Advanced Technology Center Builds High-Tech Footprint for the Future

When the site for Navistar’s San Antonio Manufacturing Plant (STX) and Advanced Technology Center (ATC) was purchased, it was a completely different environment than the high-tech, employee-centric atmosphere it is today. ?What started as a blank slate of empty buildings and sea of concrete is now a high performing research and development operation.

Over the couple of years, the ATC has undergone a series of renovations, both to its facilities and its way of operating to better prepare the facility to support delivering on our vision to accelerate the impact of sustainable mobility.

Navistar’s ATC is a 150-acre site that includes 10 primary buildings used for various testing purposes, labs and office space. Primarily focused on research and development (R&D) product test and validation labs, it also is home to the product return center, truck specialty center, and outbound shipping of finished production vehicles from both STX as well as the Escobedo Assembly Plant (EAP). The R&D product test and validation buildings include warehouse space, a prototype truck and bus build shop, fabrication shops, vehicle electronics, structural testing, hot and cold room testing, and materials lab. It is also a key facility to supporting the research, development and testing of our zero emissions vehicles.

“As of spring 2023, all labs and capabilities the ATC wanted to get off the ground during our first operational phase have occurred,” said Tony Heard, vice president, Operational Excellence. “More importantly, the ATC has made a footprint for itself in the local San Antonio community.” ?

Another noteworthy accomplishment is that ATC has recently had its first full ISO audit, only 1 minor issue was found after two auditors spent 3 days diving into processes and documentation. ?This issue has since been closed and ATC proudly joins the list of Navistar’s ISO certified facilities.?

The ATC is a key location for Navistar’s focus on zero emission vehicle (ZEV) components and software. ?The build shop seems to always have Navistar’s future EV builds on going. ?The wire room is acquiring equipment to be able to fabricate high voltage cables for next year’s EV programs. ?

ATC employees have participated in multiple community food drives, blood drives, and educational programs and partnerships to connect with local high schools, universities, and technical schools.

Additionally, teamwork and customer centricity are core operating values among ATC employees.

“Last summer, right before the S13 Integrated Powertrain launched, the ATC had an S13 event where we had trucks come in from EAP and made them show-ready for the launch,” said Michael Bates, senior chief engineer, Operations. “Very often, we have many employees crossing traditional ‘team boundaries’ to help deliver high quality results or products quickly.”

Navistar’s core value of Responsibility also shines through at the ATC, with plans in the works for solar panels, but in a very unique capacity.

“Texas gets hot, and it can easily take a car an entire commute to cool down to a comfortable temperature after sitting in the sun in a parking lot all day,” said Brian Jacquay, engineering director. “When we install solar panels, we will be making canopies for employees to park their cars underneath, keeping them out of the sun while generating power through the solar panels on top.”

A few more updates are in store for 2024, including updated capabilities to the inspection lab, 3D printing, wire lab, and adding air conditioning for a truck validation shop. ?Leadership is proud of the ATC team considering how much has been accomplished since the first Navistar employee arrived June 1, 2021.