Newport News Shipbuilding to Spend $28 Million, Expand Hampton Facility into Factory

Newport News Shipbuilding will expand an existing assembly building in Hampton, Virginia into a light manufacturing advanced technology building to support the company’s submarine and aircraft carrier business, according to an announcement from Hampton Mayor Jimmy Gray and local news media. The shipbuilding company, a subsidiary of Huntington Ingalls Industries, will spend $28 million to convert an existing building previously used as an assembly building into a light manufacturing facility.

According to the city’s website, Mayor Gray announced the investment and renovation in a December 3 State of the City luncheon and said it would employ 300 in roles related to building aircraft carriers and submarines. Local news source Virginia Business reported that many of the 300 workers will be relocated NNS employees, and that the 150,000-square-foot building will host 3D printing technology.

In remarks, Gray said the expansion underscored the company’s involvement in the city. “These projects speak to the importance of shipbuilding and the defense industry to Hampton’s economy and the Livelihood of our residents,” Gray said.

Virginia Business added that NNS’s VP of Human Resources, Xavier Beale, told luncheon attendees in a video address that the expansion would strengthen NNS’s relationship with the city and use advanced additive manufacturing technology to print an array of alloys.