Ford closes Geelong engine plant - 600 jobs gone by 2010

[Falcon Freak]

Click here

I hope the media is wrong.

FF

[BLDNUT01]

hmm very interesting but they still have all the press lines there for the panels that broadmeadows dont do

[ltd]

They haven't made any announcement yet, it's probably more mud-raking from the opposition desperate to discredit workchoices in the run up to the election.

[brodfloyd]

i smell a rat. something is just not right about all this hype.

why would ford announce the closure of a plant and the end of an era 6 months b4 they release a new model??? It would kill all positive media coverage about the release of orion not to mention the hyperboli and rubbish that political parties and unions will go on with.

that said, ford have done stupid stuff like this before.

For all the good stuff thats said about this Duratec35 engine, its only the highspec or hypothetical versions that are a match or better than our current engine, and they cant be that cheap. And the rubbish about euro4 isnt worthy of a response.

[T3ts50]

Originally Posted by brodfloyd

And the rubbish about euro4 isnt worthy of a response.

From what ive heard Orion is supposed to be euro4 compliant.

[The Stylist]

Is this going to be the big announcement? If it is, then it's going to be some very dissapointing news. However, I just have a feeling that this is some media speculation based on a politicians assumption.

[Dazza XLT]

Pollies have been wrong before. So far Ford have denied that they've made a decision on the future of the plant, so maybe it's all BS. Who knows.

Time will tell....

Cheers

Darran

[4.9 EF Futura]

Originally Posted by Darran

Pollies have been wrong before. So far Ford have denied that they've made a decision on the future of the plant, so maybe it's all BS. Who knows.

Time will tell....

Cheers

Darran

Agreed.

If it turns out to be a false claim, that's a pretty reckless/irresponsible/pathetic/inappropriate/lame/unfair thing for Kim Carr to be saying... im sure the people that work there arent 100% confident in the future of their industry as it is.

If it is true, why would Carr come out and throw all of this uncertainty into the community before the company made an announcement?

Fingers crossed its all nonesense.

[Bud Bud]

Actually I read this piece of info yesterday as well. It appears that the Geelong Council is also bracing itself so there might be some substance to this claim.

At least the good news is that they will be filling 200 - 300 new positions when they open their new R and D centre in Geelong, so at least Ford is not making plans to totally leave Geelong long term.

Killing off the engine line in Geelong smacks of decisions made over seas!

Vic: Ford cutbacks would impact on Geelong economy

16/07/2007 - A decision by Ford to axe hundreds of jobs at its Geelong engine plant would have a significant impact on the economy of the region, the Victorian city's mayor says.

The car giant is considering ending the local manufacture of V6 engines at the Geelong plant to source them from overseas in a declining market for Australia's traditional family cars.

Ford said on Friday no decision had yet been made but the company was looking at changes across its business as the popularity of large cars dipped.

Geelong mayor Bruce Harwood said he recognised that a company like Ford needed to operate in a "highly competitive global environment," but it also had long term plans for the city which would mean more jobs.

"Like all large, complex global businesses Ford continually reviews its various business units, this is a common practice and doesn't necessarily result in a change of operations," Harwood said on Friday.

He said Ford had promised to keep the council informed of any decisions that could affect local jobs but it had heard nothing to suggest job cuts were part of current plans.

"Of course we would be hopeful that when Ford makes decisions about its future direction it considers the strong historical connection and commitment it has shared with Geelong spanning over 80 years," he said.

"Not only is Ford a large part of the regional economy it is also a key part of Geelong's social fabric."

Harwood said Ford had invested heavily in the local economy since opening its first Australian plant there in 1925.

He said the company had long term plans for its operations in Geelong.

"Ford continues to invest in very significant research and development initiatives in Geelong to keep itself at the forefront of product development and innovation," he said.

"Ford is opening a new research and design centre in Geelong later this year which will deliver between 200 and 300 new jobs.

"In general the local economy is very buoyant and is increasingly diverse with new sectors such as biotechnology, services and tourism playing a growing role."

Ford, which has another plant at Broadmeadows, in Melbourne's north, said no decision had yet been made on whether to begin importing V6 engines.

But Ford spokeswoman Sinead McAlary told ABC Radio: We have informed our employees that we're looking at a range of alternatives across our entire business, to be blunt."

Source: AAP NewsWire

[AU1XLS]

Hmmm interesting/strange that they would be spending so much on fuel storage & engine test cells if they intended to close the engine plant down. Maybe its for calibration of the the new engines they intend to use.But thats the auto manufacturing business for you hot one minute cold the next.

[flappist]

Children overboard?

[JPFS1]

I think it's cr@p....

Sure the IL6 may go in years to come, but the plant will stay and they'd probably assemble a global V6 (and variations) and also export to other AsiaPacific regions.

I would never trust the government or media.

[Bud Bud]

Originally Posted by JEM

I think it's cr@p....

Sure the IL6 may go in years to come, but the plant will stay and they'd probably assemble a global V6 (and variations) and also export to other AsiaPacific regions.

I would never trust the government or media.

Perhaps but we didn't think that they would of closed the Mitsubishi engine line at Lonsdale in S.A. as quick as they did either! I've been there on occasions and it is really a ghost town now!

[JPFS1]

Originally Posted by Bud Bud

Perhaps but we didn't think that they would of closed the Mitsubishi engine line at Lonsdale in S.A. as quick as they did either! I've been there on occasions and it is really a ghost town now!

Well i hope for the sake of all Ford AUS employees down at Geelong that i'm right to some degree.

