Ohio plant that builds Duramax diesel engines gets $60M overhaul
by Canadian Manufacturing Daily Staff
Plant in Moraine, Ohio, will get upgrades to "meet future emissions requirements," according to GM
MORAINE, Ohio—The joint venture that makes Duramax diesel engines for General Motors’ lineup of light and medium trucks is investing $60-million to overhaul its Ohio plant.
A joint venture owned by GM and Isuzu Motors Ltd., DMAX, Ltd., will spend $60-million to make unspecified design changes that will help the plant “meet future emissions requirements,” according to the Detroit automaker.
GM owns 60 per cent of DMAX, while Isuzu owns a 40 per cent stake in the venture that makes Duramax engines.
“(This) announcement demonstrates GM’s commitment to continuously invest in technologies that reduce the impact of our vehicles on the environment, while maintaining performance attributes required by customers in the areas of towing and hauling loads,” GM North America manufacturing manager Christine Sitek said in a statement.
Opened in 2000, the DMAX plant in Moraine, Ohio, about 80 kilometres northeast of Cincinnati, has produced more than 1.5 million engines.
According to GM, $760-million has been invested in the DMAX facility since it opened.
“This joint venture is a great example of what can be achieved with a successful global partnership, and I extend my appreciation to the leadership of Isuzu for its commitment to the success of this operation,” Sitek said.
DMAX is home to the Duramax 6.6-litre turbo-diesel engine used in the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra three-quarter and one-ton pickup trucks, as well as the Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana cargo and passenger vans.
“The Duramax diesel’s performance is renowned in the industry, and these updates to improve our emissions will make it that much better,” said Maho Mitsuya, DMAX president and chief operating officer.
