Photo: General Motors
Full-size pickup trucks are king in the United States, and General Motors knows that. As demand keeps growing, the company decided to pump $1.2 billion (yes, with a B) into the Fort Wayne Assembly Plant in Roanoke, Indiana.
This announcement comes days after the automaker said it will pour $439 million into the Corvette plant in Kentucky for a state-of-the-art paint shop. Opened in 1986, the Fort Wayne facility boasts 3.03 million square feet, no less than 72 truck docks and 34.9 miles (56.1 km) of conveyors. As of March, the factory employs 3,800 works on three shifts.
The $1.2 billion investment in the full-size truck plant will see the arrival of technological and manufacturing tech that will enhance light and heavy-duty truck production. Slated to begin in July, the investment will go into the construction of a state-of-the-art pre-treat, electro-coat paint operation and sealing facility. That’s not all though.
GM informs that the money also covers an expanded body shop, upgraded general assembly area, joined by new and upgraded material sequencing centers. Construction of the previously mentioned is expected to begin in June and will take several years to complete. Despite all, the production schedules will be unaffected by the new construction sites.
“This investment is more evidence that the customer is at the center of every decision we make,” declared Cathy Clegg, the vice president of GM North America Manufacturing. “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 $1.2 billion investment includes many technological and environmental upgrades, as follows:
- New pre-treatment facility featuring thin-film paint pre-treatment
- 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
- 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.
The $1.2 billion investment in the full-size truck plant will see the arrival of technological and manufacturing tech that will enhance light and heavy-duty truck production. Slated to begin in July, the investment will go into the construction of a state-of-the-art pre-treat, electro-coat paint operation and sealing facility. That’s not all though.
GM informs that the money also covers an expanded body shop, upgraded general assembly area, joined by new and upgraded material sequencing centers. Construction of the previously mentioned is expected to begin in June and will take several years to complete. Despite all, the production schedules will be unaffected by the new construction sites.
“This investment is more evidence that the customer is at the center of every decision we make,” declared Cathy Clegg, the vice president of GM North America Manufacturing. “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 $1.2 billion investment includes many technological and environmental upgrades, as follows:
- New pre-treatment facility featuring thin-film paint pre-treatment
- 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
- 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.
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