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GREENSBURG, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) – The Honda Indiana auto plant in Greensburg has started series production of the 2022 Civic Hatchback, making it the first plant in the United States to do so. The automaker has invested more than $ 50 million to prepare the facility for production, which included an expansion of nearly 60,000 square feet to house new laser soldering equipment. Larry Geise, plant manager at IAP, says the addition of the new vehicle is exciting for the plant, which began building the Civic when it opened in 2008.
In an interview with Inside INdiana Business, Geise said the automaker continues to seek growth opportunities in Decatur County.
“It was a struggle. Everyone has been struggling with COVID, as you know, for a year and a half and obviously we are all looking beyond COVID, ”Geise said. “Our real goal here is to stabilize our operations. We are doing it. We are bringing new products like this hatchback, so we see a very bright future not only for our business here, but also for our local communities. “
Honda says several IAP employees have lived and worked in Japan for up to two years to collaborate with the company’s R&D and manufacturing teams in an effort to make it easier for workers to assemble the Civic Hatchback. IAP.
The laser brazing equipment in the new building uses dual beam laser technology to join the roof of the new vehicle to the side panels of the body. Honda says the process creates a seamless exterior appearance and a stronger body. Vehicle assembly also includes the use of spray foam in hollow parts of the vehicle body structure to reduce the transmission of noise into the passenger compartment.
The Greensburg plant, which totals more than 1.3 million square feet, also produces the CR-V, CR-V Hybrid and Insight Hybrid models. The plant employs more than 2,700 workers.
While the company does not say if any new jobs are created as a result of the investment, Geise says the facility offers opportunities for a wide range of talent.
“I think that’s one thing that makes us really special in this area. We have opportunities for people leaving high school. We have opportunities for people who have left the labor market and wish to re-enter the labor market. We have college opportunities. So we have a very wide range of opportunities here and that’s not just a key aspect.
Geise says investing in the PAI is not only good for the establishment, but also for the community.
“I think it’s really important for us, as one of the biggest employers in this field, to be connected not only to the ongoing business activity, but also to local communities,” he said. -he declares. “We look forward to continuing to work with not only Greensburg, but the surrounding counties, surrounding cities and we are looking for other opportunities to continue to grow and we are really excited about where we are now and are looking forward to the future. ‘to come up.
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