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Source: New York Air Brake announcement
WATERTOWN, N.Y. –New York Air Brake LLC (NYAB), a global manufacturer of innovative train control systems for the railroad industry, has announced a realignment strategy for its North American manufacturing operations.
Among the actions, NYAB will launch production in Acuña, Mexico, and shift capacity and production scope at three other U.S.-based NYAB facilities: Salisbury, N.C.; Nixa, Mo.; and Kansas City, Mo.
The company will also complete a substantial manufacturing refocus in Watertown to become a machining operation.
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To minimize disruption to customers, the phased transition across North America will begin in the fourth quarter of 2021 and is expected to end by the close of 2022. The company employs nearly 400 workers at its location on Starbuck Avenue in Watertown. The shift of manufacturing impacts approximately 125 Watertown-based jobs, commencing at a date to be confirmed in early 2022.
“New York Air Brake is a global company operating in an ever-changing global marketplace. Throughout our history, this business has successfully evolved its manufacturing approach to better serve our customers,” said Ulisses Camilo, New York Air Brake President and CEO. “Our strategic direction for manufacturing has long been to capitalize on our locations and core competencies, always aiming to align production closer to the point of final assembly.”
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He noted that more than 70 percent of NYAB’s freight OE clients are producing railcars in Mexico – a number that continues to climb.
Camilo added, “The accelerated pace of globalization is a factor that places greater delivery pressure throughout the business. Our footprint in Mexico is a crucial connecting point in our North America growth plan. While Watertown manufacturing operations will see the greatest impact, the site is and has been the heart of our business for over 130 years. That will not change. We will remain a committed and active corporate citizen in the Watertown community and Jefferson County at large.”
