Returning U.S. to Deep Space

Huntsville native Virginia Barnes heads Boeing’s contract to build for NASA the world’s largest rocket system — the heavy-lift launch vehicle that will take U.S. astronauts back to the moon and on to Mars.

Interview by Chris McFadyen

New Star in Alabama Aerospace Cluster

The high-tech alloys of Carpenter Technology have traveled with the Wright Brothers, Charles Lindbergh and Neil Armstrong. When the 125-year-old Pennsylvania company looked to long-term expansion, it traveled to Alabama.

text by Wendy Reeves • photos by david higginbotham

Building for Building Planes

Birmingham’s Hoar Program Management is overseeing the construction of the first U.S. assembly plant for European commercial air giant Airbus. Even as the first steel rises, it’s all about building airplanes.

Text by Nedra Bloom

Flashback: Won't You Buy Me a Mercedes-Benz?

text by Chris McFadyen

Triple Shift into Record Production

The three-shift production schedule at Hyundai’s Alabama plant is winning the race to meet expanding demand — beating output records year after year.

text by Gail Allyn Short • photos by David Bundy

Engine Plant Climbs Toyota Mountain

Beginning in 2003 with 350 people, Toyota’s Huntsville plant — at $850 million total investment and 1,150-employees — is now poised to become the largest Toyota engine plant in the world.

Text by Thomas M. Little

The Greater Auto Sector

The Alabama-based plants that supply Alabama’s big five assembly and engine manufacturers number in the hundreds, with thousands upon thousands of employees.

Text by Nedra Bloom

Alabama Honda Mints a Lux SUV

Luxury level technology and design make the 2014 Honda MDX that started rolling off the line last year in Lincoln a milestone in Alabama auto manufacturing.

text by Gail Allyn Short • photos by Cary Norton

Talking Money and Hard Driving

Faced with a workforce challenge, this Alabama trucking company dug deep into its own pockets, investing $18 million in driver pay and training.

Text by Laura Stakelum

Full Throttle Innovation

Royce Kershaw’s inventions revolutionized the way railroad tracks are maintained. His son continues the family tradition of full-throttle innovation at Montgomery’s Knox Kershaw Inc.

Text by Kathy Hagood