PACCAR’s Columbus MS engine factory recently celebrated 10 years of manufacturing excellence.
“PACCAR is very proud of the Columbus, Mississippi engine factory’s achievements in the first 10 years,” said Preston Feight, PACCAR chief executive officer. “Our excellent employees and the plant’s advanced manufacturing capabilities have created a great environment for building the industry’s best engines.”
Planning for the engine plant started in 2006 when an international team of managers and engineers from Kenworth, Peterbilt and DAF were tasked with laying the groundwork for a state-of-the-art factory. PACCAR chose Columbus due to its proximity to important transportation logistics networks, talented people and the ability to partner with nearby educational institutions that complement the workforce, the company said.
A groundbreaking ceremony in 2007 marked the start of construction for the $400 million facility. The innovative factory design and industry-leading operations have resulted in many honors for manufacturing excellence and environmental impact over the last decade, such as zero-waste-to-landfill, and ISO 14000 environmental management and ISO 9001-TS quality management certifications. Additional investments in factory enhancements and production capacity positioned the plant to meet engine demand over the next decade. The Columbus factory has produced more than 250,000 PACCAR MX-11 and MX-13 engines.
PACCAR established close ties with colleges in the area, including Mississippi State University, Mississippi University for Women and East Mississippi Community College, to help develop a local pool of highly skilled employees. These relationships continue to flourish and provide mutual benefit, PACCAR said. Not only does the PACCAR engine factory hire or offer internships to associates from surrounding colleges, employees also can earn valuable training certifications and degrees to enhance their knowledge and skill sets.
PACCAR designed the MX-11 and MX-13 engines to achieve unparalleled quality, efficiency and durability. Each unit carries a design life of 1 million miles, providing customers with an uptime boost. MX engine blocks are made from compacted graphite iron (CGI), a material that is 75% stronger and 20% lighter than gray iron. CGI offers greater strength and temperature resistance than traditional metals, allowing the block to maintain excellent structural integrity while expanding and contracting. PACCAR is the first diesel engine manufacturer to use this lightweight material in the head and block portions.
“The level of commitment PACCAR engine factory employees have toward their work and their community is something that really resonates within the Peterbilt family and our customers,” said Jason Skoog, Peterbilt general manager and PACCAR vice president. “We would like to congratulate everyone at the Columbus, Mississippi engine factory for a decade of delivering high-quality PACCAR MX engines that benefit our customers in many ways,”
Added Kevin Baney, Kenworth general manager and PACCAR vice president: “Congratulations to the PACCAR engine factory and its tremendous, dedicated employees who have supported Kenworth fleets and truck operators with PACCAR MX engines for the past decade.
“The factory has played a major role in Kenworth’s growth by providing fuel-efficient engines for our customers throughout the U.S. and Canada.”