Published: December 27, 2011
GE Transportation Expands Manufacturing in Grove City
GROVE CITY, Pa. - (BUSINESS WIRE) - GE Transportation, the world's leading maker of rail, mining and
transportation-related products, today announced plans to establish a
new production facility in Grove City, Pa. in order to meet accelerating
demand for remanufacturing services. The company will invest
approximately $35 million to build capacity at a new diesel engine
remanufacturing plant. GE is investing an additional $37 million in 2011
and 2012 in the existing plant for a combined investment of $72 million
in manufacturing in Grove City.
The new facility will be located at an existing site where GE
anticipates employing up to 250 employees by early 2013, including
approximately 100 current GE employees who will transfer from the
current Grove City facility. The Company plans to hire approximately 150
additional employees by early 2013. Production is scheduled to begin by
the end of 2012.
GE Transportation expects demand for remanufacturing services to
increase significantly in coming years. This increase will be driven by
routine locomotive overhaul cycles and the need to comply with stringent
EPA Tier 3 emissions standards for diesel engines by 2013.
"This new facility will enable GE Transportation to better serve its
customers while meeting a dramatic increase in demand for
remanufacturing in the next few years," said Richard Simpson, Global
Services Supply Chain Operations Leader. "Our investment in Grove City
is a commitment to our customers to continue providing them with the
best products, technology and services in the industry."
Simpson added, "We appreciate the responsiveness and support of the
Governor's Action Team as well as local economic development officials.
They are strong partners in solidifying the economic and manufacturing
base here in Northwest Pennsylvania."
"We are committed to making Pennsylvania an economic leader by investing
in the growth of businesses like GE Transportation and the jobs they
create in the commonwealth," said Governor Tom Corbett. "Helping
Pennsylvania companies expand is the key to the continued economic
development of every community in the state."
Originally a site for remanufacturing operations only, GE's Grove City
plant has expanded its scope over the years to build new and
remanufactured products for GE Transportation and its customers
worldwide. Its total annual production of approximately 2,000 engines a
year makes it one of the largest locomotive diesel engine manufacturing
sites in the world.
"The Grove City plant celebrated its 40th anniversary earlier
this year, and today's announcement reflects GE Transportation's
continued long term investment here," said Bill Carney, Plant Manager.
"Grove City is already home to one of the largest diesel engine
manufacturers in the world, and now it will be home to one of the
largest diesel engine remanufacturing facilities as well."
US Manufacturing Investments
Since May 2011, GE Transportation has announced plans to invest
approximately $327 million in manufacturing facilities in Erie, Pa. and
Fort Worth, Tx. during 2011 and 2012. The Company will invest an
additional $37 million in the existing Grove City plant in 2011 and 2012
to improve productivity, enhance processes and upgrade technology.
The Company is investing approximately $136 million in new technology,
manufacturing improvements and facility upgrades in Erie, and a total of
approximately $191 million in establishing two new manufacturing
facilities in Fort Worth. One facility will manufacture rail and
transportation-related products, while another will produce AC motorized
wheels for mining trucks. Locomotive assembly is expected to begin at
the new facility in the third quarter of 2012; wheel production is
scheduled for mid-2012.
US Job Growth
GE Transportation's return to double-digit growth in 2011 has resulted
in job growth in the U.S. The business has announced more than 2,400
jobs in the U.S. in 2011, including approximately 110 hired in Grove
City and about 1,100 at its key manufacturing location in Erie. The
Company announced in October 2011 plans to hire approximately 360
additional new employees in Erie by the end of 2011, including 160
production workers to meet increasing demand for mining equipment. GE
will also hire about 200 employees in Erie to backfill positions
following the upcoming early retirement of production workers. GE
Transportation has announced plans to create a total of 500 jobs in Fort
Worth, with the possibility of creating an additional 275 jobs in
subsequent years.
Economic Impact
According to an economic impact study conducted by independent research
firm Tripp Umbach in 2010, GE Transportation is a significant
contributor to the economic health and quality of life in communities
across Northwestern Pennsylvania and the state. GE's transportation
business has a total economic impact of $3.6 billion on Northwest
Pennsylvania and $4.6 billion statewide. Every GE job supports close to
three additional jobs across the state. GE Transportation's operations
generate $1 of every $130 in the state's economy. More information about
GE Transportation's economic impact on region and state is available at www.getransportation.com/community.
About GE Transportation
GE Transportation, a unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), is a
global technology leader and supplier to the railroad, marine, drilling,
mining and energy storage industries. GE Transportation provides freight
and passenger locomotives, signaling and communications systems,
information technology solutions, marine engines, motorized drive
systems for mining trucks and drills, high-quality replacement parts and
value added services. GE Transportation is headquartered in Erie, Penn.,
and employs approximately 11,000 employees worldwide. For more
information visit www.getransportation.com.

GE Transportation
Stephan Koller, 814-431-3150 (cell)
stephan.koller@ge.com
or
Ann
Miller, 814-460-1562 (cell)
AnnM.Miller@ge.com
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