Nippon Sharyo Manufacturing, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nippon Sharyo U.S.A. Inc., recently celebrated the opening of its expanded production facility, Shop 3, located in Prologis Park - Rochelle, Illinois. The new facility will help Nippon Sharyo become even more competitive in the United States passenger railcar market, and meet the passenger railcar industry’s growing demands for “Buy America” standards. Nippon Sharyo is committed to utilizing locally sourced products and services through businesses that create jobs for workers in Illinois and across the United States of America.
The contract for bi-level-passenger railcars (130 railcars with an option for an additional 300) awarded in November 2012 by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is funded by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). FRA funding has a 100% Buy America requirement under 49 U.S.C. §24405(a). With the completion of Shop 3 all components required for this project will be produced in America, thus meeting the FRA requirement.
The expansion also opens even more job opportunities in the region. Currently Nippon Sharyo has more than 400 employees in the original Shop 1 and Shop 2, and Shop 3 has opened an additional 90 manufacturing jobs. The new facility has also created many opportunities for U.S. based vendors due to the increased need for U.S. made materials, parts and services.
For the opening ceremony, Nippon Sharyo invited approximately 200 guests from various federal, state, city and other municipal governments, related organizations, clients, contractors and vendors to join in celebrating the Shop 3 Expansion Project Opening Ceremony. Guest speakers included Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, FRA Administrator Joseph C. Szabo, Caltrans Acting Chief of the Division of Rail Bruce Roberts, IDOT Director of the Division of Public and Intermodal Transportation Joseph Shacter, and Nippon Sharyo Chairman Katsuyuki Ikushima.
