Burlington, Ontario — March 12, 2026
Marswell Metal Industries Ltd., a Canadian leader in custom lead casting and precision metal solutions, has joined Irving Shipbuilding Inc.’s supply chain supporting construction of the Royal Canadian Navy’s River-class destroyers under Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy. As announced by Irving Shipbuilding, the Burlington, Ontario manufacturer has been awarded a multi-million-dollar, multi-year subcontract to produce specialized lead ballast components for the program.
Based in Burlington, Ontario, Marswell Metal Industries Ltd. will manufacture lead ballast components for the program at its Canadian facility using 100 percent Canadian-sourced materials and Canadian labour. The contract initially supports work on the first three River-class destroyers currently in production, with Marswell positioned to manufacture ballast components as construction progresses across the full 15-ship program.
Using domestic materials and labour reinforces the strength of Canada’s marine manufacturing supply chain and aligns with federal Buy Canadian procurement priorities.
“We’re pleased to partner with Marswell Metal Ltd. and welcome them into the River-class destroyer program,” said Lee Fromson, Vice President, Supply Chain and Quality at Irving Shipbuilding Inc. “This partnership further strengthens our supply chain, drives the economy, and represents an important shipbuilding investment in Ontario.”
For 45 years, Marswell Metal has supplied structural-grade lead ballast and precision-cast products for marine, defence, and industrial applications. This award represents a significant milestone in Marswell Metal’s continued growth within Canada’s defence and marine industrial base.
“Winning this contract underscores the strength of Canadian manufacturing and our team’s commitment to delivering high-precision components for nationally significant programs,” said Walter Silva, Vice President of Marswell Metal Industries Ltd. “We are proud to support Irving Shipbuilding and Canada’s shipbuilding strategy with reliable, expertly engineered products.”
Figure 1: Lee Fromson, VP Supply Chain & Quality, Irving Shipbuilding Inc., and Walter Silva, Vice President of Marswell Metal Industries Ltd.
Figure 2: Vincent Reine, Senior Procurement Specialist, Irving Shipbuilding Inc., pictured with Walter Silva, Vice President of Marswell Metal Industries Ltd., and Bill Souter, Custom Keel Sales & Design at MarsKeel.
Marswell Metal worked closely with Irving Shipbuilding during the engineering and contracting phases and will continue collaborating on production planning, delivery milestones, and quality assurance as the program moves forward.
This contract strengthens Marswell Metal’s position as a trusted partner within Canada’s national shipbuilding effort while contributing to long-term economic activity in Canada.
About Marswell Metal Industries Ltd.
Marswell Metal Industries Ltd., headquartered in Burlington, Ontario, is a Canadian SME specializing in custom lead casting, radiation shielding, industrial ballast solutions, and engineered metal products. With 45 years of manufacturing expertise, the company serves marine, defence, nuclear, and industrial sectors across North America. All manufacturing operations are conducted in Canada.
Media Contact:
Marswell Metal Industries Ltd.
4140 Morris Drive, Burlington, ON
Phone: (905) 637-3862 | Toll-Free: (800) 381-5335
Email: walter.silva@marsmetal.com
Website: www.marskeel.com
