A $69-million investment for the redesign of its New River Valley (NRV) truck-assembly plant in Dublin, VA to increase both “manufacturing efficiency and vehicle quality” has been announced by Volvo Trucks North America (VTNA).
“This investment will spur significant improvements in material handling and parts flow that will allow us to increase throughput and reduce tied-up capital,” said Lars Blomberg , VTNA’s vice president & general manager.
“In addition to helping us further improve product quality, the redesign and additional equipment will also provide our employees with an even safer and more ergonomic working environment,” he added.
According to VTNA, the investment will provide such enhancements to the plant as:
- State-of-the art, energy-efficient upgrades for the paint facility “ that will increase North American paint capacity and deliver superior quality”
- New racking and storage systems, docks and lifting devices along with the redesign of a variety of work areas “will allow improved material delivery”
“The NRV plant and the passion of its employees are a competitive advantage for Volvo Trucks,” remarked Göran Nyberg, president-- Volvo Trucks North American Sales & Marketing. “This investment gives them the tools to continue optimizing delivery precision and quality for our customers.”
Volvo VNM, VNL, VNX, VHD and VAH truck models are assembled at NRV while Volvo engines for the North American market are built in the OEM's Hagerstown, MD, plant.
The OEM noted that the NRV plant is certified to ISO50001 energy standards and that both the NRV and Hagerstown plants are certified to ISO14001 environmental and ISO9001 quality standards.
VTNA is part of Gothenburg, Sweden-based AB Volvo. The Volvo Group is a leading global manufacturer of trucks, buses, construction equipment and marine and industrial engines.
