TULSA, Okla. - IC Bus' bus plant here will reach a production milestone on Friday when its employees build the 10,773rd bus for the company's 2009 fiscal year.

The facility set its previous record, 10,772 buses, in 2006. It is on schedule to finish this year having built more than 11,300 buses.

On Friday morning, the plant will hold an informal gathering of its employees to mark the moment that the milestone CE Series bus starts on the production line.     

"When that bus begins production, we will all be reminded that through our winning team and strong products, we can be successful," said John McKinney, IC Bus president.

Since it opened in 2001 and through to the end of IC's fiscal year at the end of this month, the Tulsa bus plant will have built more than 73,000 buses.

Moreover, the nearly 1,000 employees at the plant celebrated another milestone earlier this year, achieving more than 1 million hours worked without a lost-time injury case. Over the last several years, the plant and its employees have improved their safety culture, leadership and commitment to prevent accidents and injuries, company officials said.

"We all work together to help keep each other safe," said Grant Pick, Tulsa plant manager. "Each of us takes responsibility to build the safest, highest quality buses in the industry. And, with our safety picture, that spirit of responsibility extends to one another, our families and our coworkers."