New Flyer Opens $25 Million Expansion
From AL.com –
North America’s largest transit bus manufacturer now has a bigger presence in Alabama.
New Flyer of America Inc. today cut the ribbon on a $25 million renovation and expansion of its Anniston factory. It was the culmination of $50 million in improvements to the facility over the past two years at the plant, which now employs 750. New Flyer manufactures battery-electric transit buses and last year opened its Vehicle Innovation Center (VIC), which focuses on research and development of electric, autonomous and clean technology in mass transit.
Today opens an additional 76,000 square feet of space at the facility, bringing New Flyer’s total campus to nearly 400,000-square feet on 36 acres. This latest expansion brings transit bus part fabrication in house and centralizes the plant’s welding process. It also gives employees expanded administrative work space and a cafeteria.
“Anniston is truly the center of mass transit with bus technology in North America today,” Wayne Joseph, President of New Flyer of America, said.
New Flyer turns out about 15 buses a week in Anniston, or about three a day, on one shift. Each bus is individually engineered according to the specifications of each order. Just today, the factory is building buses for the University of Utah, for New York and Omaha, Neb. The plant also constructs buses that run on compressed natural gas, hydrogen and zero-emissions technology.
“We’re constantly on the cutting edge of making improvements in the area of transportation and the environment,” Joseph said.
Sen. Doug Jones, who attended the opening, said the company is “contributing to Alabama’s reputation as the indisputable national leader in manufacturing.”
“Your mission aligns perfectly with our commitment to innovation, workforce development and economic growth,” he said.
Joseph said in the year since the VIC opened on campus, it has received more than 1,000 industry visitors, including transit properties, regulators, suppliers, utility companies and investors.
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