain between production and European naval customers. Fairbanks Morse Defense has identified regional supply chains and on-continent lifecycle support as objectives of the project as NATO countries increase demand for maritime equipment. 

The location is notable because Poland's defense-industrial expansion has largely been associated with land systems, missiles, air defense and ammunition. The Redzikowo investment adds a smaller but specialized maritime manufacturing segment tied directly to multinational naval programs rather than only Polish procurement.

For Fairbanks Morse Defense, the project follows a broader expansion beyond its traditional naval engine business. Acquisitions have added davits, propulsion equipment, valves, motors and other shipboard technologies to the company's portfolio, increasing its exposure to both new ship construction and long-term fleet sustainment. 

Questions about the Fairbanks Morse Defense Poland expansion

How much is Fairbanks Morse Defense investing in Poland?

Fairbanks Morse Defense is investing €6.98 million in the Redzikowo facility. Approximately €5 million will go toward new buildings and €1.9 million toward production equipment and a test yard. 

How much will naval davit production increase?

The company expects annual output to increase by 80%. The expanded facility will have capacity to manufacture as many as 150 davits per year. 

When will the Redzikowo expansion be completed?

Fairbanks Morse Defense expects construction to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2027. The project will increase the facility's area from 3,000 to 5,600 square meters. 

What will Fairbanks Morse Defense manufacture in Poland?

The plant will manufacture davit and maritime handling systems associated with Fairbanks Morse Defense businesses Vestdavit and Welin Lambie. These systems support the launch and recovery of crewed and autonomous craft from naval vessels. 

The Redzikowo expansion positions Poland as a more substantial part of Fairbanks Morse Defense's European manufacturing network. With completion scheduled for late 2027, the next indicator will be whether the additional capacity translates into new European naval contracts and a larger share of NATO launch-and-recovery system production.