Loc Performance has announced an expansion of its industry-leading Machinist Development Training Program, from Loc’s Lansing, Michigan facility to its Plymouth, Michigan headquarters. The 60-month program takes entry level participants through a combination of classroom and on-the-job training, allowing them to earn a journeyman’s card at program completion. “That journeyman’s card is issued by the U.S. Department of Labor,” says CNC Program Manager John Delisle. “It’s an important certification for us, and it serve the people who earn it for the rest of their careers. When we expand this to a second facility in the next few quarters, that will allow us to offer the program to even more members of our team.” The expanded Machinist Development Training Program will be housed alongside Loc’s Welding Development Training Program, already well-established in the Plymouth facility. Looking to the future, a continued commitment to employee development and training will play a critical role in Loc’s growth. “As a whole, our economy is seeing only about a 6% influx in skilled trades. Compare that to the 15-20% of the skilled trades workforce who is retiring or otherwise leaving the field each year, and it becomes obvious that we have to invest time and money in the people who are a part of our team,” says Delisle. In addition to a journeyman’s card, Loc’s training programs are geared toward specific areas of focus that provide pathways for continued career development, such as programming and engineering. “I absolutely love training people and helping to build their careers,” says Delisle. “I’ve done it my whole career. I take joy in seeing that lightbulb come on when things click, and helping people to build good-paying careers that they love.

Michigan-based Loc Performance Products, Inc. (Loc) has been awarded a $417 million defense contract to restore lost mobility to the Bradley Fighting Vehicle.

The U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command issued the contract as a follow-on effort to its $161 million dollar contract awarded in 2014.  Together, they represent the Army’s Bradley Fighting Vehicle Engineering Change Proposal One (ECP-1) production and fielding program. Loc began fielding in the summer of 2015 and continues today at a rate of 36 vehicles per month.

The new contract award includes scope for fielding upgraded Bradley final drive systems, in addition to the suspension and track systems being upgraded under the original 2014 contract. It also includes scope for fielding at Army fort locations in Kuwait, Germany and South Korea in addition to numerous sites within the continental United States. The follow-on award adds 2,264 vehicles to the 1,080 vehicles from the original contract, bringing the total to 3,344 in the United States’ global Bradley fleet.

“This award validates Loc as the Best Value provider of suspension, driveline and track systems for combat tracked vehicles.  The Army is driving hundreds of millions of dollars out of the system for upgrades like this through competition. Loc is well positioned to win and deliver on competitive solicitations like this Bradley ECP1 program,” said Lou Burr, President, Loc Performance.

Exlterra Inc. has signed an agreement for the production of its patented ultra-light drill rig with Michigan- based manufacturer Loc Performance Products, Inc.

Small enough to fit in a compact parking space, the drill rig utilizes an ultra-light yet durable design to be agile on site, and minimally disruptive to groundcover. The brainchild of Exlterra’s CTO Andrew Niemczyk, the drill rig will be formally unveiled later this year and primarily used to quickly plant Exlterra’s innovative energy-passive groundwater recharge product. But this versatile rig is fit for many more applications, such as well, geothermal and geotechnical drilling.

“Our rig is truly unique and requires precision work on all levels of production,” said Frank Muller, Exlterra’s CEO. “That is why we are thrilled to be working with Loc Performance. They have exceeded those requirements and have proven they are capable of manufacturing to our specifications.”

Designed to make drilling safer, faster and easier in any environmental condition, prototype testing of the drill rig was recently completed and Exlterra is now ready to begin commercial production.

“Loc Performance has been working closely with Exlterra during the development of its drill rig and we are excited to team up with such an innovative company,” said Jason Atkinson, COO at Loc Performance. “We pride ourselves on producing the highest quality products for our customers and seeing the rig’s capabilities in the field has truly been a testament to what can be accomplished between our two companies.”

Loc Performance Products, Inc. is expanding into the Lansing market, creating new jobs and enhancing manufacturing capabilities to its customers in the defense and industrial markets. (more…)

The award of a contract by the U.S. Government to Loc Performance Products, Inc. represents a trend of saving money while improving the quality of products and enhancing the safety of those serving in America’s Armed Forces.

