Volvo Construction Equipment, in partnership with the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, hosted U.S. Representative John Joyce (PA-13) on Friday to celebrate the company’s first electric asphalt compactor, which was designed and is produced at its Shippensburg facility.

The DD25 Electric compactor highlights the equipment manufacturing industry’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, encouraging contractors, builders, and operators to build the modern infrastructure needed for a 21^st century economy and global marketplace, while reducing their environmental footprint.

“This is a monumental day at Volvo CE,” said Scott Young, acting president of Region North America, Volvo CE. “Manufacturing electric machines in Shippensburg is good news for the environment, our customers, the local economy, and the broader U.S. construction equipment industry.”

Rep. Joyce joined Volvo CE to mark this momentous occasion and noted the positive impact it will have on the local economy in bringing more high-paying jobs to the area. Equipment manufacturing jobs pay 33 percent more than the national average.

“The equipment manufactured in Pennsylvania’s 13th District is used in projects around the world,” said Rep. Joyce. “With the opening of its new assembly line to produce electric asphalt compactors here in Shippensburg, Volvo Construction Equipment is helping to carry on that legacy. The family-sustaining jobs this expansion creates in Franklin and Cumberland Counties are a welcome addition for those looking to live, work and raise a family here in our district.”

In honor of the hard work and commitment of Volvo CE’s employees in designing and producing this state-of-the-art technology, AEM brought I Make America, the association’s national grassroots campaign, to celebrate the Shippensburg facility’s more than 800 employees. I Make America partners with member companies in hosting elected officials in facilities across the country and celebrates the grit, dedication, and ingenuity of the equipment manufacturing industry’s 2.3 million men and women.

“We are proud to join Volvo CE and Rep. Joyce in celebrating the industry’s commitment to developing cutting-edge products that deliver quality results while minimizing an operator’s environmental footprint,” said Kate Fox Wood, AEM vice president, federal affairs. "The equipment manufacturing industry supports nearly 90,000 jobs in Pennsylvania and this new production line shows just how important the state is to this industry and to its future.”

As part of the same event, Volvo CE held a ribbon cutting for the company’s new technical training center on the same campus. The facility will serve as a training center for dealer service technicians and will expand the company’s capacity and offerings for hands-on training and continuing education through virtual platforms.

For more information on Volvo CE’s DD25 Electric compactor, click here . For more information on Volvo CE’s new training facility, click here.