The Economy

GE Eyes Fort Worth for New Locomotive Plant

May 13, 2011

With market conditions improving, company is hiring and bringing rail-manufacturing workers back online.

GE Transportation earlier this week said it plans to open a new locomotive-manufacturing facility in Fort Worth, Texas, to meet rising global demand.

GE will invest up to $96 million in the new plant, creating more than 500 new high-tech manufacturing jobs by 2012. The plant may create up to 275 additional jobs in subsequent years, according to the company. GE also said it will expand its manufacturing ranks at its Erie, Pa., plant by hiring an additional 250 workers. The proposed Forth Worth facility will manufacture, assemble and remanufacture GE's rail and transportation-related products, including GE's Evolution Series. Production at the 900,000-square-foot facility is scheduled to start by 2012.

GE Transportation's Evolution Series locomotive reduces fuel use by 5% or approximately 640,000 gallons over the lifetime of the locomotive, while reducing emissions by approximately 40%, according to the company."GE Transportation is experiencing strong U.S. and global growth because of its technical leadership and we need to increase our manufacturing capacity and flexibility," said GE Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Immelt. "This new state-of-the-art plant in Fort Worth, Texas, will produce the world's most advanced locomotives and transportation products, expand our service and repair capability, and create hundreds of new high-tech manufacturing jobs." GE said it expects to begin its formal hiring process for salaried employees and production workers for the Texas facility later this year. Production workers include welders, assemblers, painters and related skilled labor. The state of Texas will commit up to $4.2 million in incentives toward the project through the Texas Enterprise Fund, according to GE. Full Steam Ahead With market conditions improving, GE Transportation has recalled approximately 800 production workers at its Erie manufacturing facility since late 2010 and announced 450 new jobs since April. In total, more than 4,500 employees work at the Erie facility, including approximately 3,000 production workers. GE Transportation, a business unit of GE, operates at more than 50 GE and customer facilities in the United States. GE Transportation recently reported $903 million in first-quarter revenues, up 18% year-over-year. Segment profits for the same period were $157 million, up 37% year-over-year. See Also:

"DOT Awards $2 Billion in High-Speed Rail Funds"

About the Author

Josh Cable | Former Senior Editor

Former Senior Editor Josh Cable covered innovation issues -- including trends and best practices in R&D, process improvement and product development. He also reported on the best practices of the most successful companies and executives in the world of transportation manufacturing, which encompasses the aerospace, automotive, rail and shipbuilding sectors.

Josh also led the IndustryWeek Manufacturing Hall of Fame, IW’s annual tribute to the most influential executives and thought leaders in U.S. manufacturing history.

Before joining IndustryWeek, Josh was the editor-in-chief of Penton Media’s Government Product News and Government Procurement. He also was an award-winning beat reporter for several small newspapers in Northeast Ohio.

Josh received his BFA in creative writing from Bowling Green University, and continued his professional development through course-work at Ohio University and Cuyahoga Community College.

A lifelong resident of the Buckeye State, Josh currently lives in the Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland. When the weather cooperates, you’ll find him riding his bike to work, exercising his green thumb in the backyard or playing ultimate Frisbee.