Patriot Aluminum is relocating from its former facility in Denton, Maryland, to a new site on Whitehurst Drive near Seaford, Delaware. The company has purchased a 45,000-square-foot warehouse and is investing $4.8 million to equip and upgrade the facility for the production, assembly, and distribution of metal fencing products.
The move brings 20 existing jobs from Maryland, with an additional 19 full-time positions to be created at the Delaware location over the next three years. According to a release from the Delaware Prosperity Partnership (PPP), these roles will span both skilled and unskilled positions, including sales, administrative, and managerial jobs.
“Patriot Aluminum is excited to relocate and be a part of Seaford’s rebirth,” said Patriot Aluminum Controller George Hufnagel Jr. “We look forward to a long-standing relationship with the Town of Seaford and Sussex County.”
Patriot Aluminum will source metal fencing components and also fabricate custom products to meet specific customer requirements. The Seaford facility will be among the few manufacturing and wholesale aluminium fence operations in the Mid-Atlantic region. Patriot Aluminum was acquired in 2022 by current owner John Forrest, who already operated two fencing-related businesses in Felton. Seeking to serve existing customers better and grow his client base, Forrest chose to relocate the company to Delaware.
He originally founded what is now Forrest Fence as J&M Fencing Inc. in 2004 while serving at Dover Air Force Base. After his military service, Forrest remained in the area to run Forrest Fence and later became a part-owner of Gallagher Vinyl Products. According to the release, moving Patriot Aluminum to Seaford brings it closer to Forrest’s other operations and supports the company’s expansion into new areas of production.
Forrest Fence, an installer of fencing for solar, agricultural, commercial, and residential projects and Gallagher Vinyl, a vinyl fencing manufacturer, primarily serve residential and commercial clients across Delaware and Maryland. Both Gallagher Vinyl and Patriot Aluminum distribute their products through Forrest Fence, while Patriot Aluminum also supplies other wholesalers across seven states.
“Patriot Aluminum’s decision to relocate to Sussex County reinforces our region’s growing reputation as a hub for advanced manufacturing and distribution. We’re proud to support a veteran-owned business that brings new jobs, investment and long-term value to our local economy,” said Bill Pfaff, Director of Sussex County Economic Development.
The Delaware Prosperity Partnership (DPP) has been working with Patriot Aluminum on its relocation and expansion plans since 2024, after being introduced to company leadership by Pfaff. On Monday, DPP backed the company’s request to the state Council on Development Finance for up to $96,000 in a jobs performance grant and up to $144,750 in a capital expenditure grant from the Delaware Strategic Fund. The distribution of the grants is contingent upon the company meeting the commitments presented to the Council on Development Finance, which reviewed and recommended the company’s request for up to $240,750 in total funding.
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