FCA invests $166 million at Sterling Stamping Plant

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US LLC said Thursday it will invest more than $166 million in three press lines at its Sterling Stamping Plant in Sterling Heights to help meet increased demand.

No new jobs are expected as part of the investment, FCA spokeswoman Jodi Tinson said in an email. The plant, which employs 2,292, makes body panels and assemblies for vehicles such as the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ram pickup.

"In response to the increased demand for our products, it was crucial to make an investment where the manufacturing process starts," Brian Harlow, vice president of manufacturing for FCA North America, said in a statement. "As the company's second stamping plant investment in a year, this funding will allow the Sterling Stamping Plant to maintain the quality and speed necessary to continue supporting our manufacturing operations."

FCA said the new press lines are expected to begin production in the fourth quarter and parts from them will be sent to seven company facilities in the U.S., Mexico and Canada. The carmaker said the three new presses will boost the number of stampings produced daily by 75,000 or 20 million a year. The plant currently produces 62 million stampings a year.

Sterling Stamping opened 50 years ago and FCA says it's the largest stamping plant in the world.

In June 2014, the company said it would invest $63 million into its Warren Stamping Plant to expand capacity there.

mburden@detroitnews.com