This newest contract is for the manufacture of an armored assembly for the Army’s Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS). The contract is valued at $475 Million.

Under the contract, Loc Performance Products, based in Plymouth, Mich., will provide a newly constructed armored cab, upgrading the entire cab design in order to better protect crew members.

The contract is described as a “build to print” effort that uses a Government-provided Technical Data Package.

Lou Burr, CEO of Loc Performance Products, said the company has, since 2014, has received more than $1.1 billion in prime contracts to the Government.

“We have continued to bring a cost competitive mindset to large Government prime contract opportunities,” said Burr. “This has served to drive down cost in the industry without sacrificing delivery or performance.”

Burr also credits the company’s expertise and experience as a premier full-service manufacturer of large CNC machined components, fabricated structures, and assemblies for military and industrial applications for playing a role in the awarding of this contract.

Much of what the Government included in this contract’s performance criteria lines up with Loc’s capabilities, which includes its robust welding certification program and supply chain management integration.

LANSING, MICHIGAN, USA, April 2, 2019 — Fueled by continued strong sales growth, including a recent $475 Million contract award for the Multiple Launch Rocket System Integrated Armor Cab, Loc Performance Products, Inc. (Loc) is set to expand their large vertical machining services with this latest investment; a Ken Ichi LinMax B high speed 5-axis machining center. This Ken Ichi direct drive gantry machining center has the capability to machine fabrications up to 5.0 M (X-Axis), 3.0M (Y-Axis) by 2.0 M (Z-Axis).

This installation is part of Loc’s 2019 investment strategy to become a full service provider of hulls, turrets and large fabricated structures for both military and industrial customers and is scheduled to be operational in April, 2019. This purchase, along with a planned large horizontal boring mill is a move by Loc to expand their manufacturing capacity to supply full rolling chassis scope to its customers and aid in the development of vehicle hull structures, cab structures, armor kits and complete military vehicle systems.

“I’ve been with Loc now for 10 years and this is where my heart is,” said Jason Atkinson (pictured with the new Ken Ichi mill), COO. “The entire Loc team shares this passion to support our warfighters, and wants to see investment in Loc’s future keeping us competitive in the global market. Loc continues to invest in new machinery and technologies for our plants and this new mill will be a welcome addition. We expect to keep it very busy.”

Mr. Atkinson further commented, “A shortage of skilled labor is currently Loc’s greatest challenge in meeting customer needs. To address this shortage Loc has developed in-house apprentice programs for both machining and welding and we have dedicated resources to develop new employees. Loc currently has over 100 open positions and we expect this number to grow twofold by year end.”

Loc Performance Inc. is expanding into Sterling Heights with plans to open an engineering center and hire 15-20 people.

The Plymouth-based manufacturer and defense contractor will open by next month a 30,000-square-foot facility in an industrial area known as the Defense Corridor Center for Collaboration in Macomb County, on 14 Mile Road between Mound and Van Dyke roads, said Brent Williams, vice president of sales and marketing for the company.

Loc Performance will invest around $100,000 into the leased space at 33852 Sterling Ponds — a 97,000-square-foot warehouse where Navistar Defense LLC also rents space. Loc Performance’s lease is for three years with an option to extend.

Buildout and design are being handled in-house and include installation of new desks, expanded servers and other office equipment. Beginning early November, a handful of employees will be moved to the new location and hiring will take place over the course of a year. A company job fair is being planned in Plymouth for Nov. 6, but details on time and place are still being ironed out. The company’s website lists job openings.

Loc Performance operates a manufacturing plant in Plymouth and a fabrications facility in Lansing and employs 550 people. It supplies driveline, suspension and track systems for military and industrial vehicles. Unlike its other locations, which support military and commercial contracts, the center in Sterling Heights will focus solely on the defense industry. It will serve as a hub for design and development.

The company was awarded in August a $475 million contract by the U.S. Army for the Multiple Launch Rocket System Integrated Armor Cab, according to a news release.

“(The new location) is close to our customers and it’ll be easier to recruit talent,” Williams said.

Fueled by large military contracts, Loc Performance is investing up to $96.5 million into expansion in Plymouth and Lansing. Its projected 2018 revenue is $180 million, up $25 million from last year.