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.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
