Newest Oshkosh facility is just miles from the largest U.S. Army installation
OSHKOSH, Wis. — August 21, 2008 — Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), today celebrated the grand opening of its newest manufacturing facility in Killeen, Texas. The facility manufactures aftermarket components for the Oshkosh Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT), which is the backbone for the U.S. Army’s logistics fleet. The Killeen site was chosen for its proximity to Fort Hood, the largest Army installation in the country. The 230,000 square-foot facility currently employs 37 and provides the company with additional future production capacity.
Dignitaries from the military and local, state and federal government who attended today’s grand opening ceremony included Major General Thomas Bostick, U.S. Army Recruiting Command; U.S. Congressman John Carter representing Texas’ 31st District, which includes Killeen and Fort Hood; Mitzi Stoute from Texas State Representative Jimmie Don Aycock’s office; Robert Bodish, the homeland security deputy director attended on behalf of Texas Governor Rick Perry’s office; J. Brown, district director attended from state Senator Troy Fraser’s office; Tim Hancock, Mayor of Killeen; Bill Kliewer, president of the Killeen Economic Development Corporation.
“Oshkosh’s long-standing partnership with the U.S. Army will only be strengthened by opening a manufacturing facility near Fort Hood,” said John Stoddart, Oshkosh Corporation executive vice president and president, Defense. “Oshkosh is not only providing the military with a nearby aftermarket components parts supplier for the vehicles on which its service men and women rely, but it also is providing a solid business for the Killeen community.”
The Killeen facility currently includes office space as well as state-of-the-art welding equipment, paint booths and ovens. The plant-floor layout is configured for flexible manufacturing lines, similar to the company’s manufacturing operations in Oshkosh, Wis. The facility’s operations will work in concert with, but remain separate from, the nearby Longhorn International Trucks facility, which provides aftermarket Oshkosh parts and services.
Today also marked another important opening for Oshkosh as the company joined the U.S. Army Partnership for Youth Success (PaYS) Program. Major General Bostick from the U.S. Army Recruiting Command and Stoddart signed a memorandum of understanding for Oshkosh’s entry into the program at the Oshkosh Killeen facility grand opening.
PaYS is a strategic partnership program between the Army and a cross section of U.S. corporations and public sector agencies. It was developed to help the Army attract, train and deploy talented young people who want to serve their country, but also want to help secure their future success once their Army service is complete.
About Oshkosh Defense
Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation leads the way in military trucks and armored wheeled vehicles. Since 1917, Oshkosh has continuously developed new products and technologies that make military jobs easier, safer and more efficient. Oshkosh Defense’s comprehensive product lines are recognized for superior performance and reliability, particularly in off-road environments. For more information, visit oshkoshdefense.com.
