Energy solutions provider INNIO N.V. will invest more than $300 million to expand its Waukesha manufacturing facility. The major Wisconsin economic development project will create more than 500 local jobs over the coming years as the company builds its primary North American production hub.
The massive expansion will add new engine assembly capabilities to the existing 1.7 million-square-foot Waukesha campus. Construction plans call for an 80,000-square-foot advanced engine testing facility alongside extensive office and shop floor renovations designed to dramatically boost production capacity.
“The expansion underscores our commitment to local value creation in the United States and to meeting the growing demand for decentralized energy solutions that are helping shape the future of energy,” said Roger George, CEO Waukesha, INNIO.
The historic Waukesha plant manufactures natural gas-powered engines utilized heavily in power generation and gas compression markets. These decentralized energy systems support critical infrastructure across the country by powering microgrids, industrial operations and the rapidly growing data center sector. Localizing this production will reduce supply chain lead times and improve responsiveness for American energy buyers.
State officials are supporting the local manufacturing growth with specific financial incentives. The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. authorized up to $6 million in performance-based state income tax credits. The final award amount will depend on the exact number of new jobs created and the total capital invested during the project timeline.
“It’s exciting that INNIO has decided to expand its presence here in Wisconsin,” John W. Miller, secretary and CEO of WEDC, the state’s economic development organization said. “INNIO’s decision to continue to grow here in Wisconsin reflects our state’s long manufacturing tradition, our talented workforce, and the culture of innovation that so many global companies have embraced.”
The large Waukesha campus currently focuses on remanufacturing, repair and overhaul services. The upcoming hiring push will target a variety of skilled roles across engine assembly, engineering, CNC machining and warehouse operations to meet rising global demand.
The massive expansion marks the latest chapter in a century-long legacy for the Waukesha campus. Originally founded in 1906 as the Waukesha Motor Company, the facility spent its early decades building a global reputation for rugged, heavy-duty engines that powered everything from early 20th-century agricultural equipment to World War II military vehicles and sprawling oilfields.
After changing hands through corporate giants like Dresser Industries and General Electric, the site was spun off under the INNIO banner in 2018. Now, with a $300 million investment breathing new life into its historic 1.7 million-square-foot footprint, the company is proving that Wisconsin’s deep industrial roots can still anchor the next generation of global energy innovation.
