Sept 25, 2024 — Kenworth Truck Company held a groundbreaking ceremony to officially announce the start of construction on a new $89 million, 45,825 square-foot plant expansion that will include a new state-of-the-art chassis paint system to its Class 8 truck assembly plant in Chillicothe.
The expansion represents a roughly 7% increase to the current 622,000-square-foot plant, which is located on a 120-acre site in Ross County, Ohio. The expansion is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2026.
The new chassis paint building will utilize the latest technologies to increase chassis paint capacity while also enhancing the plant’s industry-leading product quality and award-winning environmental stewardship programs. Advanced technologies integrated into the new facility include the latest paint robotics and connected manufacturing sensors to deliver world-class paint quality.
“This investment in the new state-of-the-art facility represents our commitment to quality, innovation, and sustainability at the Kenworth Chillicothe plant,” said Doug VanZuiden, Kenworth Chillicothe plant manager. “By leveraging the latest paint and robotics technology, this chassis paint system will enhance the efficiency and quality of the truck assembly process.”
Since 2018, Kenworth has invested nearly $400 million in its Chillicothe plant for new assembly technology and other expansion projects. Earlier this year, the Kenworth Chillicothe plant celebrated its 50th anniversary of building The World’s Best® trucks.
Kenworth Truck Company, founded in 1923, specializes in the design and manufacture of The World’s Best® heavy- and medium-duty trucks. As a leader in the development of advanced diesel powertrains, zero-emissions vehicles, connected truck technologies and autonomous driving systems, Kenworth is creating transportation solutions to drive a better world.
Credit: Chillicothe Gazette