Cummins Invests $68 Million For Expansion In Indiana

Indiana-based Cummins announced plans for new growth as it celebrates 100 years. While at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Thursday, the engine manufacturer announced it is looking towards the next century.

The diesel engine started it all. Cummins Chairman and CEO Tom Linebarger says the company is expanding into other energy sources.

“This year we will launch our first Cummins designed, Cummins produced, fully electrified powertrain in a city bus,” says Linebarger.

The company is investing $33 million in the Columbus plant to build the new electric powertrain and develop the Electrified Power portion of the country.

Cummins also plans to build a new facility in Greenwood and expand in Indianapolis. The new $35 million building will expand the manufacturer’s footprint along Interstate 65. There the focus will be on information technology with around 500 jobs based at the facility.

“The customer demand for information and information services with products is relentless,” says Linebarger. “We all want to be able to do everything we do with our phones and our business is no different than that.”

He says Cummins needs to move fast for not only the benefit of the customer but also the company.

“Technicians want to be able to use iPads and phones and they want be able to get a lot of information from their engine or their electrified powertrain about how it’s operating, what they can do to keep it operating, how they can lower maintenance cost, how they can lower cost of use,” says Linebarger. “And we want to also use that same data to develop our engines faster, to have fewer issues and quality problems, to make sure our customers run better, and even how we source and produce products.”

Gov. Eric Holcomb says Cummins’ increased investment is helping Indiana keep its “pole position” as a leader in manufacturing.

“You often hear about Silicon Valley or the Research Triangle,” says Holcomb. “Now folks, when they think of how we power the world, how we connect with markets around the globe, and connect with people around the world, Cummins is doing that.”

Mayors from Columbus, Indianapolis and Greenwood – where Cummins has plans to invest – were in attendance.

“When Columbus grows, Indianapolis wins. When Greenwood grows, Indianapolis wins,” says Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett. “We’re all in this together.”

Linebarger says the latest announcements are about investing in the company’s future.

“And what we want to do is put in the important investments and the bets on the future that make sure that someone who is much younger than me is standing here 100 years from today,” he says.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Cummins about $1 million in tax incentives if it meets certain criteria.