Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) will invest over $166m in three new press lines at Sterling Stamping Plant in Michigan, US to meet the rising demand for body panels and assemblies.
The new additions, expected to become operational after two months and attain full volume between January and June next year.
FCA North America manufacturing vice-president Brian Harlow said: "In response to the increased demand for our products, it was crucial to make an investment where the manufacturing process starts.
"As the company's second stamping plant investment in a year, this funding will allow the Sterling Stamping Plant to maintain the quality and speed necessary to continue supporting our manufacturing operations."
The investment will be used for installation of two extra-large High Speed Servo Tandem press lines, each of them 180 inches, and one large Servo Progressive press line.
In all, three presses will work towards raising the count of stampings daily by around 75,000 or yearly by 20 million. Currently, such production stands at 62 million stampings a year.
The new Servo Tandem Presses drive makes it possible to achieve 100% programmable control and movement of the ram speed at any position in the press stroke, while Tandem Press provides multiple presses in line in series. Besides, a Progressive Press is a single press with one slide.
FCA US plant manager Sterling Stamping Lance Schwartz said: "Fifty years of pride, honor and commitment make Sterling Stamping employees among the best in the business.
"With this investment, we will continue to support the company by providing the framework for the vehicles our customers love to drive."
