Ford Celebrates Opening of Cleveland Aluminum Casting Plant
27 July 2000
Ford Celebrates Opening of Cleveland Aluminum Casting Plant
BROOK PARK, Ohio - Ford Motor Company celebrated the opening of its latest
manufacturing facility -- the Cleveland Aluminum Casting Plant -- today at a
special ceremony for employees. The new plant, which is located on the
company's 365-acre Brook Park site, will build aluminum engine blocks for
Ford's new global inline four-cylinder engine family, the I4.
"It's no accident that the company decided to build its newest plant in
Brook Park," said Roman Krygier, vice president - Ford Powertrain Operations.
"The team here has proven they've got what it takes to compete with the best
in the world and has led the way in the development of several breakthrough
concepts, including the company's lean manufacturing initiative, the Ford
Production System."
The Cleveland Aluminum Casting Plant is Ford's first new North American
plant in five years. The 210,000-square-foot facility, which currently
employs approximately 95 men and women, brings the Brook Park site's workforce
up to 4,485 hourly and 550 salaried employees.
Building Blocks
The Cleveland Aluminum Casting Plant will build aluminum engine blocks for
the new 2.3-liter I4 engine, which will be assembled at the Dearborn, Michigan
Engine & Fuel Tank Plant. The new powerplant will make its North American
debut in the 2001 Ranger.
"The I4 engine family will deliver class-leading performance, sound
quality, reliability and durability while its lightweight construction and
flex-fuel capability will improve fuel economy and reduce emissions," said
Roman Krygier, vice president - Ford Powertrain Operations. "The I4 is a
tremendously important engine for Ford."
To improve quality and reliability, a leading-edge technique known as
Precision Sand Casting will be utilized in the plant's aluminum engine block
production. Ford is an industry leader in this innovative application, which
relies on a low-pressure injection method instead of the traditional gravity
pour procedure. The new technology reduces the porosity of the cast aluminum
piece, which translates to improved durability and customer satisfaction.
"Aluminum casting is a real growth industry, and we are proud that Ford
chose to build these important new engine blocks here in Brook Park," said Bob
Smillie, manager - Cleveland Engine #1 & #2 and Cleveland Aluminum Casting
Plant.
Initial production at the plant is expected to be approximately 110,000
cast aluminum engine blocks.
"Perfecting the new precision sand casting process has been a challenge
for us onsite, but it's a task we were eager to accept," said Willie Hubbard -
president, UAW Local 1250. "The employees here are committed to making this
the world's leading aluminum casting plant."
Ford and Brook Park
Ford's involvement with the city of Brook Park dates back roughly half a
century. The company opened its first engine plant -- now called Engine Plant
#1 -- on the site in 1951. A year later, the Cleveland Casting Plant opened,
and Engine Plant #2 began operations in 1955.
"We call Cleveland Ford's 'second city,'" Krygier said. "Outside of
Southeast Michigan, the Cleveland area has the highest concentration of Ford
employees in North America."
Striving to be leaders in corporate citizenship, the company's community
relations committee and site employees have contributed over $5 million since
1995 to support cultural and charitable institutions in the greater-Cleveland
area.