Seems like HK might be dropping the new US plant. Courtesy of hkpro.com -
Boy, the future of the XM8 isn't lookin' good.Army Contract and 500 New Jobs Up in the Air
It was almost 2 years ago when Heckler and Koch made the announcement it was coming to Columbus.
There was talk of million dollar investments and the possibility of 500 new jobs being created. But those economic dreams are being rudely awakened.
Pete Simons, President of Heckler and Koch Defense, says plans have changed. The company thought it was a shoo in for a now $32 million contract to build combat rifles. It bought land and a building in the technology park hoping to make a manufacturing center.
But now, the army has now opened up that contract to bidding meaning Heckler and Koch has to scale back it's plans.
Now the company is bringing it's distribution center here from Virginia, creating about 40 jobs.
The army will make it's decision on who gets the combat rifle contract sometime after this November.