The Dickinson Area Chamber of Commerce recently had a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark Lake Shore Systems becoming part of Trident Maritime Systems. From left are Suzanne Larson, chamber executive director; chamber ambassadors Cole Grenier, Trisha Peterson and Mark Sertich; Nicholas Fornetti, Trident quality systems manager; ambassadors Matthew Lutz, Alex Carey, Teresa Schettler, Kristine Schroeder and Lori Staedt; Serena Johnson, Trident human resources manager; Jessica Frost, Trident general manager; Charles Munk, Trident interim director of defense; Mark Waters, Trident director of human resources; and Fritz Wenzel, Trident interim director of sales. (Terri Castelaz/Daily News photo)

Lake Shore Systems recently celebrated its integration into Trident Maritime Systems with a Dickinson Area Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Lake Shore, a leading designer and manufacturer of heavy equipment for the maritime and mining industries since 1858, has worked side by side with Trident for decades. Trident and Lake Shore will join forces to provide a comprehensive network of integrated services that will better serve their customers worldwide.

Lake Shore began business operations as Lake Superior Foundry Company in Marquette on July 14, 1858. The company has changed ownership over the years but has maintained its primary manufacturing and engineering facilities in the Upper Peninsula for more than 160 years. The current primary locations include Kingsford, Iron River, Ontonagon and Rhinelander, Wis.

While the company has adapted to changing markets over time, there has consistently been a focus on maritime and mining equipment. In the early days, Lake Shore made equipment for iron ore mines and Great Lakes freighters. In 1910, the company became Lake Shore Engine Works. In 1938, Service & Supply Company of Iron Mountain merged with Lake Shore Engine Works and the company became known as Lake Shore Engineering Company. Wayne Oldenburg bought the company in 1987, when it became part of Oldenburg Group Incorporated. J.F. Lehman & Company acquired the company in 2016, returning it to the Lake Shore name. J.F. Lehman & Company also owns Trident Maritime Systems.

Beginning Jan. 1, the company rebranded as Trident Maritime Systems — Heavy Equipment Group. New signs were installed at each facility in early January and integration efforts will continue. All Lake Shore facilities will remain open, all employees will be retained, and the company will continue to hire talented people.

The newly named Trident Maritime Systems — Heavy Equipment Group will continue to operate as a designer and manufacturer of equipment and solutions for its global maritime and mining customers. Lake Shore’s products are found on every surface ship in the U.S. Navy and include shipboard cranes, anchor handling systems, elevators, ramps and doors, to name a few.

The company’s Cannon Mining product line includes drill jumbos, roof bolters, ANFO rigs, scalers and utility trucks for the underground hard rock mining industry. The company employs about 500 people, primarily in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and northern Wisconsin.

“This is a tremendous group of people who care about our work and our customers, and it shows,” said Jessica Frost, Lake Shore’s president and CEO. “As we begin the new year, we are excited to join the Trident family and look forward to many more successful years.”

For more information, go to www.lakeshoresystems.com, www. tridentllc.com or www.jflpartners.com.