Honda Power Equipment Celebrates 30 Years of Production, Makes $8.5 Million Capital Investment

Honda marked the 30th anniversary of operations at its Swepsonville, NC, facility by announcing a new $8.5 million investment in plant operations to innovate production processes and add new products.

Hpe Manufacturing Exterior Building Shot

Honda Power Equipment, Inc. (HPE) marked the 30th anniversary of operations at its Swepsonville facility by announcing a new $8.5 million investment in plant operations to innovate production processes and add new products. Among other changes, the plant will add a new line for the production of two-stage snow blowers and prepare for the addition of Honda generators to its already diverse production lineup.

“We are celebrating 30 years of success at Honda Power Equipment Manufacturing because of the everyday hard work of our power product associates in North Carolina,” said Takuji Yamada, Honda COO of North American Regional Operations. “Our founder, Soichiro Honda, believed that we could make people happy through technology. Now, many years later, Honda is still focused on using unique Honda technologies to help people get things done.” 

The 375,000 square-foot facility, which houses both Honda power equipment production and research and development operations, has long served as a major producer of Honda power equipment products for worldwide distribution, with the capacity to produce upwards of two million premium-quality Honda power equipment products each year. In 2013 alone, more than 400,000 North Carolina-made Honda power equipment products were exported to overseas markets, marking a record for the company. Honda’s total investment in its Swepsonville operations is nearly $250 million.

The Swepsonville plant, which today employs more than 600 associates, has produced more than 30 million products using domestic and globally sourced parts during its 30-year history. Currently, 155 domestic and international manufacturing component suppliers work with Honda Power Equipment; 45 of those suppliers are based in North Carolina. Honda Power Equipment has purchased nearly $500 million in parts from North Carolina suppliers, and the company says they will continue to work closely with the local community as the Honda business grows.

Additional Honda operations based in North Carolina include Honda Aircraft Company in Greensboro, maker of the HondaJet advanced light jet, and American Honda Finance Company in Charlotte, which provides financing to consumers who buy Honda products.  Honda total employment in North Carolina is nearly 3,000. Today, Honda Power Equipment is the sole global production source for all Honda GC and GCV general-purpose engines and all Honda single-stage snow blowers.

The Honda power product research and development team also is based at the Honda Power Equipment campus, where most lawn mower, snow blower and several general-purpose engines are designed and developed. Originally based in Ohio, the Honda power product R&D team moved to North Carolina in 1993 to be closer to power product manufacturing.

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