Viega Bets Big: German Giant Invests $200M On Ohio Plant
Viega’s carbon-neutral Mantua plant is a no-nonsense blueprint to bring their trusted global press technology closer to U.S. customers
Viega's commitment to creating highly skilled jobs in the U.S. underscores the positive impact of this expansion. The Ohio facility is expected to generate a tremendous number of new jobs, fostering local economic growth, community and developing tomorrow’s workforce. This focus on human capital is crucial for sustaining innovation and maintaining a competitive edge in the industry. The economic ripple effect extends to local businesses such as restaurants, shops and service providers. We strongly believe in the local for local (made in the U.S.) concept and are already looking at additional investments beyond the current plan.
Marki Huston, CEO, Viega North America
From Beer Taps to Battleships
Viega started in 1899 crafting brass beer taps in Germany. Today, its press technology Propress® and Megapress® will be produced in Ohio—fast, flame-free pipe connections—powers marine vessels, AI data centers, and high-rise construction sites. The Mantua, OH plant, part of a $200 million investment, positions Viega to serve 60% of the U.S. market in a single day, significantly cutting delivery times and costs. It’s a calculated move that taps into Ohio’s deep manufacturing muscle, positioning Viega to join the next wave of industrial leadership in a state whose legacy was forged by pioneers like Rockefeller’s Standard Oil in Cleveland, the Wright Brothers’ aviation breakthroughs in Dayton, Goodyear and Firestone in Akron, and the precision machining of the Dayton-to-Youngstown corridor.
Viega’s U.S. journey started in 1999, bringing its century-old legacy of press fittings to the American market. By 2016, it was producing MegaPress fittings in McPherson, Kansas, and advancing PEX resin processing to shrink its environmental footprint. In 2017, it moved its North American headquarters to Broomfield, Colorado, while also training 25,000 professionals at its Nashua, New Hampshire center. Mantua, nestled in the Turnpike Commerce Center, is more than an expansion—it’s Viega anchoring itself in a region poised to lead America’s industrial revival, offering a blueprint for hard tech founders and investors rethinking where manufacturing scales.
Inside Viega's Smart Ohio Factory
Viega’s Mantua plant, opening July 2025, is all-electric and carbon-neutral, buying green energy to meet manufacturing’s future head-on. Certified for Navy ships, its leak-proof fittings deliver water and fire safety without welding, saving builders time on skyscrapers to data centers. They cut labor costs by 60%—think finishing a high-rise plumbing job in days, not weeks—and installation time by 50%. For AI data centers, they keep servers cool; for clean energy, they support hydrogen and EV systems, aligning with Ohio’s statewide clean energy push.
This play can best be characterized as a practical innovation in an industry that’s being overhauled by robotics, AI, and the push for scalable hard tech. The Mantua plant embraces this with automated production lines and digital twin technology to optimize output, aligning with 2025 trends toward smart operations and high-ROI digital investments. Producing 10 million fittings annually, Viega slashes East Coast delivery times from weeks to days, saving a significant amount on logistics—a vital edge amid supply chain chaos and a shrinking skilled labor pool. It’s the kind of advantage startups like Path Robotics, with its $100 million AI welding raise, and global players like Amgen demand.
Ohio Offers Logistics, Talent, and Capital
Ohio offers a compelling package for industry, blending strategic logistics with massive, future-focused investment and robust talent development.
The logistical advantages are supercharged by billions of dollars in statewide investments. Landmark projects span key sectors: Intel's $28 billion semiconductor plants, Amgen's $1.4 billion biotech expansion, over $12 billion committed to data centers (AWS, Meta, QTS), Anduril's 4,000-job defense hub, and significant advanced mobility projects like Joby Aviation (2,000 jobs) and Honda/LG's $3.5 billion EV battery plant.
Fueling this growth is a concerted effort in talent development, leveraging universities like Kent State, Ohio State, and Akron University alongside initiatives like TechCred (AI/tech skills), mandated K-12 computer science, high school tech internships, and $200 million dedicated to expanding career and technical education. Locally, Mantua thrives around the 470-acre Turnpike Commerce Center, featuring multi-million dollar road and utility upgrades. This hub is part of a dense industrial zone including LG Chem, Restaurant Depot, and Rubbermaid, supported by the Portage County Regional Airport.
A comprehensive support network ties everything together, from state venture capital and JobsOhio incentives to infrastructure upgrades and proactive local partners like the Portage Development Board, ensuring businesses have the resources needed to succeed.
By the Numbers
Market Reach: 60% of U.S. market in 24 hours via the Ohio Turnpike.
Cost Savings: 60% labor cost reduction, 50% faster installs, 30% logistics savings.
Scale: 240,000 sq. ft plant., 10 million fittings annually.
Impact: $3.7 million payroll by 2027, 68 jobs, $200 million investment.
Incentives: 1.325% tax credit (2024-2031 - Ohio Tax Credit Authority), Shalersville-Streetsboro JEDD support.
Sustainability: Carbon-neutral, supporting hydrogen, EV, radiant cooling.
Timeline: Broke ground November 2023, production set to begin July 2025.
Why Viega's Ohio Move Matters
For founders, Viega opens new doors to a $20 billion industrial market with room for new players, from AI-driven robotics to clean energy solutions. For investors, it’s evidence that the state is continuing to build on the tens-of-billions in industrial, manufacturing, and tech investments, led by giants like Intel, AWS, and Anduril. For global manufacturers, it’s the reason to reshore: logistics, incentives, and a workforce ready to build. Viega’s new home is a catalyst, and the state’s startup friendliness, policy shifts, and infrastructure investments all remind us why we need to keep building in the greatest state on Earth — Ohio.