MILWAUKEE, Wis. — A. O. Smith Corp. will celebrate its 150^th anniversary in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, on Thursday, Sept. 19. The festivities will focus on A. O. Smith’s history, the employees, its innovative transformations, and the future, according to a press release from the company.

The event will also mark the opening of the new A.O. Smith plant in Ciudad Juárez and the expansion of an existing plant. The new plant is expected to employ hundreds of people and produce more than 140,000 water heaters in its first year.

“Our employees have made A. O. Smith what it is today — everyone has had an impact on our legacy,” said Kevin Wheeler, chairman and CEO at A.O. Smith. “I am proud of our employees, who are committed to producing high-quality products, meeting the ever-changing needs of our customers, and living A.O. Smith’s values every day. This celebration is just one way we’re honoring their dedication.”

The Sept. 19 celebration will include food, festivities, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony with employees, elected officials, and other stakeholders. More than 1,000 employees are expected to attend.

The new plant in Ciudad Juárez will produce 39,000 tankless water heaters in its first year and will gradually increase that number each year, the press release said. This will allow the company to manufacture its tankless units in North America for the first time. The new plant will eventually create 300 new jobs and will include offices, a cafeteria, a nursing station, and two recreational areas, the press release said.

The plant is slated to be production-capable in October, with full production starting in January 2025. An additional line is also being added to an existing plant to increase the production of heat-pump water heaters. Once complete in November 2024, production capacity at that plant will double to more than 160,000 units annually, and about 100 new jobs will be added, the company said.