Laying the foundation stone for new engine production
(Oct. 24, 2002) With the ceremonial laying of the first foundation stone, Hydro Aluminium Automotive today began construction of another production line in Dillingen for the manufacture of high-tech, large-displacement aluminium engine blocks.
 NEW PRODUCTION LINE: Hydro Aluminium Automotive is establishing a new production line for engine blocks in Dillingen, Germany. |
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A significant step in motor vehicle construction – for the first time, a large-capacity, diesel engine for passenger cars is to be made completely out of aluminium, the lightweight engineering material. This means reduced vehicle weight, which in turn leads to fuel savings, fewer emissions and lower fuel costs.
"This marks another important milestone in our history," stated Herbert Smetan, Head of the Castings Business Unit at Hydro Aluminium Automotive and Managing Director of Hydro Aluminium Alucast GmbH, the company that operates the Dillingen plant.
Smetan praised the plant's "committed, motivated and highly qualified workforce", which was a major factor in expanding the plant. Smetan also thanked the government of the Saarland: their active support played an important role in the strategic decision to expand the German plant.
Dr. Hanspeter Georgi, Economic Minister of the Saarland, said: "We are happy to contribute when new jobs are created in a future-orientated industrial sector in our state. Hydro Aluminium's close link with Ford plants in particular also strengthens the Saarland as a location for the automotive industry at the heart of Europe."
The new plant, which measures some 240 metres in length and 50 metres wide, will produce 350,000 aluminium engine blocks per year. This project means capital expenditure of EUR76 million and the creation of 260 new jobs in Dillingen, in addition to the more than 500 workers already employed at Hydro Aluminium Alucast.
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