News14.com

  21º

Updated 03/11/2010 04:59 PM

'Project Cardinal' unveiled as Siemens expansion

By: Kate Gaier

  To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

CHARLOTTE -- Siemens Energy announced Thursday that it is expanding in the Charlotte area, and more than 800 new jobs are coming to the Queen City.

Siemens, which manufactures large steam turbines and electrical generators, will create a global 60 hertz turbine hub in Charlotte. The announcement means an additional 825 jobs to Charlotte with an initial investment of $135 million.

"Without the trust in your skills, engagement, capability to do the best products, we couldn't have made that,” said Dr. Michael Suess, of Siemens. “It's easy to spend 200 million somewhere, but it's not easy to spend in the right place."

The expansion, better known as "Project Cardinal" was not an easy win for North Carolina, or Charlotte. Other cities and even countries were competing. Leaders say it was an all-or-nothing bid for the Queen City.

"If Siemens had gotten unhappy with North Carolina, what that meant is there would have been no expansion, there would have also been a closure of 700 plus jobs that were here,” Gov. Bev Perdue said. “We knew it was all or nothing so there was a lot of skin in this game. North Carolina again won the day with Siemens’ expansion."

A victory for the area, Mayor Anthony Foxx says, for years to come.

"I believe that today's announcement signifies the start of the next 40 years of that partnership between Siemens and Charlotte, and we're grateful to have you here," he said.

Production is scheduled to being in the fall of 2011.

Siemens will build the new plant behind the current facility on Westinghouse Boulevard. The expansion will give the company more than 1 million square feet of manufacturing capabilities.