HITACHI Rail has celebrated the opening of a new manufacturing facility in Hagerstown, Maryland, from where it is set to supply up to 20 metro cars per month to customers in North America. This includes active orders for more than 600 cars with metros in Washington, DC, Baltimore and Philadelphia in the United States, and Toronto in Canada.

Hitachi’s executive chairman, Toshiaki Higashihara, along with president and CEO, Toshiaki Tokunaga, and the CEO of Hitachi Rail, Giuseppe Marino, officially opened the facility on September 8. Hitachi has invested $US 100m in the 2.85ha site, which replaces its now closed facility in Miami, Florida, as its sole US assembly plant.

Hitachi describes the new factory a lighthouse facility, producing no waste for landfill and is entirely carbon-neutral, powered by renewable energy generated by solar panels at the site.

The plant features more than $US 30m in digital enhancements. The smart factory harnesses real-time supply chain and manufacturing monitoring and will produce some components and tooling locally using 3D printing and on-site additive manufacturing.

“By showcasing powerful digital and transformative technologies in this factory for customers and partners, the Hitachi Group aims to address customer challenges across North America,” Hitachi says.

The factory will support up to 1300 jobs, including 460 directly with Hitachi Rail on site in roles that will harness AI and smart manufacturing principles, and offer next-generation manufacturing careers. Hitachi says the site will generate $US 350m in added value for the surrounding region of Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia, and reflects its wider expansion in North America, which accounts for a sixth of the group’s revenues.

Hitachi Rail’s current North American metro car orders
  • Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA):  256 series 800 cars worth $US 713m, with options for up to 800 cars worth $US 2.2bn
  • Baltimore Subway: 78 cars. Manufacturing originally started in Miami, with the first delivery expected in 12-18 months
  • Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (Septa): 200 M5 cars worth $US 725m, and
  • Metrolinx: 31 four-car driverless trains, ordered under the rolling stock, systems, operation and maintenance (RSSOM) contract for the 15.6km Ontario Line in Toronto that also includes the supply of CBTC.