Wabtec Corp. is investing US$3.73 million to expand its operations, capabilities and workforce in Brazil. The investment, the company said, “strengthens engineering and manufacturing capabilities to design and deliver innovative products and services needed to meet the region’s growing demand.”
Most of the expansion will occur in the city of Contagem, Minas Gerais, where Wabtec has a locomotive factory. The company plans to establish a Global Engineering Center, its first in Latin America, which will focus on research and development to support local and international projects. Located near Wabtec’s factory in the Cidade Industrial district, the approximately 29,000-square-foot facility will house laboratories and workstations for 300 engineering positions, which the company “is actively recruiting to fill.” Wabtec plans to open the center in December of this year.
Wabtec launched a new locomotive production line in the Contagem plant in April, increasing production capacity by 28%, enabling it to “meet growing demand.” The expectation is that by 2026, the facility will reach a milestone of 1,000 locomotives produced. “We’ve adjusted our processes to increase production volume and diversify our deliveries,” said Danilo Miyasato, President and Regional Leader of Wabtec in Latin America. “This upgrade enables us to serve regional customers and new markets, like Australia and Uruguay, with new locomotive models.”
In addition to the investments in Contagem, Wabtec will also open two new Logistics Centers in Brazil this year, in Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, and Monte Alto, São Paulo, “aiming to expand shipping capacity and create room for growth in other business areas, such as Maintenance of Way, Digital Intelligence and Components.”
“With these new ventures, Wabtec expects to surpass 1,000 employees in Contagem by 2026, combining the factory and Engineering Center teams,” said Miyasato. “This expansion demonstrates our confidence in the Brazilian market and the region’s growth potential. It also reflects on how our team in Brazil has routinely delivered the products and services needed for our customers to thrive. With this investment, we are prepared to serve railroads in Brazil and around the world with excellence, while continuing to drive innovation.”
