Ford Motor Company’s R15.8-billion investment in its Silverton Assembly Plant in Pretoria is coming to fruition, with the new high-tech Stamping Plant now in operation.
This was one of its largest and most ambitious projects to date. The vast facility measures a staggering 10 320 m2, equivalent to almost 1.5-times the size of a standard soccer field (7 140 m2).
“Our new Stamping Plant is a first for Ford in South Africa,” says Rhys Davies, Site Transformation Manager at the Ford Silverton Assembly Plant. “Previously, we used external suppliers to stamp our metal body parts, but we decided to set up our own Stamping Plant for the Next-Gen Ranger, which will go into production later this year.
“With our focus on delivering the highest levels of quality and efficiency for the Next-Gen Ranger, it was essential that we brought the stamping operations in-house. This ensures that we are able to control the production quality throughout the stamping process, validate that all parts are within specification and then seamlessly deliver them directly to our new Body Shop located adjacent to the Stamping Plant.
The new Stamping facility also dramatically improves our plant capacity and efficiency with a higher level of automation, while eliminating the time, cost and potential damage incurred when transporting these parts by road.
The Silverton Assembly Plant now has an installed capacity for 200 000 vehicles a year. When running at full capacity, the Stamping Plant will be processing 272 tons of steel aper day over a three-shift system.
Following talks on the industry's economic importance, government and sector leaders gathered at Automechanika Johannesburg to address operational hurdles across the value chain.
Dealerships and dealer groups will recognise several of the themes raised at the Automechanika Johannesburg CEO Breakfast, from an ageing vehicle fleet and growing Chinese brands to affordability and finance.
Visitors at this year’s Automechanika Johannesburg should make sure not to miss Dealerfloor’s sister publication, Body Shop News Africa’s stand in Hall 2, where a very rare, restored Jaguar will be on show. The 1968 Jaguar Type S, known to its owner as “Greenie”, is valued at R370 000.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?
George Carlin
Following talks on the industry's economic importance, government and sector leaders gathered at Automechanika Johannesburg to address operational hurdles across the value chain.
Dealerships and dealer groups will recognise several of the themes raised at the Automechanika Johannesburg CEO Breakfast, from an ageing vehicle fleet and growing Chinese brands to affordability and finance.
Visitors at this year’s Automechanika Johannesburg should make sure not to miss Dealerfloor’s sister publication, Body Shop News Africa’s stand in Hall 2, where a very rare, restored Jaguar will be on show. The 1968 Jaguar Type S, known to its owner as “Greenie”, is valued at R370 000.
