
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, April 29, 1994                   TAG: 9404290159
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A1   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: JEFF DeBELL STAFF WRITER Note: below
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

VOLVO PLANT EXPANSION OK EXPECTED

Gov. George Allen and the Volvo GM Heavy Truck Corp., which has informed employees of a planned $200 million expansion at its factory in Pulaski County, will hold a news conference today to confirm that the company will proceed with the project.

The announcement is scheduled for 11 a.m. at the Governor's Mansion in Richmond. The company on Thursday also scheduled a news conference for 9:30 a.m. Monday at the truck factory in Dublin.

Company spokesman Bill Walther said late Thursday that the Monday session would provide details about the expansion. He declined to elaborate, but said the project has advanced significantly since the board of directors agreed last month to review it.

In February, Volvo confirmed reports that the company was exploring the possibility of building a cab assembly plant and paint facility at the factory in Dublin. The plan was to shift cab-making operations from a plant in Orrville, Ohio. The Ohio plant employs 170.

Late last month, in a letter to employees at the Dublin plant, manager Bill Brubaker said Volvo's board of directors had approved the investment. His letter promised ``dramatic change within our future.''

Company officials declined further comment at the time, but promised an official announcement within a few weeks.

The Dublin plant employs about 1,400 and produces 60 trucks a day.

Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.

by CNB