Holden reintroduces second shift as V6 demand grows

[vztrt]

http://www.caradvice.com.au/47868/ho...-demand-grows/

Holden reintroduces second shift as V6 demand grows

November 16, 2009 by Matt Brogan

Holden has today reintroduced the second shift at its Port Melbourne engine plant on the back of rising local and global demand for its 3.0 and 3.6-litre V6s.

Production has increased from 240-320 to 440 units per day, a move that Holden powertrain lead executive, Mr Martyn Cray, says reflects higher export orders and a short-term rise in vehicle production at Adelaide.

“Holden has received an increase in orders for our global V6 engines which are exported to markets including South Korea, China and Mexico and we are lifting production of our engines as a result.

“We are also seeing increased local demand for Commodore after launching the new Spark Ignition Direct Injection (SIDI) engine,” he said.

The daily rate will remain at 440 until the end of the year before dropping back to 400 through January and February 2010.

Mr Cray says the existing workforce will operate the reintroduced second shift, after a lack of demand forced the Fishermans Bend plant to switch to a single shift in June.

“The past year has been an incredibly challenging time for Holden’s manufacturing workforce as they manage their lives around changes in our production schedule.

“We managed to retain a skilled workforce through difficult times because we were confident things would turnaround. We are now able to lift production from within our existing team.”

Holden Vehicle Operations at Elizabeth will continue on a single shift despite production rising from 310 to 340 cars per day earlier this month.

by Tim Beissmann

[Iggypoppin']

good news then I hate seeing Holden workers losing their shifts. I may love fords but I do not want south australias economy to buckle.

[phillyc]

Good sign for the local industry. Still, there seems to be an imbalance / inaccuracy in the article.

It's talking about the main reason the Adelaide plant going to a double shift, is because engine export orders are up. The engines are assembled in Melbourne, not Adelaide.

Wonder what the forward orders for GMH are? Wonder if there will still be some down days in there too?

[Paxton]

Originally Posted by 76txcoupe

good news then I hate seeing Holden workers losing their shifts. I may love fords but I do not want south australias economy to buckle.

That's good, but Holden don't build any engines in South Australia.

They're all built, from imported parts in Port Melbourne.

[Iggypoppin']

I realize that but it's a step toward more commodores being built and hopefully the return of all shifts. I just re read the article and realized the engines where what was in demand, not cars themselves.

[Paxton]

Originally Posted by 76txcoupe

I realize that but it's a step toward more commodores being built and hopefully the return of all shifts. I just re read the article and realized the engines where what was in demand, not cars themselves.

Not necessarily. Most of the engines built in Port Melbourne are exported.

Sorry to be a downer, but it will take a lot more than another hundred or so cars to help out Holden, when they export a bloody lot more cars than Ford do.

The only thing that will return another shift to Holden, is Local Cruze production, which is counter intuitive at best.

I'd prefer to hear about Holden removing down days and increasing the line rate, which directly benefits South Australia's economy.

[Wally]

I think there is a general upswing globally. The latest filings indicate US GM has put on a third shift and sales are up ~20% over same time last year, although production is lower. I'd like to get my hands on GMAP financials to see how Holden are really travelling.

[GK]

Originally Posted by Wally

I think there is a general upswing globally. The latest filings indicate US GM has put on a third shift and sales are up ~20% over same time last year, although production is lower. I'd like to get my hands on GMAP financials to see how Holden are really travelling.

I have it on very good authority (read very good authority) that for quite a while (at least the last year), Holden even getting the green light from GM to stay open, has been a month by month proposition.

GK

[4Vman]

So where are the V6 blocks cast?? :

[Wally]

Originally Posted by GK

I have it on very good authority (read very good authority) that for quite a while (at least the last year), Holden even getting the green light from GM to stay open, has been a month by month proposition.

GK

That's explain why the VE hasn't had a facelift I suppose?

[Iggypoppin']

Originally Posted by 4Vman

So where are the V6 blocks cast?? :

Duh Australia.. Those ingots aren't cast into happy elves you know ;)

Thanks for clearing that up Paxton. I like hearing good news for Holden, that's pretty much all I was trying to say.

[FPV GTHO]

Originally Posted by Wally

That's explain why the VE hasn't had a facelift I suppose?

