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16 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | FEBRUARY 23, 2026 Chapco Inc. President and CEO Brian Weinstein in his company's new building at 12 Bridge St. in Deep River. HBJ Photo | Michael Puffer Ripple Effect As submarine maker Electric Boat grows, CT suppliers ride the wave Elbow room Chapco began leasing the 1914- vintage mill building on 6.3 acres at 12 Bridge St. in November, before Electric Boat publicly outlined its 2026 hiring plans. Weinstein said industry contacts and other suppliers had indicated the submarine manufacturer was preparing for a significant production ramp-up. "It's just obvious to us that this busi- ness will be around for a while and that we could be a really valuable supplier to them as well as the entire submarine and marine maritime industrial base," Weinstein said. Electric Boat is not the only factor influencing Chapco's outlook. Large manufacturers are increasingly shifting portions of their supply chains to U.S.-based producers, a trend Wein- stein said is emerging across multiple industries. He attributed the movement to tariffs and ongoing uncertainty in international markets. Beyond Electric Boat, Chapco serves a diverse customer base. It manufac- tures exterior casings for EV charging stations and data center equipment, while supplying power generation plants and original equipment manufacturers. Chapco has even produced shells for Dippin' Dots vending machines. The relocation will move the roughly 62-year-old company from about 70,000 square feet spread across three Chester buildings into a single, substantially larger facility, providing additional room for its 60 employees and future expansion. As of early February, Chapco had moved six marketing and sales employees into the new building and was refurbishing other areas ahead By Michael Puffer mpuffer@hartfordbusiness.com C ontract manufacturing and metal fabrication company Chapco Inc. is investing $7.5 million to consolidate its operations into a 151,159-square-foot industrial and office building in Deep River, relocating from three smaller facilities in Chester. The move is aimed at supporting anticipated growth, driven in part by rising demand from General Dynamics Electric Boat, which currently accounts for about 20% of Chapco's revenue. The Groton-based submarine manu- facturer has been expanding hiring and production to meet increasing demand from the U.S. Navy, gener- ating ripple effects across its supplier network. Chapco President and CEO Brian Weinstein said he expects the company's business with Electric Boat to grow significantly, making additional capacity and operational efficiency key factors behind the relocation. "We haven't seen a tremendous amount of growth recently, but we're seeing a lot more opportunities," Weinstein said. "And Electric Boat right now is our largest customer. So, we are certainly looking to expand in shipbuilding and the maritime industrial base, as well as aerospace and defense as a whole. We're just seeing a lot of opportunities and figured the time was right to buy this building and plan for some expansion and growth." Electric Boat's continued buildup has provided a significant lift to manufacturers and suppliers that support its shipyards in Groton and at Quonset Point, Rhode Island, where the company is increasing production of both Virginia-class attack submarines and the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine program. After hiring thousands of employees annually in recent years, the company recently announced plans to add 8,000 workers across its operations in 2026 — a roughly 32% increase from its current workforce of about 25,000. That growth is expected to continue driving demand for parts, materials and specialized manufacturing work throughout the regional supply chain. "When you see that growth of Electric Boat, think about it as a ripple effect in a pond, the growth of their supply chain is necessary as well to keep up with that demand," said Chris DiPentima, president and CEO of the Connecticut Business & Industry Association. Connecticut's deep bench of manufacturers capable of supplying defense contractors helps anchor those larger companies in the state, DiPentima added. "We've heard from dozens, if not hundreds, of manufacturers that Elec- tric Boat's growth is driving their growth and more investments that they're making," DiPentima said. According to Electric Boat data, 350 Connecticut companies that directly support submarine manufacturing received $1.6 billion in related contracts in the five years leading up to 2026, up from $1.1 billion in the prior five-year period — a 45% increase.