Members of the media received a tour this week of the Saf-T-Liner C2 plant, featuring new equipment and infrastructure to streamline operations, including updates that decrease paint time by more than half.
The upgrades are part of a $11.8 million expansion that was originally announced last October to increase C2 production by 25 percent. A company spokesman said most of the work is completed with some small remaining projects to be finished at the end of this month through July 6 during the company’s planned shutdown period. As a result of the expansion, Thomas also hired an additional 200 plant employees.
Caley Edgerly became Thomas’ new president and CEO on March 1 after serving as vice president of operations and said completing the facility upgrades was one of his main objectives going forward. He said the investment, which was supplemented by more than $370,000 of local economic development grants, proves the company’s commitment to further developing the C2 as well as retaining its headquarters in North Carolina.
“For nearly 100 years, High Point has been our home; the community is engrained in the culture of who we are as a company,” said Edgerly. “We look forward to the next 100 years and a strong on-going partnership with the High Point community.
Thomas celebrates its 100 anniversary starting next year.
