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Report: Ford dinged by OSHA for asbestos at Buffalo plant

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Safety, Ford

Ford has come under fire from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for violations regarding asbestos exposure in a company metal stamping plant in Buffalo, NY. OSHA has cited Ford for eight violations in total, according to an Automotive News report, and faces fines of up to $41,800. 537 workers are employed at the stamping facility.

The violations include a pipefitter at the facility being exposed to asbestos-containing material while working on a steam line, other workers exposed to the material without respiratory protection and work areas that were not designed to limited the number of workers in contact with asbestos. Further, areas in which asbestos was present were not properly restricted, and levels of asbestos in the air were not monitored.

According to an unnamed Ford spokesperson in the AN report, the company feels that the OSHA citation is erroneous saying, “We have fully cooperated with the local OSHA officials and we don’t believe the citations are warranted.” Ford also maintains that it will work with the authorities to resolve the issue.

Ford dinged by OSHA for asbestos at Buffalo plant originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 20 Jul 2013 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: GM invests $331 million, adds 110 jobs at Arlington plant

Filed under: GM, Earnings/Financials

GM Arlington Assembly

General Motors has committed to investing a total of $2 billion in 17 of its facilities here in the United States, and the latest to receive monitory support is the Arlington Assembly Plant in Texas. $331 million is being pumped into the Arlington facility for tooling and equipment in an effort to expand the plant. 110 jobs will also be added to the facility’s existing 2,400-person workforce.

Currently, the plant builds The General’s GMT900 sport-utility vehicles: the Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon and Cadillac Escalade. GM likely has no plans to abandon this segment anytime soon, so it only makes sense that the plant will be updated in order to support the next generation of these full-size SUVs.

The Arlington Assembly investment comes after GM made efforts to expand its Detroit-Hamtramck, Bowling Green, Flint and Bay City facilities. Follow the jump for the official press blast.

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GM invests $331 million, adds 110 jobs at Arlington plant originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 May 2011 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tiny Darth Vader brings The Force to VW’s Chattanooga plant

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Marketing/Advertising, Volkswagen, Celebrities

Tiny Vader Max Page at VW Chattanooga opening

Max Page as Tiny Vader at the VW Chattanooga inauguration – Click above for high-res image gallery

On Tuesday, May 24, Volkswagen officially opened its plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee that is dedicated to building the Passat. There were all sorts of potentates gathered for the occasion, from Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to current and former mayors of the city. When it came time to press the big, red button to get the factory party started, though, six men gathered around the podium and they didn’t make a move until a surprise guest waved his hands: little Darth Vader.

Otherwise known as Max Page, he’s the kid in costume who practically owned YouTube when he appeared in VW’s 2012 Passat commercial during the Super Bowl. Arriving with an entourage of Stormtroopers and his theme music, he did a little of what he does, the red button was pushed, and it was only then that the Chattanooga facility officially opened.

It was a fun beginning. Let’s hope the plant benefits from The Force and Vader’s touch as much as that commercial did, and as much as VW and Chattanooga are praying it does. Read the official press release after the break, and, more importantly, check out Tiny Vader in our high-res image gallery.

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Tiny Darth Vader brings The Force to VW’s Chattanooga plant originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 May 2011 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chevrolet Volt assembly plant to get largest solar array in MI

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, GM

Solar installation at GM Detroit-Hamtramck plant
General Motors is adding a photovoltaic array to the roof of its Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant. The facility’s new solar panels will help offset the energy consumed when producing Chevy Volts. GM has partnered with DTE Energy on the planned 516-kilowatt installation, which will cover 264,000 square feet on six acres of land. In addition to the solar array, further energy-saving measures like automated equipment shutdown, more efficient lighting, and upgrades to more energy-efficient assembly tools will be implemented.

DTE Energy is putting $3 million of its own money into the GM partnership as part of its SolarCurrents program. This initiative aims to install 15 megawatts of solar power systems in Southeast Michigan, and the hope is that large-scale, highly-visible projects like the Detroit-Hamtramck plant will drive more demand for renewable energy in Michigan. Press release posted after the jump.

