GM to invest $1.2 Billion in upgrades at Ft. Wayne truck plant

Zane · May 26, 2015

Zane Merva,

Exectutive Editor, GM-Trucks.com

5/26/2015

General Motors has announced a significant investment in upgrades to the company's Ft. Wayne pickup truck assembly plant. $1.2 Billion will be spent introducing new technology and equipment to the production line.

The upgrades include:

New pre-treatment facility featuring thin-film paint pretreatment
E-coat paint customized to each vehicle style, resulting in superior coverage and curability
GM-patented radiant tube ovens for exceptional paint finish and lower energy use
New equipment that accommodates the many variations of the truck cab and box being placed on the chassis
New skillet conveyance systems for instrument panel assembly intended to improve worker ergonomics, leading to better product quality.

This announcement is good news for the local economy around Indiana. Said Indiana Gov. Mike Pence: “Around the world, Indiana is known as a proven leader in advanced manufacturing. Powered by a pro-growth business environment and a highly-skilled workforce, GM is leveraging Indiana’s strengths to help it remain competitive across the globe. Today’s announcement marks a significant promise to the Hoosier State and ensures GM’s presence in Indiana and its support of Hoosier jobs long into the future, reaffirming that Indiana is a state that works for business.”

Production will be unaffected by the changes and construction during the investment which is slated to begin in June and last for the next few years.

Ft. Wayne assembly has been producing pickups since 1986. Today it employs 3,800 employees who work three shifts a day.

newdude · May 26, 2015

Sure...now we get better paint lol. Good news for the boys at Ft. Wayne and good news for GM fans and GM truck lovers. Sounds like in the past year or so that GM has been dumping $$$ into the right thing...QUALITY.

Silverado-Hareek · May 26, 2015

Sure...now we get better paint lol. Good news for the boys at Ft. Wayne and good news for GM fans and GM truck lovers. Sounds like in the past year or so that GM has been dumping $$$ into the right thing...QUALITY.

Guess the paint issues were isolated to Ft. Wayne built trucks? Hopefully? Can I be happy mine was made in Mexico now?!?!

fondupot · May 26, 2015

Guess the paint issues were isolated to Ft. Wayne built trucks? Hopefully? Can I be happy mine was made in Mexico now?!?!

I believe GM is upgrading the Mexico plant as well.

MikeNH · May 26, 2015

Guess the paint issues were isolated to Ft. Wayne built trucks? Hopefully? Can I be happy mine was made in Mexico now?!?!

GM is dumping money into its plants all over. Don't feel smug cause yours was built in Mexico cause they'll probably get money too. Haha.

Besides, I doubt this will make much difference, no common brand does good paint anymore. You gotta get to specialty manufacturers before you get paint worth a damn.

Silverado-Hareek · May 27, 2015

GM is dumping money into its plants all over. Don't feel smug cause yours was built in Mexico cause they'll probably get money too. Haha.

Besides, I doubt this will make much difference, no common brand does good paint anymore. You gotta get to specialty manufacturers before you get paint worth a damn.

I'm just trying to comfort myself for not having an American built truck haha

I beg to differ on your paint point though about no brand doing great paint anymore. A coworkers's 2014 F150's paint looks and feels amazing. It feels like a solid enamel coating actually. Just saying...

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