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Plans for Badin Business Park to have a new pipe fitting company for Navy ships continue to be on course.

John Roros, vice president of east coast operations with Trident Maritime Systems, said the company still plans to bring operations to the Badin.

In June Trident acquired Custom Alloy Solutions, a company who makes pipes for U.S. Navy ships. The company planned to use two existing buildings at the Badin Business Park for its operations.

Roros said not only does Trident plan to bring the operations to Badin, but the company will need more space.

“We’re hoping we can work something out with Alcoa to expand what we are currently building,” Roros said, adding the company will need an additional 75,000 square feet. “The problem right now is that there is no power, so we’re probably limited. Unless Duke can get power in there, we can’t expand.”

Roros said the company plans to contact Duke Energy soon to overcome those issues.

Trident, he said, is a global company with 10 manufacturing sites employing about 2,000 workers. The company makes a lot of the interior workings of ships, both for the Navy and cruise ships.

“A ship builder builds the structure, and we come in and pretty much put the galleys in, the birthing, dining halls, all that kinds of stuff,” Roros said.

Roros said Trident needs to connect with Badin and the surrounding communities because “most of the workforce is going to come from this community…we are not looking at bringing in any outside labor.”

He said he would like to have the first phase of operations up by November or December. “We’ve got to get going quickly.”

Roros spoke at a community meeting Wednesday at the 1913 Badin Inn. Alcoa representatives met with members of local governing boards and commissions to discuss issues concerning Badin Business Park.

Among those attending were four members of the Badin Town Council (Deloris Chambers, Charlie Council, Demar Huntley and Dale Ward), Badin Town Manager Jay Almond, Stanly County Manager Andy Lucas, Albemarle Mayor Ronnie Michael and Stanly County commissioners Trent Hatley and Bill Lawhon.