Hitachi Rail has inaugurated its new digital manufacturing facility in Hagerstown, Maryland, US, marking a “strategic funding” in North America by the Hitachi Group.
The $100m facility, which spans 307,000ft², is meant to supply railcars for varied metropolitan areas, together with Washington DC, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. It already has orders totalling greater than 600 railcars from these areas.
Designed to function with zero landfill waste, the manufacturing facility incorporates greater than $30m in digital enhancements geared toward optimising manufacturing high quality and supply.
It encompasses a buyer expertise centre that showcases the One Hitachi applied sciences, permitting guests to have interaction with the plant’s digital capabilities and study varied options.
The options embrace trendy signalling and the HMAX platform, which utilises AI to reinforce railway asset administration.
The anticipated financial affect of the brand new web site is projected to exceed $350m yearly.
The ability is anticipated to create roughly 1,300 jobs, with round 460 positions straight related to Hitachi Rail. These roles will give attention to AI and good manufacturing.
Hitachi president and CEO Toshiaki Tokunaga mentioned: “The Hagerstown manufacturing facility showcases the distinctive strengths of the Hitachi Group by integrating manufacturing experience and digital and AI applied sciences throughout a variety of our enterprise domains as True One Hitachi.”
Developed with contributions from Hitachi Digital, GlobalLogic, Hitachi Digital Companies, and Hitachi Analysis & Growth, the manufacturing facility employs Bodily AI and implements Digital Kaizen, a strategy for steady enchancment.
The good manufacturing facility utilises real-time monitoring of provide chains and manufacturing processes, incorporates native part manufacturing by 3D printing and on-site additive manufacturing for spare components and instruments.
By way of sustainability, the manufacturing facility is designed to emit zero CO2 emissions and is powered by photo voltaic panels, together with a dedication to sourcing 100% electrical energy from renewable sources.
The positioning additionally options plantings and AI techniques to watch and improve power effectivity.
Hitachi Rail Group CEO Giuseppe Marino mentioned: “In a position to ship as much as 20 rail automobiles per 30 days, the manufacturing facility shall be working at full tempo to ship necessary railcar contracts throughout North America, together with within the Washington D.C. area.”
Final month, Hitachi Rail renewed its partnership with the Powering Futures Colleges Problem Programme to encourage future engineers and improve gender range within the rail business.
“Hitachi Rail inaugurates digital manufacturing facility in Maryland, US” was initially created and revealed by Railway Know-how, a GlobalData owned model.