Global smart mobility company Alstom announced the opening of its new manufacturing facility in Hornell, N.Y., on Monday.
The cutting-edge 135,000 square-foot Plant 4 will be one of the few advanced manufacturing facilities in the U.S. capable of producing stainless steel car body shells for passenger rail vehicles, officials said. The plant will also provide additional capacity and capabilities for other Alstom projects.
The company said it previously manufactured this type of car body shell for U.S. projects in its Brazilian facility, but the investment in Plant 4 will restore production to America, officials said. The move also solidifies Hornell’s position as the largest passenger train manufacturing site in the country and strengthens the country’s domestic supply chain.
“When we invest in American manufacturing, we create good jobs that have a ripple effect across the entire region. We’re not just building trains — we are creating opportunities in Hornell and across the country. Plant 4 upholds our long-standing commitment to making trains in America, and it expands our ability to deliver cutting-edge rail solutions for our customers,” Michael Keroulle, president of Alstom Americas, said.
Alstom said it invested $75 million and worked with 40 contractors to build and outfit the facility with funds from federal, state, and local grants, job credits and tax credit programs. Funding came from programs with the New York Empire State Development, the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), City of Hornell Industrial Development Agency, the U.S. Department of Treasury CDFI Fund, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, New York State Electric & Gas, and the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration.
The site’s expansion is expected to create nearly 260 new jobs, including jobs in mechatronics engineering and robotics-related fields, while retaining another 390 jobs. The first project for the new plant is production of modern multilevel commuter rail cars for Metra, Chicago’s regional train system.