Stadler has marked a significant milestone in its North American growth story with the official opening of its expanded manufacturing facility in Salt Lake City, alongside celebrating a decade of operations in the United States.
The early July event brought together senior industry figures, policymakers and international representatives, including Swiss President Guy Parmelin, highlighting both the strategic importance of the US market and the strengthening economic ties between Switzerland and the United States.
Major expansion boosts capacity and jobs
The investment delivers an additional 245,000 square feet of manufacturing space, bringing the total footprint of the Salt Lake City site to 475,000 square feet. The expansion is expected to support up to 300 new jobs, including opportunities for youth apprenticeships — underlining Stadler’s long-term commitment to workforce development in the region.
Martin Ritter, CEO Stadler North America, said:
“This milestone reflects not only how far we’ve come over the past decade, but also our long-term commitment to building trains, creating jobs, and investing in American manufacturing.”
The newly expanded campus introduces a range of enhanced production capabilities, including:
- A dedicated welding hall
- Blasting booth
- Expanded assembly hall
- Larger warehouse facilities
- Electrical pre-assembly hall
Together, these upgrades position Stadler to increase output and better serve rail operators across North America.
Strategic importance of the US market
Stadler’s Chairman, Peter Spuhler, emphasised the long-term vision behind the company’s US investment:
“Today is a day of pride, of gratitude. Ten years ago, we made a strategic decision to invest and to build our own factory in the United States. We believed in the potential of the American market. Over the past decade, Stadler has established itself as a true American train manufacturer. Our success was built step by step, project by project, customer by customer.”
The milestone underscores the company’s steady progression from an initial rental facility in 2016 to a fully established manufacturing hub, officially opened in 2019.
Next phase already underway
As part of the celebrations, Stadler also broke ground on a new CNC hall, which will further enhance production precision. The facility will process aluminium extrusions for train bodies, using computer-controlled cutting systems to prepare panels for welding.
This development signals the next phase of Stadler’s expansion strategy in the US, with a continued focus on advanced manufacturing and efficiency improvements.
Supporting major US rail programmes
Today, Stadler employs 674 people at its Salt Lake City site, which plays a critical role in delivering rolling stock for key rail projects across the country, including:
- Caltrain (California)
- Metra (Chicago)
- TexRail (Fort Worth, Texas)
- MARTA (Atlanta)
During the event, representatives from the Federal Railroad Administration and the State of Utah highlighted Stadler’s contribution as both an innovative rail manufacturer and a significant regional employer.
Guests and media were also given behind-the-scenes access to the facility, showcasing live production lines and ongoing project delivery.
Image and video credits: Stadler
