4 Years In North Branford, Leon de Oro USA, Maker Of Engineered Netting, Doubles CT Manufacturing Footprint

NORTH BRANFORD, CT — Around four years ago, Leon de Oro USA, a manufacturer of engineered netting systems whose customers range from the Tennessee Titans to Blue Origin, moved its U.S. operations to North Branford.

As it celebrates that milestone, the company announced it has signed a lease to double the size of its primary Connecticut facility, from approximately 10,000 square feet to 20,000 square feet, the business said.

The additional space will accommodate new machinery, increase inventory capacity, and support the company’s continued growth across North America, according to a news release.

The project is expected to create five new jobs while retaining 20 existing Connecticut positions.

Leon de Oro USA president Chip Merritt said the move to North Branford was the right place at the right time.

"When we opened our North Branford operation four years ago, we saw Connecticut as the right place to combine Leon de Oro’s global manufacturing experience with the speed, customization, and service our North American customers need," he said.

Merritt said that doubling the facility footprint is an "exciting next step."

"It gives our team the room to add capabilities, carry more inventory and take on an even wider range of ambitious projects," he said.

According to the manaufacturer, Leon de Oro’s "products operate behind the scenes in some remarkable places."

Its netting systems can protect spectators from high-speed balls in major sports venues, create suspended work platforms inside stadiums and industrial facilities, contain drones and unmanned aircraft, catch construction debris high above city streets, secure products in automated warehouses, and become climbable features in playgrounds, waterparks, and adventure courses, the release reads.

"That versatility has attracted an exceptionally diverse customer base," including professional sports organizations, aerospace companies, contractors, industrial operators, distribution centers, municipalities, and recreation developers, it noted.

"High-profile" customers include the NFL’s Tennessee Titans and commercial space company Blue Origin. The company said its "sports netting has also been trusted at elite international events, including multiple soccer World Cups."

John Bourdeaux, president and CEO of AdvanceCT, said, "Leon de Oro is the kind of Connecticut manufacturing story that immediately captures your imagination."

From the company announcement:

The same North Branford team can help deliver netting for professional sports, spaceflight environments, complex construction projects, and one-of-a-kind recreational experiences. That combination of advanced engineering, craftsmanship, and sheer ‘cool factor’ demonstrates the remarkable range of products being made in Connecticut. We are proud to support Leon de Oro’s expansion and its continued investment in our state.

Leon de Oro’s roots date to 1979, when Tecnología Deportiva S.A. was founded in Alicante, Spain. Today, the company’s products serve customers in more than 65 countries. Leon de Oro USA was established in 2022 to provide faster service, shorter lead times, and customized domestic finishing for customers across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Raw materials are manufactured at Leon de Oro’s 161,000-square-foot production facility in Alicante and shipped to North Branford, where the Connecticut team finishes, assembles, and customizes each system.

This integrated supply chain combines more than four decades of global manufacturing experience with responsive North American production and service.

“We are grateful for the support we have received from the State of Connecticut, particularly through AdvanceCT,” Merritt added. “Their team has taken the time to understand our operation, our goals, and what we need to continue growing. That partnership has helped us move this expansion forward with confidence, and we are excited to keep investing in our people, our capabilities, and our future in North Branford.”

With the expanded facility, Leon de Oro will be positioned to respond more quickly to customers, broaden its production capabilities, and pursue increasingly complex projects throughout North America, whether the challenge is protecting fans, supporting workers at height, securing a sophisticated industrial operation, or helping the next generation of vehicles take flight.