$13M investment for GM plant
Workers get new sense of security
There are no brake lights in sight at the Glendale Ave. General Motors plant.
The company announced Friday a $ 13- million investment into the St. Catharines powertrain facility that will enable the production of more variants of the 3.6-litre V6 engine currently being built at the plant.
Word came from Stephen Carlisle, GM Canada president and managing director, who shared the news during the facility’s annual open house and show and shine car show that drew hun- dreds of people to the property.
The event was also used as a platform to unveil for the first time in Canada the company’s 2016 Chevrolet Camaro.
“We’re building on a great track record of excellence here in St. Catharines,” Carlisle said, while crediting plant administration and staff for “the great achievements you continue to rack up here in quality, productivity and environmental excellence.”
It’s another great signal of our optimism for the future, including here in
St. Catharines.”
Stephen Carlisle, GM Canada president and managing director
The investment, Carlisle said, is “another great example of GM living up to its commitments to our customers, to Canada and to the communities in which we operate.”
“It’s another great signal of our optimism for the future, including here in St. Catharines.”
The powertrain facility, which employs about 2,000 people, is one of North America’s largest engine and transmission plants. It produces a range of V6 and V8 engines, as well as transmissions for a wide range of GM products.
While the investment will not mean any additional jobs at the plant, it does provide a renewed sense of security, plant manager Carolyne Watts said.
“There’s always uncertainty in this industry and to see the investment indicates that there is a future and a sustainable life for this product,” she said of the V6 engines. The production line was scheduled to end in just a few years, but has now been extended.
“It’s good news. It’s really good news,” she said.
Engineering work for the manufacturing upgrades are underway and installation is expected to begin “in the next few months,” Watts said.
Future production volumes will be determined through market demand and ongoing discussions with labour union Unifor.