On September 4th, 2025, Viega held the ribbon cutting ceremony for their newest facility in Mantua, Ohio. Located 40 miles southeast of Cleveland, Ohio, this 244,000 square foot facility is used for both training and manufacturing. Attended by industry professionals, government officials from the state of Ohio and media, guests were invited to learn the story of the new building, tour the facility and even make their own souvenirs using Viega products: a bottle opener. 

“This is more than a ribbon cutting ceremony. It’s a commitment to the future and to America.” Chief Executive Officer of Viega North America, Marki Huston, said. 

The event began with speeches from several important members of the team responsible for the opening of this beautiful facility. Senior Director of Construction and Emerging Tech for Viega North America, Eric Wicker, showed real gratitude to the state of Ohio, who truly “rolled out the red carpet,” for the company. Markus Brettschneider, CEO of Viega LLC, commented on how supportive and hardworking the people of Ohio were throughout this project. 

The story of how the facility came to Ohio is all about two things: trust and collaboration. This sentiment was echoed by several people throughout the event. When Viega North America first came to look for the perfect place to build this facility, it was, in the words of Bob Frederich, president of Geis Construction, “Nothing but farmland and a gravel road.” These many acres of farmland had been zoned for industrial use for sixty years. 

It is, without a doubt, trust that led Viega to decide on this seemingly unremarkable land for their new facility. With a $200 million investment in Portage County to expand their U.S. manufacturing footprint, this has absolutely been a collaborative effort between Viega and the state of Ohio. According to Viega’s website, this location is projected to have a substantial economic impact on the community; projections indicate a $178 million contribution to the regional economy. 

With the help of local company, Geis Construction, turnaround time was quick. Viega also worked closely with government officials and JobsOhio to complete this project quickly. Incredibly, the project broke ground in November of 2023, and was operational as early as July of 2025; with the first product being shipped out on July 1st. 

While a quick turnaround was important, CEO Marki Huston, noted that sustainability was at the forefront of this project. While building this facility, the company searched for sustainable resources. Notably, this new facility is one of less than thirty in North America that was both fully electrified and carbon neutral since day one. Viega isn't stopping there; they are targeting a LEED-Gold certification. 

Image courtesy of Kristen Bayles.

Walking into the facility, visitors can see a custom art installation by Micheal Murphy. Murphy has over 25 years of experience as a “perceptual artist,” but this piece was close to home – literally! His parents live just a few blocks over, and his father was a plumber. 

The art features “floating” Viega ProPress fittings, which have the names of the original employees sketched on them. When looking at the piece directly, the word “Viega” can be seen. When looking from the left, the shape resembles the United States of America. Finally, the piece takes on the shape of the state of Ohio when viewed from the right. 

In this 244,000 square foot facility, 11,000 square feet is dedicated to education, training and skill development. With an Interactive Learning Center, three classrooms with seating for up to 118 people allow for hands-on training and immersive education using real installation scenarios. Topics for training include: 

• ProPress, MegaPress and PureFlow training 

• Copper, stainless steel, carbon steel, copper nickel and crimp and press PEX solutions 

• Residential and commercial solutions.

The training is designed to “inspire confidence, expand expertise and connect industry leaders with cutting-edge solutions” regardless of their skill level in using Viega products. 

 The majority of the remainder of the facility is dedicated to production; the second floor features a catwalk tour of the manufacturing floor. Visitors can watch the entire production process, while an experienced member of the team leads the tour. 

The Mantua facility features advanced automation and robotics, including a quality check system with video surveillance. The robotics system can produce a part a second. Currently, there is room in the facility for 9 lines, but expansions are already planned to increase the production. 

With its Mantua facility, Viega has done more than expand its U.S. footprint — it has created a hub for manufacturing innovation, workforce training and sustainable operations. The company’s investment signals confidence in the future of American manufacturing, while offering a valuable resource for the next generation of skilled professionals.

As guests left the ribbon cutting, one message was clear: this facility isn’t just about the products being manufactured inside — it’s about shaping the future. From electrified, carbon-neutral operations to immersive training classrooms, Viega’s Mantua facility reflects where the industry is headed: smarter, cleaner and more collaborative.