Stadler has officially opened a new welding facility at its Salt Lake City campus, where aluminium train car bodies will now be produced locally.
The 50,000-square-foot (4,600 m²) facility forms part of the company’s ongoing expansion of its US operations, which manufacture passenger trains for the American market. The site is expected to create up to 20 welding and technical positions.
Martin Ritter, CEO of Stadler North America said:We set out to build more than just trains. 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.
The new facility marks the first time aluminium car bodies for Stadler trains in North America are welded on-site, rather than being transported from Europe. The change is intended to reduce transit times and increase the proportion of domestic content in Stadler’s US-built trains, which now stands at around 80 percent.
During an initial ramp-up phase, welding specialists from Stadler’s centre in Hungary are working on-site in Salt Lake City to support the transfer of knowledge and ensure consistent manufacturing standards.
Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall said:This facility is a shining example of what can happen when global expertise meets local ambition. With the opening of this new welding hall, train car bodies will be manufactured locally. That means jobs, innovation, and a more sustainable future.
Under the Buy America Act, projects using US federal funds must demonstrate that at least 70 percent of value creation occurs within the United States. Stadler’s new welding hall is intended to meet and exceed this requirement.
The facility joins Stadler’s existing operations in Salt Lake City, which produce complete passenger trains for regional and intercity services. With the addition of local welding, the company aims to maintain production schedules while strengthening the US supply chain.
