New Flyer opens high-tech bus part fabrication facility in Ky.

New Flyer of America Inc. officially opened a new 300,000 square foot part fabrication facility in Shepherdsville, Ky.

The opening follows from New Flyer’s announcement in Nov. 2017 to invest $28 million in the state and is expected to reach full capacity by the end of 2019, creating up to 550 jobs to Shepherdsville and the surrounding community. The growth would increase the total NFI Group jobs in Kentucky to nearly 800, along with the NFI Parts headquarters and distribution center located in Louisville.

Gov. Matt Bevin and Congressman Brett Guthrie delivered remarks at the ribbon cutting ceremony, and welcomed New Flyer to the community as a standout transportation advocate and leader in innovation, infrastructure, jobs, and investment.

 

“This major project was part of a banner year for Kentucky economic development in 2017, which saw companies invest $9.2 billion to create more than 17,000 jobs. The economic engine of the commonwealth is at full throttle, and New Flyer is a significant part of our continued forward momentum to become America’s engineering and manufacturing hub of excellence,” said Gov. Bevin.

The Shepherdsville facility furthers NFI’s effort to insource part fabrication capability and increases the company’s commitment to meet increased U.S. content requirements under Buy America provisions of the 2015 FAST Act. The facility will immediately provide parts for the manufacture of New Flyer transit buses and MCI motorcoaches, with intention to include parts for ARBOC Specialty Vehicle buses in the future. Part fabrication processes in the new facility include: hose manufacture, injection molding and thermoforming plastics, metal fabrication and advanced machining, powder coating, and electrical component manufacture.

Facility build out was supported by tax incentives through the Kentucky Business Investment program. New Flyer also received resources from the Kentucky Skills Network and worked closely with the Kentucky Economic Development and Bullitt County Economic Development teams.

“The efforts between New Flyer, the City of Shepherdsville, and the State of Kentucky has been a strong example of the power of public-private collaboration to drive jobs and innovation,” said Wayne Joseph, president of New Flyer of America. “With the opening of this facility, we not only have greater control and focus on improving supply quality for our buses and coaches, but we proudly invest in the future of American transportation through the augmentation of U.S. innovation, infrastructure, and jobs.”

New Flyer has been leading transit innovation in North America for over 88 years. In 2017, it opened the Vehicle Innovation Center in Anniston, Ala., the first and only innovation lab of its kind dedicated to advancing electric and autonomous bus and coach technology. In 2018, New Flyer also became the first bus manufacturer in the world to sign on to the Shared Mobility Principles for Livable Cities.