Manatee manufacturer adds 185K-square-foot facility

A company whose manufacturing operation employs hundreds in Manatee County is increasing its footprint in the area.

Pierce Manufacturing, a subsidiary of Wisconsin-based Oshkosh Corp. (NYSE: OSK), is adding a 185,000-square-foot facility near its existing campus at 1512 38th Ave. E. in Bradenton, according to a statement. The company makes fire apparatus and says there are more than 35,000 Pierce apparatus on the road today.

The new space will allow for “expanded material storage and knitting, improved production flow and enhanced training capabilities,” the statement says. It is expected to be operational by mid-2026.

Pierce Manufacturing is also making updates to its existing Bradenton campus as part of a $150 million investment into all its facilities (Pierce Manufacturing also has a plant in Appleton, Wisconsin), with $70 million invested so far.

At the Bradenton campus, Pierce is expanding paint operations by adding new booth space to allow for higher capacity and improved consistency and making updates to material-handling to streamline workflows and support continued growth. The campus is also undergoing infrastructure improvements, including expanded parking capacity, improved traffic flow and enhanced security features.

“Over the past several years, Pierce has significantly expanded its Florida workforce and production capability,” Pierce Manufacturing President Marty Bass says in a statement. The company says it has added 800 new U.S. jobs and is still hiring. "These investments reflect our continued focus on building high-quality apparatus, supporting our team members, strengthening our operations and positioning Pierce to meet customer demand well into the future.”