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Freightliner's First N.C. Manufacturing Plant Turns 20

5 October 1998

Freightliner's First N.C. Manufacturing Plant Turns 20

    PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 3 -- More than 2,00O Freightliner
Gastonia Parts Manufacturing Plant (PMP) employees, retirees and family
members took time out Saturday to celebrate the plant's 20-year anniversary.
The Gastonia PMP was the first of Oregon-based Freightliner's manufacturing
plants east of the Mississippi.  The plant is one of the company's two
parts making plants and it produces parts for four Freightliner truck and
chassis manufacturing plants, American LaFrance fire trucks, a Mercedes-Benz
truck plant in Mexico, and parts distribution centers throughout North
America.
    "Freightliner came into the Carolinas 20 years ago committed to expanding
their business," said Plant Manager Buddy Kircus.  "We've been able to do that
and the quality and amount of parts coming out of this plant are part of the
reason why.  We're the beginning of the truck building process."
    Kircus, an employee of the Gastonia plant since it opened in 1978, has
seen the plant grow in more ways than one.  "Twenty years ago we started with
about 100 employees in a 220,000-square-foot plant.  Today, the plant has
nearly 1,100 employees and spans 354,000 square feet."
    In the fall of 1978 as many as 1,500 parts were manufactured.  Today, more
than 14,000 different steel and aluminum parts are produced and another 5,000-
6,000 inactive parts can be produced.  More than two million pounds of parts
are shipped per week.
    Employee training and continuing education has always been a priority at
Freightliner.  Jeff Short, a 20-year employee, remembers unloading parts and
equipment in 1978 that he'd never seen before and didn't know how to use.
"Our managers assured us Freightliner would provide training.  They were
right."
    "Our employees are the best," said Kircus.  "They've spent hundreds of
hours in training and continuing education through the years to increase their
skills and stay on top of the new technologies.  Without their efforts and the
support of Freightliner, we wouldn't be as successful as we are."
    "Freightliner has proven to be an excellent corporate citizen," said
Gastonia Mayor Porter MacAteer who represented the Gastonia City Council at
the plant's 1978 dedication.  "I have the highest regard for Freightliner and
their employees.  Their on-going contributions to this community greatly
impact our quality of life."
    The anniversary celebration included plant tours, a picnic lunch, and
games for the whole family to enjoy.  During the tours, the plant's latest
technology was demonstrated.
    Freightliner Corporation, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, is the
leading heavy truck manufacturer in North America.  Freightliner produces and
markets Class 3-8 trucks and is a member of the Daimler-Benz AG group, the
world's leading commercial vehicle manufacturer (http://www.freightliner.com).
The company has 12,000 employees worldwide.