ROANOKE, Ind. (WOWO): More than $1.2 billion in renovations are coming to Fort Wayne's General Motors Truck Assembly plant.
In a press conference Tuesday afternoon, GM executives announced they would upgrade the plant, and the work starts next month.
Those upgrades include technological improvements to make the facility more competitive in assembling light and heavy-duty trucks.
Those improvements include a new paint shop, expanded body shop and assembly lines.
Work is expected to begin in June and take, according to the company “several years” to complete.
Truck production will not be impacted. More than 3,800 employees work at the plant in Southwest Allen County.
In April, GM announced it was pouring $5.4 billion into upgrading plants around the country. Three Michigan plants – Lansing, Pontiac and Warren already already been selected for improvements.
Here's the full press release from General Motors:
GM to Invest $1.2 Billion in Full-Size Truck Plant
Fort Wayne construction to continue award-winning pickup manufacturing
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – General Motors is investing $1.2 billion in its full-size pickup truck plant for upgrades and technology that will improve the plant’s competitiveness in assembling high-quality light- and heavy-duty models.
Construction of the new pre-treat, electro-coat paint operation and sealing facility, expanded body shop, expanded and new material sequencing centers, and upgraded general assembly area is expected to begin in June and take several years to complete. Full-size truck production schedules will be unaffected by the construction.
“This investment is more evidence that the customer is at the center of every decision we make,” said Cathy Clegg, GM North America Manufacturing vice president. “Truck customers demand top quality. The upgrades at Fort Wayne Assembly will enable our team to continue delivering for them for years to come.”
The investment includes many technological and environmental upgrades:
New pre-treatment facility featuring thin-film paint pretreatment
E-coat paint customized to each vehicle style, resulting in superior coverage and curability
GM-patented radiant tube ovens for exceptional paint finish and lower energy use
New equipment that accommodates the many variations of the truck cab and box being placed on the chassis
New skillet conveyance systems for instrument panel assembly intended to improve worker ergonomics, leading to better product quality.
“These new technologies and equipment will help fulfill the mission of the men and women of Fort Wayne Assembly and UAW Local 2209 to build the best full-size trucks available,” said UAW Vice President Cindy Estrada. “The investment improves the plant’s competitiveness so we can continue contributing to the community as well.”
Said Indiana Gov. Mike Pence: “Around the world, Indiana is known as a proven leader in advanced manufacturing. Powered by a pro-growth business environment and a highly-skilled workforce, GM is leveraging Indiana’s strengths to help it remain competitive across the globe. Today’s announcement marks a significant promise to the Hoosier State and ensures GM’s presence in Indiana and its support of Hoosier jobs long into the future, reaffirming that Indiana is a state that works for business.”
Fort Wayne Assembly began building light-duty trucks in 1986. Today, it is a three-shift operation with approximately 3,800 employees who build light- and heavy-duty regular and double cab full-size trucks.
The investments in Fort Wayne are part of the $5.4 billion that GM said April 30 it would invest in U.S. facilities over the next three years.
