Wabtec Corporation is investing BRL 20 million (around USD 3.5 million) to expand its operations, capabilities, and workforce in Brazil. The investment strengthens the company’s engineering and manufacturing base to design and deliver innovative rail products and services for the region’s growing market demand.
“This expansion demonstrates our confidence in the Brazil market and the region’s growth potential,” said Danilo Miyasato, President and Regional Leader of Wabtec in Latin America. “It also reflects on how our team here in Brazil has routinely delivered the products and services needed for our customers to thrive. With this investment, we are prepared to serve railroads in Brazil and around the world with excellence, while continuing to drive innovation.”
Global Engineering Center and new locomotive line
Most of the expansion will take place in Contagem (Minas Gerais), where Wabtec operates a major locomotive factory. The company plans to establish its first Global Engineering Center in Latin America and to expand production with a new locomotive assembly line.
The new Engineering Center, located near the company’s existing factory in the Cidade Industrial district, will focus on research and development for both local and international projects. Covering about 9,000 m², the facility will include laboratories and workstations for 300 engineering positions, which Wabtec is currently recruiting. The centre is scheduled to open in December 2025.
Meanwhile, the new locomotive line — launched in April 2025 — will boost production capacity at the Contagem plant by 28 percent, enabling Wabtec to meet rising regional and export demand. The factory is expected to reach the milestone of 1,000 locomotives produced by 2026.
“We’ve adjusted our processes to increase production volume and diversify our deliveries,” said Miyasato. “This upgrade enables us to serve regional customers and new markets, like Australia and Uruguay, with new locomotive models.”
Expanding logistics and employment
With the combined growth of the factory and the new Engineering Center, Wabtec expects to exceed 1,000 employees in Contagem by 2026, underscoring its commitment to long-term operations in Brazil.
The company also plans to open two new Logistics Centers this year — in Governador Valadares (MG) and Monte Alto (SP) — to expand its shipping capacity and support future growth in key business segments such as Maintenance of Way, Digital Intelligence, and Components.
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