Updates expand capacity, upgrade technology and improve throughput to better serve customers and employees
Fives Giddings & Lewis has announced significant capital equipment purchases and facility upgrades aimed at expanding capacity, modernizing operations and positioning the company for long‑term growth.
The Fond du Lac manufacturer of horizontal machining centers, horizontal boring mills and vertical turning centers has invested in two major pieces of state‑of‑the‑art equipment to enhance efficiency and core manufacturing capabilities.
In late 2024, the company purchased a large universal grinding machine designed to handle internal and external grinding of cylindrical components up to 236 inches long. The machine is being designed and manufactured by sister company Fives Landis Corp., based in Hagerstown, Maryland, and is scheduled for delivery and commissioning in late 2026.
The company has also acquired a large 5‑axis metal‑cutting gantry machine manufactured by sister company Liné Machines in Granby, Quebec. The gantry will machine the largest weldments and castings used in Fives Giddings & Lewis products.
To prepare for the new gantry, the company is constructing an engineered foundation requiring approximately 400 yards of concrete and 200,000
pounds of steel rebar. Installation is expected to begin in mid‑summer, with production planned for the fourth quarter of 2026.
As part of its modernization efforts, Fives Giddings & Lewis is removing three older office‑building sections on the southwest corner of Johnson and Doty streets to create new green space and improve site efficiency.
“We have been upgrading the facility by adding LED lighting throughout and re-roofing older roof sections,” said Helene Nimmer, general manager of Fives Giddings & Lewis. “Removing these buildings represents modernization to the historic campus and reduces our carbon footprint thereby helping us achieve carbon reduction goals established by our parent company.”
“These facility modifications and capital equipment additions are an important step in positioning Fives Giddings & Lewis for the future,” Nimmer said. “By modernizing the campus and investing in new grinding and milling technology, we’re building the capacity and agility needed to support our customers and business growth.”
The investments demonstrate a long term commitment to the Fond du Lac community, the company’s customers and its employees.
About Fives Giddings & Lewis
Fives Giddings & Lewis designs and manufactures precision machine tools and solutions serving the aerospace, mining, defense, oil and gas, and power generation industries. The company is part of Fives, a global provider of engineered products, services and technologies.
About the High Precision Machines Division
Fives’ High Precision Machines division specializes in the design and supply of complete manufacturing solutions featuring a variety of technologies for machining, turning, milling, composite lamination, grinding, as well as cutting tools and abrasive wheels for numerous markets: energy, defense, aerospace, automotive, space, railways, electric vehicles, naval, etc. Its offering also includes an extensive range of services to support customers throughout the lifecycle of their installations. The division employs over 1,600 people at some 25 sites in North America (USA, Canada, Mexico), Europe (France, Italy, UK, Germany), and Asia (Japan, Korea, China).
About Fives
As an industrial engineering Group with a heritage of over 200 years, Fives designs and supplies machines, process equipment and production lines for the world’s largest industrial players in various sectors such as steel, aerospace and special machining, aluminum, the automotive and manufacturing industries, cement, energy, logistics and glass. The effectiveness of its R&D programs enables Fives to design forward-thinking solutions that anticipate industrials’ needs in terms of profitability, performance, quality, safety, and respect for the environment.
www.fivesgroup.com