[Stratos]

Originally Posted by ghodlur

Stratos,
The board display shows a shift target of 60 with only half achieved, whats the general target for the day?

If I am not mistaken, they make somewhere between 110 - 140 vehicles per day and production numbers per shift vary.

Originally Posted by W.A.G.7

My questions is if I want to go and visit the plant, whom do I have to contact? Or do they invite you to visit the plant?

Team-BHP was invited by Volvo-Eicher for the event including the Pro series truck launch and plant visit.

[vvijay]

Originally Posted by Stratos

• This is Volvo's first engine plant outside Europe and saw an initial investment of Rs. 375 crore.

• The Euro6 diesel engines will be supplied to the Volvo Group plant in Venissieux, France. The same platform will be adapted for Euro3 and Euro4 engines, which will be used by VECV and the Volvo Group for the Indian and Asian markets.

Can you elaborate more on this? What engines are produced for the domestic market and what all goes for exports / used by Volvo?

[MaxTorque]

Great report Stratos. Kudos to Volvo Eicher for commissioning their new set up. It is surprising to see that they allowed you to take photographs of almost all production processes. It is a great pleasure to watch the production process.

Comparing with other truck manufacturing set ups, the automation level is high. I think this plant has better technology than the Renault-Nissan Plant which was featured earlier.

The RODip4e (ROtational Dip 4th Generation Electrically driven) is only one part of the whole painting process. There are four images of Paintshop process, it's slightly scrambled. It can be re-arranged as 3-2-1-4 to match the production sequence. This technology is very rarely used, the third such installation is at Honda, Swindon Plant. Another variant (Mechanically Driven - RoDip4m) of this technology is used in Volkswagen Pune, and Tata Motors, Sanand.

[Stratos]

Originally Posted by vvijay

Can you elaborate more on this? What engines are produced for the domestic market and what all goes for exports / used by Volvo?

Just like mentioned above, the Euro6 engines get exported. A downgraded version of the 'same' engine which is Euro3 or Euro4 compliant gets used for the domestic market and also for developing markets in Asia. There was no mention about their cubic capacity or power.

Originally Posted by MaxTorque

There are four images of Paintshop process, it's slightly scrambled. It can be re-arranged as 3-2-1-4 to match the production sequence.

Thanks for pointing it our MaxTorque. The thing is that these images were shot at random as the factory tour progressed and at that moment, there was no cabin going through the process tank, thus there was no way to show the actual process taking place in proper order.

[Napo]

The pictures were an absolute delight , especially the industrial robots in action. Great to see such factories coming up in India.

Will i be wrong in assuming that around 60-70% of the assembly lines are automated ? Or is it much lesser than that?

Is there any videos available that demonstrates the RODip4e painting process ?

[teamveevee]

Originally Posted by KPS

Thanks for sharing Stratos.

Very rarely does the manufacturer allow so many pictures showing all the critical areas. Very rarely do we get to see the painting process.

Cheers

KPS

I would say in India. If you go abraod, most of the manufacturers have factory tours where public can see how the vehicle is manufactured. I have personally visited Toyota, Ford and GM plants in USA.
Photography is prohibited in factory tours though.

[MaxTorque]

Originally Posted by Napo

Is there any videos available that demonstrates the RODip4e painting process ?

You may visit the link for a small video on RoDip4e process. Somehow I am unable to upload the video.

Video

[silversteed]

Originally Posted by teamveevee

If you go abraod, most of the manufacturers have factory tours where public can see how the vehicle is manufactured. I have personally visited Toyota, Ford and GM plants in USA.
Photography is prohibited in factory tours though.

You said it! They explain each and everything happening inside the factory as though they get brownie points for making us understand the whole process. But no cameras! They cover every orifice on your gadgets (cell phones, tablets, laptops, everything) that resembles a camera with an opaque sticker. Been to some of the bigger manufacturing facilities of quite a few big shots in the motor-city itself, and this was my experience

[MaxTorque]

Normally manufacturing companies won't be interested to take headaches associated with such visits. If they allow visitors to their manufacturing set ups, I am sure there will be continuous flow. Some of them may be enthusiasts and the rest will be just doing it as a pass time. But companies have to dedicate their valuable resources to arrange such an event without any glitch.

I have seen companies arranging family visits. It's really a headache I must say.

[Napo]

A link to paint process at BMW's plant.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUqKUbmdOr0