Michigan to Benefit Most from Ford Motor U.S Manufacturing Upgrades

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) (Dearborn, Michigan) plans to make some very large investments through 2019 in its United States manufacturing operations as it strives to meet demand. Industrial Info is tracking $8.22 billion in Ford projects in the U.S. that are scheduled to kick off through 2019. Well over half that amount ($4.5 billion) will be spent in the automaker's home state of Michigan.

Click on the image at right for a graph detailing the states where Ford Motor plans upgrade projects.

Ford's investments will help it create or secure 8,500 hourly-wage jobs, the company said in last month's announcement of a labor agreement with the United Auto Workers (UAW). The upgrades are expected to cover 19 plants.

The automaker has upgraded its F-150 truck series with aluminum alloy bodies to guard against rust. According to Forbes, the redesign was the most substantial of any F-series in the model's 67-year history.

Ford plans to invest $1.8 billion in its 3.3-million-square-foot transmission manufacturing plant located in Livonia, Michigan. The company will install three new transmission production lines and gearing equipment as well as upgrading its existing production lines. Project kickoff is expected in second-quarter 2016, with completion in fourth-quarter 2017.

Substantial investments also will be made in other states, including $900 million for three new assembly lines at Ford's 2.8-million-square-foot automotive plant in Chicago, Illinois. The company will use the lines to assemble new Lincoln MKC, Ford Explorers and Police Utility Interceptor models. Project kickoff is expected in early 2017, with completion in late 2019.

Another $900 million is earmarked for upgrades to Ford's transmission plant in Sharonville, Ohio. The plant manufactures transmissions for pickup trucks. Walbridge (Detroit, Michigan) is the general contractor for the project, which is expected to start in first-quarter 2016, with completion in fourth-quarter 2018.

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