New Construction Developments for Ford’s BlueOval City

BlueOval City, Ford’s new megacampus in Stanton, Tennessee, is continuing to take shape. Production-ready robotic training cells, paint spray booths, and stamping press lines are being installed, and the automaker is focusing on environmental preservation and community involvement to make BlueOval City a valuable addition for West Tennessee locals. The plant’s ongoing construction has given the company the chance to enhance the campus’s sustainability features and advancements.

 “We have been humbled by the warm hospitality extended to us by our new neighbors in West Tennessee,” said Kel Kearns, plant manager, Tennessee Electric Vehicle Center at BlueOval City. “As the company that helped create the American middle class, we want residents in every community around the region to benefit as BlueOval City comes to life.”

BlueOval City is anticipated to grow to be a significant employer in the region, and Ford has already begun developing learning and education programs to support potential employees in developing their skill sets. As part of the BlueOval Learning Initiative, staff will receive training in operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting equipment through hands-on, online, and classroom education segments. For example, staff members of the Tennessee Electric Vehicle Center are being trained in various automated mechanical joining technologies, automated pick-and-place material handling, adhesive and sealer dispensing systems, and machine vision systems for robot guidance and quality assurance.

Ford plans to begin hiring hourly workers for BlueOval City in 2025, so that  customer deliveries of the next electric truck starting in 2026 will proceed without issue.

Teams at Ford are also working hard on campus development plans, aiming to maximize the positive environmental effects that the building process and the finished campus will provide. The design of BlueOval City prioritizes efficiency and carbon neutrality, and these tenets have guided the project from its outset.

In order to fortify the regional energy infrastructure and lower the plant’s emissions, Ford is making investments in carbon-free and renewable electricity across the West Tennessee region. A similar-sized assembly plant might use 300 million cubic feet of natural gas annually, but new technology that helps reduce the amount of electricity needed to manufacture vehicles– including systems that capture and reuse heat from the site’s utility infrastructure– have been planned for the campus. Along with waste management, the facility seeks to prevent soil and stormwater runoff contamination– problems that plague the areas around many different kinds of manufacturing facilities.

“We recognize the significance of farming, fishing and hunting in West Tennessee,” said Blake Newbill, senior environmental engineer, Tennessee Electric Vehicle Center. “And we understand that part of being a good neighbor is caring for the air, water and land so these important resources are preserved for our community.”

There will surely be more innovative developments to anticipate as construction on BlueOval City continues. To stay up to date on all of the latest developments, make sure to continue reading our blog!