With the goal of doubling its current output of stainless steel propellers, Mercury Marine is adding 30,000 square feet to its propeller casting facility in Fond du Lac, Wis. The company broke ground on the $17 million expansion earlier this week, and when completed it will bring the propeller plant’s footprint to 90,000 square feet.

The expansion will increase the company’s overall investment to more than $1.1 billion since 2008, according to a press release from the company.

“The market growth in high horsepower four-stroke outboards plus the market reception to Mercury’s new V-6 and V-8 outboards has driven an unprecedented increase in demand for stainless steel propellers,” said Dirk Bjornstad, Mercury Marine Propellers general manager, in the release. “This capital expansion will align the propeller business with our increased growth as well as position the business to gain additional market share with new best-in-class propeller designs.”

Between its aluminum and stainless steel products for outboard and stern drive engines, Mercury Marine produces more than 400 different propellers for a variety of applications, according to the release. The propeller production facility is adjacent to the company’s main plant in Fond du Lac.

The expansion will add 30,000 feet to the propeller production operation’s existing 60,000-foot facility.

“Growing our operations in Fond du Lac not only shows our commitment to our global customers but our commitment to growth in the community,” said Bjornstad. “This expansion will also allow us the opportunity to improve on our best-in-class sustainability at the plant. Mercury consistently sets a new benchmark in energy and water consumption and both of those will be a major focus in our manufacturing processes.”

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