king arthur said:
But some of us wondered who now supplies them. Well today we found out - nobody does, they now press the panels themselves inside the factory!
well that was a no brainer waiting to happen. A panel press suitable to press a 75 tourer side in 1 single panel and make more in a day than MGR could manufacture cars in a week is available from a Spanish manufacturer for around 8 million pounds. Mitsubishi Australia just installed one and a massive brand new building to house it for about 15 million pounds.
I too was under the impression that panel presses were horrendously exensive until I read the press release when they installed it over here. See edited version below
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MITSUBISHI MOTORS COMMISSIONS NEW LARGE PRESS
NEWS RELEASE
22 FEBRUARY 2005
Adelaide, South Australia: Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited (MMAL) today provided additional evidence of the company's confidence in its future by celebrating the commissioning of its new 'AA' tandem press line at Tonsley Park in Adelaide, South Australia.
The large press components, automation robotics, and associated facilities represent a AUS$40 million investment that is part of MMAL's overall $600 million investment for the new car, due for release in October 2005.
It is the largest press line within the global MMC group, and the largest facility of its type within the Australian automotive industry. The press line is made up of four separate presses that collectively weigh 1,100 tonnes, with steel accounting for 90% of its weight. At maximum speed, it can stamp out 450 one-piece body sides per hour.
The machinery will make the one side panel for the new car instead of using four separate pieces for the same section, offering better strength and rigidity to the vehicle body shell. In short, a more accurate body is produced and a weight reduction in the vehicle is achieved, additionally the cost to manufacture is also reduced.
The presses are large enough to make panels for any model, including SUV-sized vehicles, increasing Tonsley Park's manufacturing flexibility for the future.
In July 2003, Tom Phillips celebrated with employees the first sod turning for the construction of the new dedicated building that now houses the equipment. The building is 158m long, 30m high, 30m wide and includes a basement and main floor equal in size to a third of a football oval [that's an Australian Rules football Oval - ie a large cricket ground]
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so AUD$40 million buys the newest largest and most versatile panel press line in the global Mitsubishi Group, complete with an all new dedicated building and full fitout and equipment. Seems strange MGR didn't install their own press lines in 2000. Given that shipping costs from Spain are lower it could have come in cheaper still than that in UK terms.
