GE Transportation announced today investments totaling $231 million in manufacturing improvements and site upgrades to its Erie, Penn. site and a new manufacturing plant in Fort Worth, Texas, to meet accelerating domestic and global demand.
The expansions reflect GE Transportation’s growing global presence and rising demand for products and exports, particularly in the growing global mining industry.
“These latest investments in our U.S. facilities put GE Transportation in a position to shape the future of the transportation industry worldwide,” said Lorenzo Simonelli, President and CEO of GE Transportation. “We’re making significant investments in GE’s technology leadership, product innovation, and state-of-the art manufacturing operations to serve our customers worldwide.”
The business has announced more than 2,000 jobs in the U.S. in 2011, including more than 1,100 jobs filled at its key manufacturing location in Erie, Pa. As part of today’s announcement, GE Transportation will hire about 360 new employees in Erie by the end of 2011.
GE will invest $136 million in the Erie facility, including $58 million in research and testing technology, facilities and equipment to develop an industry-leading locomotive that meets stringent EPA Tier 4 emissions standards by 2015. Approximately $38 million will increase capacity and modernize manufacturing. The Company will spend $40 million on facility upgrades and site beautification of the more than 100-year-old Erie plant, including new offices for hundreds of employees and a Customer Showcase Center.
GE also announced plans to build a 236,000 square-foot facility adjacent to its new manufacturing plant in Fort Worth, TX, to complement its manufacturing operations in Erie. The company plans to invest approximately $95 million and hire approximately 130 employees to manufacture and assemble AC motorized wheels for off-highway vehicles. Production at the new facility is expected to begin in mid-2012.
Read the press release here.
