Dive Brief:
- DMR Technologies is spending $1.4 million establishing its first full-scale drone manufacturing facility in Lafayette, Louisiana, the state’s economic development agency announced Oct. 2.
- The 10,000-square-foot plant will serve as the Detroit-based company’s primary domestic production hub, integrating advanced flight control printing, rotor manufacturing, assembly, quality control and logistics, according to the press release.
- The site is expected to create 521 jobs over the next 10 years, with an average annual salary of $85,000, as well as 766 indirect jobs. Renovations are currently underway and production is set to begin by year’s end.
Dive Insight:
North America has the largest agriculture drones market, which is currently valued at $5.4 billion and is expected to reach $12.7 billion by 2030, according to market research firm Mordor Intelligence.
The growth could be due in part to the reforming of drone regulations, Mordor noted. In August, the Trump administration proposed a rule to revamp the authorization process for longer-distance drone operations, aiming to simplify the process for operators to obtain regulatory approval.
DMR anticipates the facility will assemble 500 to 1,000 drones within its first year of production, according to the press release.
The manufacturer is shifting production of its precision agriculture drone model, the Field Ranger X50 model, in an effort to shorten lead times, improve regulatory compliance and strengthen its domestic supply chain capabilities.
The facility will also house space for engineering and compliance teams focused on quality testing.
The existing industrial building is strategically located in the Acadiana region, providing easy access to Lafayette Regional/Paul Fournet Field Airport and the Port of Iberia. The area also stands at the intersection of Interstates 10 and 49, between the Houston and New Orleans markets, granting access to other U.S. customers through the Mississippi River and to international markets via the Gulf of Mexico, according to the economic development organization One Acadiana.
The location provides DMR Technologies with a “strong logistics footprint” to serve its U.S. and international customers, Ryan Case, co-founder and U.S. operations head, stated in a press release.
“This isn’t just about production — it’s about access,” Case said in a statement. “With the launch of our Lafayette facility, we’re eliminating lead time issues and delivering next-day fulfillment for many of our U.S. customers.”
The location also provides the company with the infrastructure and policy environment that DMR Technologies needs to ramp up production and operate efficiently, David Wang, co-founder and CEO, stated in a press release.
Additionally, it will enable the drone manufacturer to build up its partnership with Lafayette Parish-based agricultural sales and services company SoLA Drones, Wang said. In addition to DMR’s agricultural drones, SoLA will also offer the manufacturer’s thermal drones as well as a new line of first-person view recreational drones, according to the sales company’s website.