Swiss-based Stadler, a railroad equipment manufacturing company, recently held a grand opening ceremony for its new welding facility in Salt Lake City.
The 50,000-square-foot facility manufactures aluminum train car bodies and began operations on Sept. 25. The facility brings Stadler’s domestic content up to 80 percent and will create up to 20 jobs for local welders and technicians by the end of 2026. Stadler’s top welding experts from its Hungarian competence center are in Salt Lake City to share best practices and ensure a seamless transfer of expertise.
“We set out to build more than just trains,” Martin Ritter, Stadler North America CEO, said. “We’re building economic opportunity, stronger supply chains, and a future where American-made trains are synonymous with world-class quality. Today, our welders are proof that it can be done.”
With the facility’s opening, aluminum car bodies are welded on-site rather than shipped from Stadler’s European welding facilities. A large proportion of the company’s supplies still come from Europe, and the company is analyzing its supply chains to further reduce the proportion of foreign components. The Buy America Act requires companies that use U.S. tax money to finance a project must demonstrate that at least 70 percent of its value creation is generated in the United States.