Top 10 Manufacturing Companies in Virginia

Above: A worker at STIHL, Inc's facility in Virginia Beach (source: Virginia Economic Development Partnership)

Home to 4,900+ industrial companies nearly 300,000 related jobs, Virginia is a manufacturing powerhouse. Revered by manufacturers for its robust labor pool, solid infrastructure and focus on innovation, Virginia is home to major names in the defense, automotive and food processing sectors.

This article will explore the latest trends and statistics in Virginia’s industrial sector and examine the top manufacturing companies in Virginia.

Reach 6,400+ Virginia manufacturing companies and 15,000+ executives with the Virginia Manufacturing Industry Database from MNI. 

Key Facts on Virginia’s Manufacturing Sector

According to data collected by MNI, compiler of the industrial information that powers IndustrySelect, Virginia is currently home to 4,950 manufacturing companies employing 294,883 workers.

Newport News is Virginia’s largest city based on number of manufacturing jobs, with 27,261 workers.

Read more: Top Manufacturing States in the U.S.

Other top cities in Virginia include

• Richmond (21,292 jobs)
• Lynchburg (9,353 jobs)
• Roanoke (8,687 jobs)
• Norfolk (8,329 jobs)

Independent Cities County is Virginia’s largest in terms of manufacturing jobs, home to 205,626 workers. This is followed by Fairfax County with 34,616 workers, and Loudon County with 12,372 workers. Rockingham County is home to 7,064 industrial workers, and Hanover is home to 5,754.

The transportation equipment industry ranks as Virginia’s largest manufacturing sector based on number of jobs, employing 15% of the state’s industrial workers. This is followed by food processing with 12%; and printing/publishing with another 9%.

MNI reports there are 21,110 executive contacts among Virginia’s manufacturing companies, including 2,763 presidents, 1,669 owners and partners; 1,734 vice-presidents and 1,612 sales, marketing and purchasing executives.

Other facts to know about Virginia manufacturers, based on IndustrySelect’s advanced criteria available to subscribers, include ownership, distribution and other trends. Let’s take a look:

• 2% of Virginia manufacturers are women-owned
• 12% are publicly owned companies
• 10% import raw materials
• 22% distribute their products internationally.

 Next, we’ll take a look at the state’s top companies.

Top 10 Manufacturing Companies in Virginia

About the Top 10 Manufacturing Companies in Virginia

1. Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (Newport News, VA)

With reported average annual sales of $6.7 billion and employing 21,800, Huntington Ingalls in by far Virginia’s largest industrial employer. Established in 1886, it is also one of the nation’s oldest industrial sites and ranks as the largest shipbuilding company in the U.S.

2. Volvo Trucks North America, Cab & Vehicle Assembly (Dublin, VA)

Employing 3,600 Virginia workers in the town of Dublin, this Volvo Trucks facility encompasses 2 million square feet, producing heavy duty trucks. In 2021, this site started production of battery-powered VNR electric truck and has plans to begin making trucks using hydrogen fuel cells later this decade.

3. Smithfield Foods, Inc. (Smithfield, VA)

Reporting averages sales of more than $600 million, Smithfield is a major cornerstone of Virginia manufacturing. Processing hogs from 2,500 distinct U.S. farms,Smithfield Foods ranks among the world’s largest pork producers. The company employs 2,300 in the town of Smithfield, ranking it third in the state for number of manufacturing workers.

4. BWXT Nuclear Operations Group, Inc. (Lynchburg, VA)

Producing nuclear reactor components, BWXT Nuclear Operations Group, Inc. is a major defense company employing 2,200 highly skilled workers in the town of Lynchburg.

5. DuPont de Nemours, Inc. (Richmond, VA)

This DuPont location specializes in protective apparel, including PPE and well known brands such as Kevlar and Nomex. Employing 2,200 workers in Richmond, this location reports more than $100 million in annual sales.

6. The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (Danville, VA)

Employing 2,100 in the town of Danville, this Goodyear tire facility is among the state’s largest industrial employers. Reporting sales of more than $100 million, the facility encompasses two million square feet and produces Goodyear Tire & Rubber is headquartered in Akron, OH and ranks among the world’s largest tire manufacturers, making tires for a wide range of vehicles, including trucks, passenger cars, farm equipment, SUVs, motorcycles, construction equipment and more.

7. Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, Inc. (Dulles, VA)

Ranking seventh in the state, Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, Inc. is a major defense company, employing 2,000 highly skilled workers in the town of Dulles and reporting annual sales of $250-$500 million. Occupying 71,000 square feet, this location serves as the company’s divisional headquarters and focuses on satellites and rockets.

8. Philip Morris USA, Inc. (Richmond, VA)

Established in 1919, Philip Morris’s cigarette production facility in Richmond reports annual sales of $250 and $500 million. Operating out of a one million square-foot facility, this location employs 2,000 Virginia workers

9. Lockheed Martin RMS (Manassas, VA)

Another defense company, Lockheed Martin RMS in Manassas employs 2,000 workers and focuses on undersea systems integration.

10. STIHL, Inc. (Virginia Beach, VA)

Rounding out our top 10 list is STIHL, Inc. in Virginia Beach. This facility employs 1,900 workers and handheld outdoor power equipment, including chainsaws, grass & hedge trimmers, brush cutters & leaf blowers

Interested in other states? Browse all of our state news here.

Looking for Industrial Sales Leads in Virginia?

For those looking to do business with manufacturers, IndustrySelect’s database of 460,000 U.S. manufacturers is a top resource for both developing and researching sales leads in the manufacturing sector. An IndustrySelect subscription can put you on a first-name basis with Virginia’ s 6,400+ industrial companies and 15,000+ executives. Subscribers can select up to 40 data points on any manufacturing company in the U.S. to help identify or pre-qualify leads. Company profiles also include the contact information for hard-to-find executive decision-makers. Try a free demo today!

Sources
https://www.industryselect.com
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo_Trucks