[Raptor]

It might be Ford playing the political game.

It could be a good time to be asking our political masters in Canberra for some financial relief ...... or else all these jobs and local manufacturing go offshore....

So Labour or Liberal parties, what can you do for Ford Aus? :togo:

We have many worried worker and they all vote

[ED Classic]

Originally Posted by Raptor

It might be Ford playing the political game.

It could be a good time to be asking our political masters in Canberra for some financial relief ...... or else all these jobs and local manufacturing go offshore....

So Labour or Liberal parties, what can you do for Ford Aus? :togo:

We have many worried worker and they all vote

I agree...With the multi billions surplasses over the last 10 years, It is a great time to be asking espicially with the election.

[merlin]

For the uninitiated (who know nothing about Victoria) what locations and factories does Ford operate from down there?

[sgt_doofey]

Why would they close it? They still need to produce engines for the current lot of Falcon and Territories being produced don't they? Unless they have a replacement engine already?

[T3ts50]

Originally Posted by merlin

For the uninitiated (who know nothing about Victoria) what locations and factories does Ford operate from down there?

Geelong - Stamping and engine building
Broadie - Vehicle Production

I think

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by merlin

For the uninitiated (who know nothing about Victoria) what locations and factories does Ford operate from down there?

Ok here is a summary from what I can gather from old brochures & the web:

Powertrain Operations in Geelong:

Engine Assembly and Machining plant.
Iron Casting Plant.
Aluminium Casting Operations

Stamping Operations in Geelong:

Press Operations (sheetmetal forming).
Sub Assembly Opertations (spot welding of sheetmetal into sub-assemblies).
Tool Making Operations.

Product Engineering:

New centre being built on main Geelong site.
You Yangs proving ground.
Broadmeadows Research Centre.

Assembly Operations:

Broadmeadows Assembly plant (body build, paint shop, final assembly)
Broadmeadows Sub Assembly plant.

Ford of Australia Head Office Broadmeadows.

FPV Campbellfield.

Lead taken by Prodrive.

[JPFS1]

It's not only an engine plant, it's a stamping plant for other components, of which they use to stamp for other AUS car companies also.

[Mark351]

Also...

Geelong - Product Development, Proving Ground (Lara), Tool Shop (do contract work for others as well as tooling for Ford product), Discovery Centre (supported by, not owned by Ford)

Broadmeadows - Head Office, location of many component suppliers such as Venture.

[bob^]

Geelong makes the panels, and has some sub assembly of the panels before they are shipped off to Broadmeadows to get a full assembly done. Some sub assembly is done in Broadmeadows also.
There is an aluminium casting facility located in the Stamping plant, as well as a separate iron casting plant just down the road.

[aussiblue]

see http://e19.email.excite.com/viewer.p...1338327a56fac2

AS THE Federal Labor Opposition yesterday
warned of a possible closure announcement of
Ford’s Geelong engine plant as early as today
(July 18), further details have emerged in the US
of the all-new V6 – including a twin-turbocharged
direct-injection version – that should eventually
slot into the next-generation Falcon.

[Falcon Freak]

The seed of destruction will be sown today which will lead to the demise of the Falcon and the end of Ford Australia's local vehicle manufacture.

FF

[Bud Bud]

Originally Posted by Falcon Freak

The seed of destruction will be sown today which will lead to the demise of the Falcon and the end of Ford Australia's local vehicle manufacture.

FF

How could Ford be so clumsy by leaking this type of info right on the door step of the release of the Orion? Surly you would have kept your mouth shut until the new model has at least proved itself. This can only have a negative effect overall. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot.

If you want to see what this type of negative info can do to a car manufacturer look to how Mitsubishi has faired with this type of constant bad press.

And to think, it was only a couple of years ago that Holden won the right to "build" engines for the world right down the road!

[Donut King]

Originally Posted by Falcon Freak

The seed of destruction will be sown today which will lead to the demise of the Falcon and the end of Ford Australia's local vehicle manufacture.

FF

Drama Queen much?

Seriously quit it with the FUD, the sky is not falling and it is not the end of the world. If the rumors turn into a real world announcement it will be the end of an era yes, but if you honestly think that the I6 is capable of carrying Falcon into the future without substantial changes that Ford simply don't have the budget for, you are dreaming. It's done well for a 40 year old design, but technology has come a long way since then.

This whole ordeal sounds much like what the doomsdayers were saying when it was discovered the tickford wings were not to continue and look how accurate they were.

[irlewy86]

Originally Posted by Donut King

Drama Queen much?

Seriously quit it with the FUD, the sky is not falling and it is not the end of the world. If the rumors turn into a real world announcement it will be the end of an era yes, but if you honestly think that the I6 is capable of carrying Falcon into the future without substantial changes that Ford simply don't have the budget for, you are dreaming. It's done well for a 40 year old design, but technology has come a long way since then.

This whole ordeal sounds much like what the doomsdayers were saying when it was discovered the tickford wings were not to continue and look how accurate they were.

The 1920 Indian Scout is a bit outdated to. If it can hold a land speed record then I think the 40 year old I6 has still got life in her.

[seano14]

It's a shame to hear this news and I feel really bad for the workers.

But when you think about it, if the Orion is to be exported to the USA, it makes sense to throw the US derived v6 into it - from a spare parts and servicing point of view

[Macca23]

On the way to work this morning the radio in sydney annoucned that the plant is closing, 600 loss of jobs, in favour of the cheaper v6 import due to not selling enough fords!