CNH Industrial and CASE Construction Equipment announced it will invest $24 million to expand production in Burlington, Iowa, with the addition of the company’s M Series crawler dozer production line. The expansion will create approximately 50 full-time jobs. Preparations will begin later this year and production on the new line is expected to begin in the second half of 2015.
“Burlington is very familiar territory for CASE dozers,” said Jim Hasler, vice president of CASE Construction Equipment, North America. “Earlier models were produced in Burlington prior to the acquisition of the Calhoun, Ga. plant. Our new M Series dozers are experiencing high demand and we have plans in place to ensure availability as we transition production.”
The machines are currently produced at the Calhoun plant, which will close in the third quarter of 2015 as the company streamlines its construction operations.
Moving the production line to Iowa is consistent with CNH Industrial’s long-term strategy to optimize its manufacturing footprint and achieve a lean, flexible industrial operation that delivers best-in-class response to the CNH Industrial brands’ customers around the world. The production transfer is contingent upon completion, and approval, of all State and local incentives and grants.
The production facilities will include a new dedicated paint line, welding and computer numerical control (CNC) machining equipment, and a dedicated assembly line. The Burlington plant, home to more than 600 employees, has manufactured equipment for CNH Industrial’s brands since 1937. In addition to producing CASE Construction Equipment, the plant’s employees produce agricultural equipment for the company’s Case IH and New Holland brands.