Winchester Assumes Full Control of Lake City Army Ammunition Plant
In one of the most significant achievements in the 154-year history of Winchester, the company has assumed full management and operational control of the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant from Olin Corporation. Olin Winchester were awarded the contract to run the US Army’s premier ammunition manufacturing plant back in September 2019.
The addition of the Lake City plant makes Winchester the largest provider of small caliber ammunition to the U.S. military.
Below is the press release from Olin Corp.:
Olin Corporation (NYSE: OLN) announced that effective today, its ammunition division, Olin Winchester, LLC (“Winchester”), assumed full management and operational control of the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in Independence, Missouri. The U.S. Army selected Winchester to operate and manage the Lake City Plant in September 2019. The contract has an initial term of seven years and may be extended by the U.S. Army for up to three additional years. Winchester is now the world’s largest small arms ammunition manufacturer.
Winchester employees have built a reputation with the U.S. Army that is unrivaled and for the past year we have been preparing for this significant transition,” said Brett Flaugher, President of Winchester. “We were selected to manage the Lake City Plant because of our industry-leading capabilities and track record. For decades, we have successfully demonstrated those capabilities in quality, innovation and on-time delivery, and through our partnership with the U.S. Army in developing solutions that service the U.S. Warfighter. Our team is fully prepared and 100% committed to the safe, reliable and efficient operation of the Lake City Plant.”
Winchester is one of the world’s most recognized and respected brands. Currently in its 154th year of operation and 90th year as part of Olin, Winchester is a premier developer and manufacturer of small-caliber ammunition for sale to domestic and international militaries, law enforcement agencies, and commercial distributors and retailers. Winchester has been providing ammunition to the U.S. Military since World War I and is currently the U.S. Army’s largest supplier of small-caliber ammunition outside of the Lake City plant.
ABOUT LAKE CITY
The Lake City Plant, which began production in 1941, provides small-caliber military ammunition for both training and combat purposes. Winchester previously operated the Lake City Plant from 1985-2000. The plant, encompassing nearly 4,000 acres, also serves as a national test center for ammunition performance and weapons firing.
For information regarding Winchester’s Lake City operations visit https://winchestermilitary.com.
COMPANY DESCRIPTION
Olin Corporation is a leading vertically-integrated global manufacturer and distributor of chemical products and a leading U.S. manufacturer of ammunition. The chemical products produced include chlorine and caustic soda, vinyls, epoxies, chlorinated organics, bleach and hydrochloric acid. Winchester’s principal manufacturing facilities produce and distribute sporting ammunition, law enforcement ammunition, reloading components, small-caliber military ammunition and components, and industrial cartridges.
Visit www.olin.com for more information on Olin.
Below a picture of the factory in Independence, Missouri, where small arms cartridges including 5.56mm, 7.62mm and .50 Caliber are made.
Ex-Arctic Ranger. Competitive practical shooter and hunter with a European focus. Always ready to increase my collection of modern semi-automatics, optics, thermals and suppressors. TCCC Certified. Occasionaly seen in a 6x6 Bug Out Vehicle, always with a big smile.
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I heard this claim about lead production in the US very recently, is it true?:
"Also the fact that the army realized that there is very little lead production in the us anymore. So they needed a end around against the inevitable shortages in domestic production if something ever kicked off. You can see that issue now in the fact that domestic production 556/.223 is almost non existent in the current ammo crisis. There is foreign made but little domestic and one of the two big hold ups is lack of lead production."
For the uninformed, LCAAP is what's known in the defense industry as a "GO-CO" ... Government Owned-Contractor Operated ... facility; just like Air Force Plant #4 in Fort Worth is currently operated by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics .... which took over from General Dynamics ... which took over from Convair ... which took over from Consolidated Vultee Aircraft (result of merger of Consolidated Aircraft and Vultee Aircraft), who, along with Ford Motor Company, built the B-24 Liberator heavy bombers during WWII.