By Bill West, West Advisory for Friends & Neighbors, published April 13, 2025.
As we look to the future, it’s worth focusing on a part of our local economy that often goes unnoticed: manufacturing.
Martin County has a surprisingly strong advanced manufacturing base, particularly in the aerospace, defense, and marine sectors. These operations are often discreet—tucked into industrial parks, working behind the scenes—but their impact is anything but small. They provide skilled, high-wage jobs, bring dollars into our region, and support a wide ecosystem of contributory businesses, from precision machining and automation to specialty fabrication and engineering.
Unlike many other sectors, manufacturing brings outside money into our community. These businesses export their products across the country and worldwide—bringing revenue back to Martin County, where it becomes payroll, equipment, investment, and local property ownership. The result is a durable, job-rich sector that strengthens everything around it.
A Diverse and Durable Base
Martin County’s manufacturing sector stretches across industries—from boats to biotech, airframes to air fresheners. It includes large, global exporters and small, family-owned shops. And while their buildings may blend in, their output reaches far beyond our borders.
– Marine Manufacturing: Legacy and Leadership
Our reputation for marine craftsmanship is nationally known—and globally respected. World-class yacht builders such as:
• Willis Custom Yachts
• Jim Smith Tournament Boats
• Garlington Landeweer Yachts
• Bonadeo Boat Works
…lead the way in performance and custom design. Supporting them is a dense network of marine systems producers like:
• Armstrong Nautical Products
• Gyro Gale Stabilizers
• Seatorque
• Bausch Enterprises
• Stuart Boatworks
These companies design, fabricate, and integrate the high-performance parts that fuel Florida’s marine dominance.
– Aerospace and Advanced Manufacturing
Aerospace and tech manufacturing is rapidly expanding in Martin County.
Notable firms include:
• Daher, investing $30 million to assemble TBM aircraft in Stuart
• Pursuit Aerospace, a global supplier of engine components
• Additec, EB Airfoils, and Probuild 3D, pioneers in additive and advanced manufacturing
• IM Group, now operating its North American HQ here
These companies contribute critical technologies to aviation, defense, and high-performance engineering—manufacturing parts and systems with global impact.
– Precision Machining & Fabrication
Smaller in footprint, but essential in function, Martin County’s fabricators and machinists make everything from brackets and housings to finely tuned aerospace components. Standouts include:
• South East Machine
• Unlimited Metal Fabricators
• Chicago Stainless
• I-Town Metalworks
• Value Tool & Engineering
These businesses serve construction, marine, defense, and infrastructure markets. They may operate quietly—but their work is foundational.
– Infrastructure & Environmental Technology
Several Martin County manufacturers support infrastructure, transportation, and environmental resiliency:
• Hog Technologies, exporting surface prep systems for airports and roadways
• Air Burners, producing biomass waste burners for wildfire control and disaster recovery
• Trenchbadger, provider of trenching tools for the irrigation industry
Their work supports real-world challenges around safety, sustainability, and infrastructure.
– Consumer & Specialty Goods
Martin County also produces branded consumer and specialty goods with reach far beyond the county line:
• Old Florida Tortilla Chips
• Paradise Air Fresheners
• 3D Potter, maker of ceramic 3D printers
• Custom Agronomics, Bioserene, and Awareness Technology
Biotech and Health Sciences
These companies reflect the creativity and entrepreneurial strength of our local economy.
The PSM Expansion: A Signal of What’s Next
Among the newest additions to this industrial landscape is Power Systems Manufacturing (PSM). Known for its work in gas turbine systems, the company is now launching a new aerospace division—right here in Martin County.
PSM will occupy 185,000 square feet at South Florida Gateway, bringing 101 new high-wage jobs and over $17 million in capital investment. The project shows that Martin County can not only compete—but win—against major metro areas when it comes to attracting clean, high-skill industry.
Small Footprint, Outsized Impact
Just 4% of Martin County is zoned for industrial and commercial use, yet those properties contribute nearly 25% of the County’s general fund revenue. That’s an impressive return—and a strong argument for strategic investment in industrial space and workforce-ready infrastructure.
Most of these businesses are locally owned. Many own their real estate. And nearly all of them reinvest here—in equipment, in talent, and in long-term community value.
Looking Ahead
Martin County isn’t chasing smokestacks. But we are building something that lasts. These manufacturers are proving clean, advanced, small-footprint industry that not only belongs here—it thrives here. And as demand for domestic production grows, we’re in a strong position to lead.
The companies are here. They’re hiring. They’re investing. And they’re building the next chapter of Martin County’s economy—quietly, capably, and right on time.
Bill West’s opinions are his own and may not reflect Friends & Neighbors’ viewpoint.
