GlobalLogic and Ericsson have deployed a private 5G network at Hitachi Rail’s new digital factory in Hagerstown, Maryland. The 307,000-square-foot (28,520 m²) facility, capable of producing up to 20 railcars per month, now runs on a 5G-powered backbone that supports automation, worker safety, and advanced industrial applications. The project marks one of the most advanced uses of private 5G in U.S. rail manufacturing.
The network enables next-generation capabilities including AI-driven inspection robots, digital twins for virtual railcar simulation, predictive maintenance with real-time data, automated quality inspections, and IoT-driven material transport. Ericsson provided the private 5G technology, while GlobalLogic led consulting, deployment, integration, and lifecycle management. Hitachi Rail is positioning the plant as a model for digital-first, smart manufacturing in the U.S. market, especially serving the Northeast and East Coast.
Executives from Hitachi Rail, Ericsson, and GlobalLogic emphasized that private 5G is essential for scaling Industry 4.0 initiatives. Beyond speed and bandwidth, the secure, low-latency network provides a resilient foundation for robotics, automation, and sustainability in large-scale manufacturing environments.
• Facility: 307,000 sq. ft. (28,520 m²) Hagerstown, Maryland
• Production capacity: up to 20 railcars per month
• Core capabilities: private 5G, AI robotics, digital twins, predictive maintenance, IoT transport
• Deployment partners: Hitachi Rail (operator), Ericsson (5G network), GlobalLogic (integration, lifecycle, consulting)
• Industry impact: blueprint for smart, connected rail manufacturing in the U.S.
“Our new digital factory in Hagerstown is more than just a train manufacturing site – it is a blueprint for the future of rail production worldwide,” said Jo Pozza, President of North America, Hitachi Rail.
🌐 Analysis: This deployment underscores how private 5G is shifting from pilots to mission-critical infrastructure in U.S. manufacturing. Hitachi Rail joins a wave of industrial players using private wireless to digitize factories, similar to recent initiatives by Siemens, Bosch, and John Deere. Ericsson continues to strengthen its private 5G ecosystem with integration partners like GlobalLogic, as rivals Nokia and Cisco expand their own industrial 5G partnerships.
