After five years of hard work, a new period has begun for both the Weirton community and the Italian company Fanti, which is looking to expand. Several officials from Gruppo Fanti, the Northern Panhandle Business Development Corporation and the city of Weirton recently joined together to celebrate the opening of the company’s U.S. manufacturing facility, Fanti USA. This is the first manufacturing plant to be opened by the company in the United States.
“We believe in the United States. We want to grow here,” explained Stefano Fanti, CEO of Fanti Packaging and son of company founder Giorgio Fanti. Fanti USA, a manufacturer of industrial products, has invested about $30 million in the redevelopment of an abandoned building in the Half Moon Industrial Park in Weirton. According to its director, Stefano Fanti, this project is the largest the company has undertaken to date.
The origin of the Fanti Group dates back to more than 75 years ago, in 1945, when Giorgio Fanti, a man born in Bologna, Italy, found empty tuna cans that had been left behind by American soldiers during World War II. Fascinated by them, Fanti decided to study and learn how to make them himself. Finally, he traveled to the United States for training in the production and use of tinplate.
After a few years, Fanti finally acquired a tinplate sheet and, in 1963, expanded his production by purchasing an automated machine. The company currently has facilities in Europe, Asia and Africa and produces more than 100 million cans for use in different products.
Gruppo Fanti treasurer and board member Nicola De Santis explained that since 2018 the company had been looking for a location in the United States. Finally, in November 2020, it was announced that they would be located at the former Signode facility in Weirton and in March 2022, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the project along with local and state officials.
In addition, Fanti USA’s goal is to create about 40 to 50 jobs, according to De Santis. Currently, it has already hired about 12 people from the area who also attended the emotional event. On the other hand, some members of Fanti USA’s team of employees were recently in Italy, where they received direct training in Italy on how to manufacture their products.
At the Weirton plant, two production lines are currently being used to manufacture metal cans used in the production of paints, varnishes and solvents. According to officials, there are plans to expand the building and increase the number of production lines in the near future.
According to BDC executive director of development Jacob Keeney, it took a concerted effort to bring Fanti to West Virginia. In a speech given by the leader, it was emphasized that the investment made that day was the result of partnerships between local government, development entities and different departments such as the West Virginia Department of Economic Development and the U.S. Department of Commerce. He also thanked the members of Congress for their support in this project and expressed his gratitude for having them present at this moment.
According to A.J. Thomas, chairman of the Brooke County Commission, this situation will become a turning point for economic development in our community.
President Thomas expressed that this investment will have a great impact on the local economy and will bring new life to a previously unused space. In addition, he also noted that it is part of an effort to diversify the Upper Ohio Valley region, citing other recent developments in the area. He stressed that no single sector should have the power to determine the success or failure of the prosperity of the people and the region.
Thursday’s groundbreaking ceremony also featured a speech by Mike Graney, who is the executive director of the West Virginia Department of Economic Development. In his speech, he highlighted the importance of the relationship built between Fanti and the state of West Virginia, assuring that it will continue in the future.
Graney expressed that thanks to everyone’s effort and hard work, they have made it this far and will continue to work together in the future. During the ceremony, he also presented a gift to members of the company in appreciation of their dedication and commitment.
Representatives from the City of Weirton made a gesture of friendship by giving away flags from both the United States and Italy. In addition, comments from Senators Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito were included as a show of support for the community at their event.