Continue reading Chevrolet Volt assembly plant to get largest solar array in MI

Chevrolet Volt assembly plant to get largest solar array in MI originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 14 May 2011 16:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Where big cats are made: A photo tour of Jaguar’s Castle Bromwich plant

Filed under: Sedan, Plants/Manufacturing, Jaguar, UK, Luxury

Jaguar XJ at Castle Bromwich

A photo tour of Jaguar’s Castle Bromwich factory – Click above for high-res image gallery

All Jaguars, whether steel or aluminum, are fashioned in one place: Castle Bromwich in the West Midlands of England. The factory complex originally made RAF Spitfires and Lancaster bombers for World War II service, then was turned over to car production. In the way of Britain’s carmaking conglomerates, it produced bodies for brands from Riley to Austin to Morris – when our tour guide started working there in 1966 he was in charge of making Nash Metropolitans.

Jaguar has been the sole occupant since 1977, and consolidated all of its production there in 2005, when its Browns Lane plant was shut. We had a chance to tour the site’s C-Block and F-Block recently, where the XJ is assembled and finished. Along the way we came across bodyshells so light they could easily be picked up by one man, a bajillion rivets and miles of adhesive, Ford’s gift of reams of data sheets, the shiniest XJ we’ve ever seen and, of course, signs of Elvis. Have a look at the captioned gallery of high-res photos below to see what’s behind the camouflaged red brick walls of Castle Bromwich.

Where big cats are made: A photo tour of Jaguar’s Castle Bromwich plant originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 May 2011 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Quake damaged paint plant comes back online in Japan

Filed under: Government/Legal, Plants/Manufacturing, Safety

red paint lincoln mks

The March 11 earthquake and resultant tsunami in Japan rocked the country’s automotive supply chain, leaving many suppliers with damaged factories and unreliable power. One nearly immediate impact was that automakers like Ford, Toyota and Chrysler could no longer offer colors like red or black.

That’s because Merck’s Onahama factory, which makes the Xirallic pigment used to add luster to colors, was damaged by the natural disaster. But while repairs were scheduled to take longer, The Detroit News reports that the facility was fixed ahead of schedule and production has resumed.

Peter Halas, who heads Pigments and Cosmetics at Merck, said in a statement that the timely repair of the factory was a major achievement, adding “I would like to thank our employees in Japan for their tremendous efforts.”

Merck says that the Onahama facility, which is 36 miles south of the badly damaged Fukushima nuclear plant, is outside of the evacuation area, and the company will adhere to public directives to ensure the safety of employees. The company is also testing products from the plant to comply with safety standards.

To help prevent future shortages of Xirallic, Merck says it plans to establish another production site in Germany for the popular pigment.

Quake damaged paint plant comes back online in Japan originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 May 2011 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fiat workers agree to concessions at former Bertone plant

Filed under: Coupe, Sedan, Europe, UAW/Unions, Fiat

Maserati Quattroporte

Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S – Click above for high-res image gallery

Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has been working hard to improve the automaker’s labor situation in Italy, and it appears the effort is beginning to pay off. Automotive News reports that Fiat has come to an agreement with the union at the former Bertone plant, with increased work shifts and more flexible overtime as part of the agreement. The union initially turned down an offer from Fiat, which prompted the Italian automaker to suspend plans to rebuild the plant.

The agreement, which was agreed to by 88 percent of the workforce, makes way for Fiat to invest $739 million to overhaul the facility. Fiat plans to make the next generation Maserati Quattroporte at the facility, which has a reported launch date of mid-2013. The plant is also scheduled to build a midsize Maserati that will be tasked to take on the likes of the Mercedes-Benz E Class and the BMW 5 Series. The sedan is scheduled to begin production in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Fiat workers agree to concessions at former Bertone plant originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 May 2011 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kia adding Optima production line to Georgia plant

Filed under: Sedan, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Plants/Manufacturing, Kia

2011 kia optima ex

2011 Kia Optima EX – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Kia Optima has been a resounding success from the minute the midsize sedan’s redesigned 2011 model hit dealer showrooms. Optima sales have nearly doubled since its November introduction, which has helped the automaker claim a 36 percent sales increase on the year.

