INDUSTRY NEWS
Lockheed Martin and GM Defense MoU
On 16 June 2026, Lockheed Martin and GM Defense announced a new collaboration to strengthen America’ s manufacturing and defence industrial base, facilitated by the U. S. Department of War. Working under a memorandum of understanding( MoU), Lockheed Martin and GM Defense will explore opportunities to“ accelerate the delivery of critical capabilities and innovation by combining Lockheed Martin’ s defence production expertise with General Motors’ advanced industrial capabilities in high-rate commercial manufacturing and engineering.”
The collaboration will focus on three areas: strengthening defence supply chains, advancing manufacturing and design capabilities, and evaluating opportunities to expand production capacity through commercial manufacturing expertise and infrastructure. Initial efforts will include exploring ways to accelerate production readiness and apply proven commercial manufacturing approaches to support defence production requirements.
“ America’ s security depends not only on developing advanced technologies, but on our ability to produce them quickly, reliably and at scale,” said Frank St. John, CEO, Lockheed Martin.“ This collaboration brings together two leaders in American manufacturing and innovation to explore new ways to strengthen the defence industrial base, expand production capacity and accelerate delivery of critical capabilities for the United States and its allies.”
“ Working together, GM Defense and Lockheed will further strengthen American manufacturing and national defence by driving greater speed, efficiency and innovation in the aerospace and defence sectors,” said Steve duMont, President of GM Defense.“ Over the coming weeks, we will be working to identify initial projects to pursue together.”
The collaboration reflects growing demand for greater production capacity, supplychain resilience and manufacturing agility across the defence sector. By combining commercial and defence expertise, the companies aim to identify opportunities that can accelerate production timelines while maintaining the quality, performance and reliability standards required for missioncritical systems.
Lockheed Martin is a global defence technology company. GM Defense delivers integrated vehicles, power and autonomy and connectivity solutions to global defence, security and government markets. Its parent company is General Motors. n
www
. lockheedmartin. com
www. gmdefensellc. com
Voortman invests in its U. S. production
To strengthen its presence in the U. S. market, Voortman( a manufacturer of steel processing machines) has invested more than US $ 50-(€ 45-) million in a new production facility in Monee, Illinois( USA). Its first Americanbuilt machine was recently delivered to Phoenix, Arizona.
“ This underscores our dedication to serving the North American market with localised manufacturing and service. At the same time, it creates over 100 jobs and demonstrates commitment to the region. With growing demand for advanced steel processing solutions in North America, this investment in local manufacturing reflects a clear focus on customer value. U. S.-based production shortens lead times, improves responsiveness and service, and strengthens collaboration with customers while maintaining trusted quality and greater supply chain control,” Voortman told ISMR.
Ben Morrall, President of Voortman USA, explained:“ We combine global expertise with strong local execution to support our customers. This step reinforces our commitment to the region and as a long-term partner, helping customers to grow, automate and stay competitive.”
Mark Denzler, President / CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, and Ben Morrall, President of Voortman USA.
The next phase of growth
The 27-acre site( 11-12 hectares) houses a modern 20,000-square-foot( 1,900-squaremetre) office and 80,000-square-foot( 7200-square-metre) production facility. Activities such as machine assembly, a training facility and additional parts- and consumable storage have been brought in-house in Monee, creating over 100 jobs in the region. The new facility also features an experience centre for visitors.
Mark Denzler, President & CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, commented:“ Voortman represents best-inclass manufacturing, combining cutting-edge technology with a complete, end-to-end approach. Expanding its production in the U. S. means faster delivery, stronger customer support and even greater reliability.”
The Illinois facility supports Voortman’ s
Voortman production facility in Monee, Illinois( USA).
long-term growth in North America with the scalability to meet future demand.“ This is just the beginning,” added Morrall.“ Our goal is to continue investing in solutions and capabilities that help our customers succeed. Now and in the future.”
Voortman Steel Machinery is a global manufacturer of CNC steel processing machines with integrated business software for the structural steel and plate processing industry. With decades of engineering expertise and a strong focus on innovation, it helps customers to automate and optimise their production processes. The company is headquartered in the Netherlands with 750 + employees and supported by its own worldwide service network for customers in over 40 countries. n
www. voortman. net
12 | ismr. net | ISMR July / August 2026