Cummins recently unveiled a $580 million project to drive economic and job growth in Nash County, North Carolina. Cummins has received approval for tax incentives to help move the project forward and the incentives received from the Nash County Commissioners office will support the continued investment within the area.
This strategic investment in the company’s Rocky Mountain Engine Plant (RMEP) is set to generate approximately 80 additional new jobs, fostering both short-term employment opportunities and long-term job stability.
Currently, 2,000 employees work at the RMEP facility.
“We are excited to be driving continued growth within Nash County and creating jobs that rely on high caliber technology for the future,” said Steve Pinkston, Cummins Rocky Mount Engine Plant Manager.
The plant is 1.3 million sq. ft. manufacturing facility that employs over 2,000 people and produces mid-range engines for a multitude of markets. The plant has been in operation since 1983 when it started as a joint venture with Case named Consolidated Diesel Company.
In 2008, Cummins bought out CASE and RMEP became a wholly owned Cummins entity. RMEP is the first Cummins plant to produce five million engines and has produced more than one million more engines than any other Cummins Engine facility.
In addition to the five millionth engine, RMEP is recently celebrated facility improvements and renovations, including its 3.62 megawatt (MW) solar farm, which was recognized with a 2023 Better Project Award.
“Cummins is focused on Destination Zero and getting there as quickly as possible. We need engagement from federal, state, and local governments like Nash County to achieve our goals and we are grateful for their support. When we receive engagement from local partners like this, it helps us move faster toward a more sustainable future,” said Pinkston.
As Cummins continues towards its plan to achieve zero emissions across its products, the investment will involve installing new equipment for the future of manufacturing and upgrading the assembly line for next generation products like the fuel-agnostic engine platform.
The new fuel-agnostic engine platforms feature a series of engine versions that are derived from a common base engine, which means they have a high degree of parts commonality. Below the head gasket of each engine will largely have similar components and above the head gasket will have different components for different fuel types.
Each engine version will operate using a different, single fuel. This new design approach will be applied across the company’s legendary engine portfolios including the B6.7 and the X15, and the new 10-liter portfolio called the X10.
Decarbonization is a growth opportunity for Cummins and the fuel-agnostic engine platform is a key component to help customers decarbonize and make it easier to adopt alternative fuel types.
Cummins is also committed to improving the communities in which it operates to have a direct impact on the lives of its employees and the broader community.
Over the past two years, RMEP employees have collectively devoted more than 20,000 hours to community engagement, forging meaningful alliances with educational institutions in surrounding districts.
“This investment is not just about engines; it's a testament to our unwavering commitment to the community and our vision for a sustainable and impactful future,” said Pinkston. “It means RMEP and Cummins are here to stay and we take pride in being the one of the largest employers in the tri-county area.”
Pinkston continued, “Our role extends beyond the production floor; it's about cultivating a thriving community where everyone can succeed. As we invest in innovation and growth, we're also investing in the community that has been our home for four decades and counting."
Overall, this venture is part of Cummins recent investment of more than $1 billion across its U.S. manufacturing network.
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