GM is building a $200 million stamping facility at its Arlington Assembly plant. It’s unfortunate that the machine tool business is largely dominated by offshore companies, which will benefit from the U.S. recovery.
The first shipment of equipment to stamp components for refreshed full-size SUVs from GM arrives at the Arlington Stamping Plant this week. The four gigantic presses from Korean supplier WIA, also known as Kia Presses, along with pit equipment and two press beds – weighing a total of 5 million pounds – are making their way 550 miles from the Port of Houston.
Because of their size, the presses are being transported during the day along a planned route approved by the Texas Department of Transportation. This ensures that all roadways can safely accommodate the loads.
The route winds around Houston through several Texas communities north to Arlington. Residents in Port of Houston, Dayton, Cleveland, Conroe, Prairie View, Personville, Mexia, Joshua, Mansfield, and Arlington can witness GM adding to the rebound of American manufacturing.
GM is building a $200 million stamping facility at its Arlington Assembly plant – part of more than $531 million GM has invested there since 2009. The plant added 180 new jobs to operate three complete press lines that will make external and internal sheet metal components for the vehicle assembly plant.
Overall, GM Arlington has added 1,000 new jobs to meet demand of the current generation SUVs and to build the next generation full-size Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban, GMC Yukon, and Cadillac Escalade SUVs. The plant directly employs 3,500 people.
