GM is hoping to make custom, precise stamping easier with a new $40 million investment in its Pontiac Stamping Plant.
The money will go to renovating the facility as well as installing new, highly flexible fabrication machinery and presses. These will help support future production of EVs and will allow the plant to serve a range of product applications, the company said in a statement.
Renovation work is beginning immediately and GM says it anticipates that the UAW-represented plant will gain 20 new positions as a result of the investment. The 1.25 million sq ft facility currently has 191 hourly employees and 31 salaried staff.
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The new machinery being installed will feature “Flex Fab” metal fabrication technology. That, GM says, allows for custom stamping, which reduces costs for low-volume applications. It also means that the machines can switch to producing new products without requiring any additional investment in new stampings.
“This investment will bring the latest in flexible sheet metal fabrication technology to the Pontiac team,” said Phil Kienle, GM vice president of North America Manufacturing and Labor Relations. “Our manufacturing capabilities create a competitive advantage for GM, and I am confident the team at Pontiac Stamping will continue delivering excellence in all areas of the business as they deploy this new equipment.”
The plant has been in use since 1926 as part of the Oakland Motor Car Company before being bought by Pontiac in 1932 and currently produces parts for the Bolt EV, the Bolt EUV, the Hummer EV, and GM’s full-size SUV line.
Its most recent investment came in 2015 when $124 million was invested in tooling and equipment to enhance its manufacturing capabilities.
