Navistar upgrades product facility; reaches deal with UAW

MELROSE PARK, Ill. — Navistar plans to invest $90 million to expand an existing product development facility in Melrose Park, Ill. into a state-of-the-art testing center for trucks and diesel engines.

The 80-acre location is intended to complement Navistar’s integrated product development center to be located at the former Alcatel-Lucent East campus in Lisle.

"With so many older manufacturing plants shutting down across the country, Navistar sees an opportunity to leverage our assets and reinvest in an existing facility to enable our growth as a company," said Navistar Chief Information Officer Don Sharp.

Constructed in 1941, the facility originally was operated by Buick to build engines for the B-24 Liberator bomber. In 1946, International Harvester purchased the plant to build construction equipment and engines.
Meanwhile, Navistar and the UAW have ratified a new four-year labor agreement.

"This investment solidifies our partnership with the UAW, our commitment to Melrose Park and the state of Illinois, where we’ve built a reputation as a good neighbor and trusted business partner. We’re here to stay."