Industrial drone manufacturer to build new Louisiana plant

DMR Technologies, via the Louisiana Economic Development agency, announced October 2 it would build its first U.S. unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) manufacturing plant in Lafayette, Louisiana. According to a company statement, the company plans to employ 521 people to build agricultural drones, with an average salary of $85,000.

The drone company, which has its headquarters in Houston, Texas, makes drones for use in commercial applications, including industrial inspection, environmental monitoring, and public safety. The new 10,000-square-foot Lafayette plant will produce DMR’s Field Ranger X50, which is designed to inspect agricultural fields from above, once production begins by the end of the year.

The location is strategic. In addition to being DMR’s primary domestic production hub for flight control circuits, rotors, and final assembly, the site is well-placed for access to U.S. and international clients, said DMR co-founder Ryan Case. The company also received a $1 million grant from the state of Louisiana for leasehold improvements, contingent on meeting employment targets.

In a LinkedIn post, DMR Technologies said, “We couldn’t be more excited to take to the skies alongside the great people of Lafayette. And we’re grateful for our partnership with Louisiana Economic Development as we manufacture our most advanced agriculture drone, the X50 Field Ranger.”

What people are saying

“Louisiana is competing to win in next-generation industries like aerospace, defense and advanced technology,” Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry said. “DMR’s decision to manufacture here is a vote of confidence in Louisiana’s workforce, our pro-growth policies and the momentum we are building statewide. This is exactly the type of project that delivers lasting opportunity for our people and communities.”

“Louisiana has proven to be an ideal partner,” DMR co-founder and CEO David Wang said. “Lafayette offers us the talent, infrastructure and policy environment we need to ramp up quickly and operate with efficiency. More than drones, we’re building upon our strategic partnership with Lafayette Parish-based SoLA Drones, and we’re building a resilient, future-focused U.S. supply chain and Louisiana gives us the foundation to do exactly that.”

“This isn’t just about production — it’s about access. Being located in Louisiana gives us a strong logistics footprint to serve both U.S. and international clients,” DMR co-founder and head of U.S. operations Ryan Case said. “With the launch of our Lafayette facility, we’re eliminating lead time issues and delivering next-day fulfillment for many of our U.S. customers. Mark Ferrio, our Co-founder and Head of Asia-Pacific Operations, has set the tone for how we plan to stand up our U.S. operations in Louisiana.”

“This investment is a powerful example of LED’s 9×90 work plan coming to life,” said LED Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois. “By targeting companies at the intersection of our key industries, we are strengthening Louisiana’s competitive position on the national and global stage. Projects like DMR’s demonstrate how our plan is delivering results in real time, generating quality jobs while expanding our role in advanced manufacturing.”

“We’re excited to welcome DMR Technologies to Lafayette! Creating more than 500 jobs will bring real opportunities for our families, friends and neighbors,” Lafayette Mayor-President Monique B. Boulet said. “By updating an existing facility, DMR Technologies is reinvesting in part of our community while keeping costs low. This is the kind of project that helps Lafayette grow, diversify our economy, and continue to stay on the cutting edge of technology.”

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