That could be due to more than GM's bankruptcy and other financial woes. VE needed substantial exports to make business sense from the start, and has recieved very little so far. They could simply be pushing everything for a few years like Ford had to with BA/BF.

[madmelon]

Originally Posted by GK

I have it on very good authority (read very good authority) that for quite a while (at least the last year), Holden even getting the green light from GM to stay open, has been a month by month proposition.

GK

That doesn't really come as a surprise to me. Maybe I'm just a huge downer but it kinda obvious at times.

[Sprint XR8]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

So where are the V6 blocks cast?? :

Cylinder blocks and heads for both SIDI engines continue to be supplied from Hungary and Mexico, with machining taking place locally before final assembly at Holden’s $400 million Port Melbourne engine plant.

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...25762B0023038F

[Paxton]

Originally Posted by 76txcoupe

Duh Australia.. Those ingots aren't cast into happy elves you know ;)

Thanks for clearing that up Paxton. I like hearing good news for Holden, that's pretty much all I was trying to say.

I think you will find that they are actually cast in Mexico. ION was the recipient of the supply contract, however when they went to the wall, Holden were left scrambling.

I'm not knocking Mexico as a place of origin, as the Falcon I6 blocks are cast there as well.

[Iggypoppin']

I was joking in reference to another thread. Sometimes it's hard to get sarcasm across in a post hehe

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by Paxton

I'm not knocking Mexico as a place of origin, as the Falcon I6 blocks are cast there as well.

Not quite right Paxton....

The Cast Iron I6 blocks are cast at the "Geelong Casting Plant" in North Shore ...

The I6 Aluminium heads are cast in Mexico

[Paxton]

Originally Posted by Barraxr8

Not quite right Paxton....

The Cast Iron I6 blocks are cast at the "Geelong Casting Plant" in North Shore ...

The I6 Aluminium heads are cast in Mexico

Ahhh. I stand corrected.

I see. I thought it was the other way around.

I was under the impression that Ford had an Alloy casting plant in Geelong, where the heads were cast.

Bugger.

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by Paxton

Ahhh. I stand corrected.

I see. I thought it was the other way around.

I was under the impression that Ford had an Alloy casting plant in Geelong, where the heads were cast.

Bugger.

They do do some Aluminium casting....but not heads unfortunately. Rocker covers for starters from what I hear..

[Swordsman88]

Originally Posted by Paxton

Ahhh. I stand corrected.

I see. I thought it was the other way around.

I was under the impression that Ford had an Alloy casting plant in Geelong, where the heads were cast.

Bugger.

Don't believe ford has ever cast aluminium heads in aus. Wasn't the 'alloy head' XD cast overseas too. Was it honda that did them? I don't care where they build stuff (apart from jobs for those that do it obviously) as long the outcome works when its all put together. I don't mind that Holden gets it heads from mexico.....the quality of the final engine however....

[cosmo20btt]

Originally Posted by Swordsman88

Don't believe ford has ever cast aluminium heads in aus. Wasn't the 'alloy head' XD cast overseas too. Was it honda that did them? I don't care where they build stuff (apart from jobs for those that do it obviously) as long the outcome works when its all put together. I don't mind that Holden gets it heads from mexico.....the quality of the final engine however....

From memory I read somewhere the alloy XD heads were cast in Japan by yamaha & later on cast the G6 heads that went on courier/bravo

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by Paxton

Ahhh. I stand corrected.

I see. I thought it was the other way around.

I was under the impression that Ford had an Alloy casting plant in Geelong, where the heads were cast.

Bugger.

There is still an aluminium casting area in Geelong, but their business has shrunk. They used to cast the heads but lost the business for BA. The heads are cast in Mexico but machined down here.

Rockers covers, lower control arms etc are cast here. There's other stuff done here too.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by Swordsman88

Don't believe ford has ever cast aluminium heads in aus. Wasn't the 'alloy head' XD cast overseas too. Was it honda that did them? I don't care where they build stuff (apart from jobs for those that do it obviously) as long the outcome works when its all put together. I don't mind that Holden gets it heads from mexico.....the quality of the final engine however....

Originally the XD alloy heads were cast by Honda until Ford was setup to do them. Head casting lasted here until the end of AU.