The expansion, which included the addition of new environmentally responsible technologies also created 100 new jobs.
The expanded production in ferrous casting and machining resulted in the establishment of high-tech spin-casting technologies that save energy and reduce waste.
Much of the new production is housed in a 135,000-square-foot building expansion for the casting and machining of engine cylinder sleeves, crankshafts, camshafts and connecting tools.
Dan Smith, plant manager at the Anna Engine Plant said, “This major project has increased Honda’s flexibility and speed in responding to changing customer demands in North America.”
He also said, “I am proud of what our associates are doing to meet Honda’s production requirements in North America.”
Honda announced the Anna plant project in 2006, when the company said it would build a new auto plant in Greensburg, Ind. The Indiana plant is making final preparations to manufacture Civic sedans with engines built at the Anna plant in Ohio.
On Sept. 15, Honda started producing four-cylinder engines at a new engine plant in Ontario, Canada to help meet growing North American demand for fuel-efficient vehicles. The annual production of 200,000 engines at Honda of Canada Mfg. will enable the Anna plant to supply four-cylinder engines to the close Indiana plant.
The expansion project went beyond adding new production, said Him Hranica, who managed the two-year expansion project. “In addition to the new steel parts capacity, we implemented new technologies and relocated existing casting and machining lines to maximize the plants manufacturing efficiency,” said Hranica.
The Anna plant has produced 16.5 million engines and expanded many times sine engine production started in 1985. Honda employs more than 15,000 Ohioans at five manufacturing plants, major vehicle R&D and tooling engineering centers, a regional distribution center and other operations supporting Honda’s auto manufacturing in North America.