Photo courtesy of New Balance

What: New Balance factory
Where: 596 Lowell St., Methuen
Owner: New Balance Athletics Inc.
Built: 2000 

New Balance’s Methuen factory has reopened following a $20 million renovation project, as the Boston-based athletic gear manufacturer doubles the facility’s workforce to 180 employees by the end of 2022. 

The Methuen factory produces New Balance’s MADE 990v5 running shoe. New Balance owns five other factories in Massachusetts and Maine that employ approximately 1,000 people. 

New Balance said it’s using automation and robotics to increase safety and productivity, while expanding its domestic supplier network. The 80,000-square-foot Methuen facility began production in January. 

They Said It: 

“We believe our commitment to domestic manufacturing drives innovation, capitalizes on consumer trends and provides new market opportunities. The opening of NB Methuen significantly expands our owned manufacturing capacity and furthers our efforts to have a best-in-class value chain.” 

— Dave Wheeler, chief operating officer, New Balance