The Korean automaker seems to think the good times will continue into the future, announcing a third hiring wave at the Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia plant. The additional employees will help increase Optima output when the 2012 model arrives in the third quarter. This is good news for the red-hot Kia brand, and those looking for work in Georgia are likely excited as well. Kia says in the post-jump press release that its hiring spree will increase the workforce at the facility to 3,000 workers. Hit the jump to read over the official release.

Gallery: 2011 Kia Optima EX: Review

2011 Kia Optima EX

[Source: Kia]

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Kia adding Optima production line to Georgia plant originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Apr 2011 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Ford laying off 200 temporary workers at F-150 plant

Filed under: Truck, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Ford, UAW/Unions

2011 Ford F-150

2011 Ford F-150 – Click above for high-res image gallery

The United Auto Workers will soon be sitting down with Detroit automakers in an effort to reach a new contract agreement. Some in the know feel Ford will be the targeted OEM in the negotiations due to the automaker’s recent successes, and a recent criticism levied by UAW leadership is that The Blue Oval employs more temporary workers than General Motors or Chrysler.

The Detroit Free Press reports that Ford took a step to rectify that issue on April 7, when it laid off 120 “temporary” workers at its Dearborn truck plant. The automaker will reportedly relieve another 80 workers of their duty in the coming weeks, bringing the total pink-slip count to 200. Ford has some 2,000 temp workers in plants across the country, compared to 1,000 at GM and next to none at Chrysler.

Ford spokeswoman Marcey Evans tells the Freep that the workers were only brought on to launch the 2011 F-150, and that they knew that the position was temporary. Gary Walkowicz of UAW Local 600 points out that he’s sad to see the temps go, adding that some have been receiving half pay and zero benefits since 2002.

While it’s never nice to hear of layoffs, the cuts make some sense to Ford due to the fact that the automaker has displaced full-time workers all over the country in need of new positions. We’re thinking Ford will try to find work for as many of those workers as possible leading up to contract talks.

Gallery: 2011 Ford F-150: First Drive

2011 Ford F-150

Photos copyright (C)2010 Jeremy Korzeniewski / AOL and Ford Motor Company
[Source: Detroit Free Press]

Report: Ford laying off 200 temporary workers at F-150 plant originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Apr 2011 17:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford to idle first plant as a result of Japan disaster

Filed under: Truck, Plants/Manufacturing, Ford

ford super duty

2011 Ford F-450 Lariat – Click above for high-res image gallery

Ford hasn’t said much about its supply situation in the wake of the earthquake in Japan, but now the automaker has no choice but to spill the beans. The Detroit News reports that Ford will shut down its Louisville, Kentucky plant next week due to a parts shortage. The facility produces the Ford Expedition, Ford Super Duty trucks, and the Lincoln Navigator. Ford sales analyst George Pipas did not identify the part that was in short supply, though he did add that high gas prices have helped slow sales of these vehicles anyway.

Ford will also shut down its Flat Rock, Michigan plant, where the Mustang is produced, because the automaker already has a 116-day supply of the pony car. In Europe, Ford will idle the Genk, Belgium plant that produces the Mondeo, S Max and Galaxy minivan to help prevent future shortages.

Ford announced that events in Japan could further affect future production, but at this point it isn’t interested in divulging the extent of its supply issues. Ford is actively searching for other parts sources wherever possible.

Gallery: Review: 2011 Ford F-450 Lariat

[Source: The Detroit News]

Ford to idle first plant as a result of Japan disaster originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 02 Apr 2011 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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