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WEG’s investment in the United States strengthens the presence of the multinational from Santa Catarina in industrial paints, distribution centers, and solutions for critical sectors, while the American market expands the demand for energy, data centers, infrastructure, and higher performance technologies for harsh environments.
With a new industrial paint factory and two distribution centers in the United States, WEG expands its presence in the North American high-performance coatings market, aimed at sectors such as HVAC, oil and gas, and water treatment.
In the growth strategy of the multinational from Santa Catarina, local production will work alongside the technology incorporated with the acquisition of Heresite Protective Coatings and a logistics system closer to American industrial clients.
WEG advances in Wisconsin and Georgia
In Manitowoc, Wisconsin, the company installed the new factory and also structured a distribution center connected to the industrial paint operation, reinforcing its presence in the Midwest of the United States.
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Meanwhile, in Duluth, Georgia, the company opened another distribution center to function as a hub for industrial paints, anti-corrosive coatings, and solutions for applications requiring greater technical resistance.
According to WEG, the Duluth unit is expected to increase product availability, reduce delivery times, and bring the operation closer to major consumer hubs, in a market with extensive industrial chains and high demand for logistical efficiency.
Heresite strengthens its position in special coatings
At the Manitowoc unit, production will be dedicated to the technologies of Heresite Protective Coatings, an American company specialized in industrial coatings for harsh environments, whose assets were acquired by WEG in 2025.
Founded in 1935 in the city of Manitowoc itself, Heresite develops solutions for ventilation, heating, and air conditioning equipment, known by the acronym HVAC, as well as applications in oil and gas and water treatment.
For Heresite’s assets, WEG announced a payment of US$ 9.5 million, an amount subject to usual adjustments in such operations and with consolidation expected in the company’s financial statements starting May 2025.
Before being incorporated into WEG’s operation, Heresite recorded a net operating revenue of US$ 8.6 million in 2024, an Ebitda margin of 22%, and 70% of sales made outside the United States.
Local production strengthens the paint business
For Rafael Guerreiro Torezan, managing director of WEG Paints, the investments represent an important step to support the expansion of the company’s paint division in the North American market.
“By combining local production, specialized technology, and more efficient logistics, we enhance our ability to serve different industrial sectors with high-performance solutions,” Torezan stated when commenting on the expansion in the United States.
For over 40 years, WEG has been producing liquid and powder paints in Brazil, with operations in Guaramirim, Santa Catarina, and Mauá, São Paulo.
The accumulated experience in the Brazilian market also supported the arrival of the paint division in other countries, with units in Mexico, in Atotonilco de Tula, and in Argentina, in Hidalgo.
Industrial presence in the USA gains scale
With the inauguration of the new structures, WEG reinforces an already consolidated presence in the American market, where it has 10 manufacturing parks and more than 2,250 employees, according to data released by the company in May 2026.
During events held in New York, the company was recognized by the National Confederation of Industry and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for its contribution to economic and industrial relations between Brazil and the United States.
The tribute took place at the Brazil-U.S. Industry Day, an initiative linked to Brazil Week, which brought together business leaders, investors, and institutional representatives from both countries to discuss productive integration, trade, and bilateral investments.
On the occasion, Daniel Godinho, vice president of Sustainability and Institutional Relations at WEG, highlighted that the company has been operating in the United States for decades and supports American industrial competitiveness and energy infrastructure.
Energy and data centers increase demand
In addition to advancements in industrial paints, WEG also announced an investment of US$ 77 million in the special transformers factory located in Washington, Missouri.
With this project, the company intends to expand production capacity, automate processes, and increase operational efficiency in the manufacturing of transformers from 1 to 10 MVA, with voltage up to 46.5 kV.
According to the company, the equipment will play a role in supporting the expansion of industrial manufacturing, data centers, and the stability of the United States’ electrical grid, with an expected 50% increase in the plant’s production capacity.
Carlos Diether Prinz, managing director of WEG’s Transmission and Distribution unit, stated that the investment aims to respond more quickly and with higher quality to the demands of data centers, grid stability, and energy storage.
In the city of Washington, the operation comprises three factories of the Transmission and Distribution division, dedicated to distribution transformers, power transformers, and special transformers, with 560 employees at the American unit.
Brazil and the United States remain connected in the operation
With a commercial presence in over 135 countries, WEG states that it operates along the energy chain, from generation to final consumption, in addition to maintaining manufacturing plants distributed across different markets.
In 2024, the company recorded net revenue of R$ 38 billion, with 57% coming from sales made outside Brazil, a fact that underscores the importance of international expansion in its strategy.
In the American operation, the combination of local production, acquired assets, distribution centers, and Brazilian exports creates an integrated structure to serve industrial clients and infrastructure projects.
Although the tariff environment remains a variable for Brazilian companies selling to the United States, the scenario has changed since 2025, with changes in tariffs on Brazilian exports and a reduction in the tariff on Brazilian aircraft in 2026.
For WEG, industrial expansion within the United States reduces part of the logistical and commercial exposure while maintaining complementarity between the Brazilian base and American operations in strategic areas.
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