The U.S. Army is investing $41.7 million in its manufacturing center at Watervliet, N.Y., to position the Arsenal to better support the emerging readiness needs of U.S. and foreign militaries. The Arsenal, which includes 650 machines and heat-treatment facilities, has received more than $100 million in new orders over what it had at this same point in time last year. In an effort to support the rise in readiness requirements, as well as the potential for tens of thousands of more direct labor hours to support future contracts, the Army had to invest now to upgrade the Arsenal’s infrastructure.

Due to the complexity of some of the larger machines and the challenges of preparing foundations to support them, the final machine from this investment may not be on-line until 2020. However, some of the smaller, less complex machines may arrive in 2018.

The Watervliet Arsenal is an Army-owned-and-operated manufacturing facility that is the oldest, continuously active arsenal in the country, having begun operations during the War of 1812.