Ford's Edge Concept vehicle. Photo credit: Ford
Ford (F -0.48%) is investing in and adding jobs at a stamping plant in New York where employees produce doors, quarter panels, hoods, fenders, and other stamped parts for the Ford F-250, F-350, Flex, Edge, Focus, and Econoline, as well as the Lincoln MKX and MKT.
Ford's been on a tear since the depths of the recession, redesigning its vehicles to deliver more value and better fuel economy. With demand for its new vehicles driving higher and higher, Ford is continuing toward completing its goal of creating more than 12,000 hourly jobs in the U.S. by 2015 -- a goal it's more than 75% of the way to accomplishing.
Ford this week announced it will invest $150 million and add another 350 jobs at its Buffalo Stamping Plant, which opened in 1950 and has 650 employees. Ford said the job additions in Buffalo are a combination of new workers, transfers, and employees coming back from temporary leave.
"We produce crucial components for several key vehicles in Buffalo," said Paul Kosaian, director of manufacturing for stamping operations at Ford. "With the help of our UAW and government partners, we were able to secure additional jobs and investment to keep Buffalo Stamping Plant competitive and efficient."
Some of those parts produced go into Ford's Edge, pictured above, that aims to grow its market share in the fast-growing utility segments as its next-generation model hits the showrooms as a 2016 model. In addition to its just-announced Buffalo plans, Ford is also investing $16 billion in its U.S. product development and manufacturing operations and has already announced plans to hire 2,200 salaried workers in the U.S. in 2013.
