MELROSE PARK, Ill. — Navistar is investing up to $90 million to create a new testing and validation centre at its Melrose Park facility.

Expansions at the existing 80-acre campus will take place over the next several years to create a state-of-the-art technology centre, designed to complement Navistar’s integrated product development centre that will be located at the former Alcatel-Lucent East campus in Lisle.

“With so many older manufacturing plants shutting down across the country, Navistar sees an opportunity to leverage our assets and reinvest in an existing facility to enable our growth as a company,” said Navistar chief information officer Don Sharp, the project leader for the company’s local development efforts. “This investment solidifies our partnership with the UAW, our commitment to Melrose Park and the state of Illinois, where we’ve built a reputation as a good neighbour and trusted business partner. We’re here to stay.”

Constructed in 1941, the Melrose Park facility originally was operated by Buick to build engines for the B-24 Liberator bomber. In 1946, Navistar’s precursor, International Harvester, purchased the plant to build construction equipment and engines. Currently, the facility is home to Navistar’s Engine Group headquarters, I-6 engine manufacturing operations and powertrain product development.