PACCAR recognizes its Columbus, Mississippi, engine factory for 10 years of manufacturing excellence and a strong commitment to its community.
“PACCAR is very proud of the Columbus, Mississippi, engine factory’s achievements in the first 10 years,” says Preston Feight, PACCAR CEO. “Our excellent employees and the plant’s advanced manufacturing capabilities have created a great environment for building the industry’s best engines.”
In 2006 PACCAR tasked a team of individuals from Kenworth, Peterbilt, and DAF with laying groundwork for a state-of-the-art factory. PACCAR chose Columbus, Mississippi, for its proximity to transportation logistics networks and the ability to partner with educational institutions.
PACCAR ENGINE FACTORY
A groundbreaking ceremony in 2007 marked the start of construction for the $400 million facility. The factory design and industry-leading operations resulted in many honors for manufacturing excellence and environmental impact over the last decade. The honors include zero-waste-to-landfill and ISO 14000 environmental management as well as ISO 9001-TS quality management certifications. Additional investments in factory enhancements and production capacity have positioned the plant to meet engine demand over the next decade. The Columbus, Mississippi, factory has produced more than 250,000 PACCAR MX-11 and MX-13 engines to date.
PACCAR established close ties with nearby colleges including Mississippi State University, Mississippi University for Women, and East Mississippi Community College. The ties help develop a strong local pool of highly skilled employees. Additionally, these relationships continue to flourish and provide mutual benefit. The factory hires or offers internships to associates from surrounding colleges, and employees also earn valuable training certifications and degrees.
PACCAR MX-11 & MX-13
PACCAR designed the MX-11 and MX-13 engines to achieve unparalleled quality, efficiency, and durability. Each unit carries a design life of one million miles, providing customers with a significant boost to uptime. MX engine blocks are made from compacted graphite iron (CGI). This material is 75% stronger and 20% lighter than gray iron. CGI offers greater strength and temperature resistance than traditional metals, allowing the block to maintain integrity while expanding and contracting. PACCAR is the first diesel engine manufacturer to use this lightweight material in both 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,” says 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.”
“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,” says Kevin Baney, Kenworth general manager and PACCAR vice president. “The factory has played a major role in Kenworth’s growth by providing fuel-efficient engines for our customers throughout the US and Canada.”
PACCAR is a global technology leader in the design, manufacture, and customer support of high-quality light-, medium-, and heavy-duty trucks under the Kenworth, Peterbilt, and DAF nameplates. PACCAR also designs and manufactures advanced powertrains, provides financial services and information technology, and distributes truck parts related to its principal business.
Find out more, visit www.paccar.com.
