Polaris expands

ATV and snowmobile maker Polaris Industries is expanding its product development centre in Wyoming, Minnesota in the USA. The American company, which also owns Victory Motorcycles and Indian Motorcycles, expects the new facility to be ready mid way through 2013, and will improve the company's ability to develop new product.

The expansion of the product development centre will also benefit Victory Motorcycles engineering, and to a lesser extent the Indian Motorcycle company, which sees the original 11,700 square metre facility bolstered by a new 13,400 square metre building.

"Opening the Wyoming facility seven years ago reinforced Polaris' dedication to leading through innovation," said Polaris CEO Scott Wine

As well as the new product development areas, the expansion project will see a new electrical lab and a new EMI room added to the facilities.

"Continuously improving our technology, and incorporating those advances into our vehicles, is the cornerstone of our success, and expanding our product development centre paves the way for its future contributions," stated Mr Wine.

Polaris Industries hasn't divulged which new products it will be working on at the augmented facility beyond 2013, but did hint that new engines are likely.

"The Wyoming facility is home to Victory, Indian Motorcycle, and Polaris off-road vehicle (ORV) engineering as well as engineering and testing for additional Polaris products such as drivetrains for other vehicles," noted the US company.

Meanwhile, in other Polaris news, the company has announced that its one millionth product, a Polaris RANGER 800 Midsize side-by-side vehicle, rolled off the Spirit Lake, Iowa assembly line recently.

The Spirit Lake facility was established in 1994 and currently employs 750 people while operating three production lines building Polaris RANGERs and Victory Motorcycles. A second facility adjacent to the main Spirit Lake plant manufactures the Indian Motorcycle, and a third facility in Milford, Iowa manufactures GEM (Global Electric Motorcar).

Country Manager of Motorcycles in Australia and New Zealand, Peter Harvey, said: “One million products is a huge achievement for Polaris and we are looking forward to the next million!

“With Victory Motorcycles continuous growth in Australia and New Zealand and Indian Motorcycles not too far away from our shores, we are sure that the next million will represent exciting times for the company in Australia and New Zealand.”