NLPRacing Posted April 10, 2015 Share Posted April 10, 2015 Stamping plant took about a year. Not only the new presses, but the old roof was torn out and raised to accommodate the new cranes. The assembly side was enlarged and took over part of the engine plant. Word is that they will be expanding again and adding two new tandem line presses to support Super Duty volume. I would guess, if it already isn't, it will be the largest stamping plant in the world by the time it's done. What brand of presses do they mostly use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted April 10, 2015 Share Posted April 10, 2015 (edited) Thanks for the insider perspective Pioneer, it's important that we understand and appreciate the magnitude of change that has occurred at both plants. I'm wondering how that has now changed 1) processes and efficiency of construction and 2) what's it like working in and around the new plants, quieter without as many welders? a nicer place to work? Also touching on new presses for Super Duty lines, could it be that all the prep work done on F150 Aluminum truck now makes Ford more confident with achieving a smooth the Super Duty change over . The logistics with changing out equipment was phenomenal and I bet there were a lot of lessons learned that will help immensely - Edited April 10, 2015 by jpd80 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted April 10, 2015 Share Posted April 10, 2015 (edited) I haven't been inside DTP since the renovation, but by all accounts from people I've talked to say it's a much better work environment, especially in the body shop. It's a lot quieter, there is very few, if any sparks flying around and it's a lot cleaner and brighter. I think that as Ford starts using more aluminum across more models, we will start seeing more renovations of the sort, just not to the massive degree as what DTP and KCAP went through. Edited April 10, 2015 by fuzzymoomoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pioneer Posted April 10, 2015 Share Posted April 10, 2015 What brand of presses do they mostly use? Don't know what brand the progressive presses are,but they have 2 progs, 1 Verson, 1 Schuler, and 4 Jier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordmantpw Posted April 11, 2015 Share Posted April 11, 2015 What brand of presses do they mostly use? Big. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker16 Posted April 11, 2015 Share Posted April 11, 2015 (edited) Can someone explain the history of the E550 https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas/non-html/Q84.pdf Edited April 11, 2015 by Biker16 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker16 Posted April 11, 2015 Share Posted April 11, 2015 (edited) Also I had no idea there used to be a cab version of the E-series. Edited April 11, 2015 by Biker16 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twintornados Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 Can someone explain the history of the E550 https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas/non-html/Q84.pdf Oh great mother of all that is unholy....the bumper is misaligned!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker16 Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 Oh great mother of all that is unholy....the bumper is misaligned!!!!! I think it was involved in a collision, surely cars don't come from the factory with misaligned bumpers anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 Also I had no idea there used to be a cab version of the E-series. I think that persisted until very recently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NLPRacing Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 Also I had no idea there used to be a cab version of the E-series. They didn't come from the factory that way. http://www.cabbacks.com/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
econolineman Posted April 13, 2015 Share Posted April 13, 2015 Can someone explain the history of the E550 https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas/non-html/Q84.pdf There's actually very little history for it. After the Thunderbird was discontinued it left half of the Lorain plant empty. This was a very brief attempt at utilizing the empty plant space to make something Ford thought it could market. This lasted a very short while with them building only a handful per day. It never caught on and eventually they stopped making it and ultimately closed the plant, moving the final assembly of the econoline to Avon Lake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7Mary3 Posted April 14, 2015 Author Share Posted April 14, 2015 That's an interesting story, and it makes sense. When I first saw an E-550 I though it world go over big, since the E-350 cutaway was getting to be too light for an ambulance. Also figured it would make a great motorhome chassis. They were staring to catch on with some of the movie studios around here, but all of a sudden the E-550 was gone. Kind of erie when you think bout it, but I hope we don't see a repeat of this story at Avon Lake: Plant looses product, low volume commercial truck takes it's place, gone within 2 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twintornados Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 Is anyone following this thread from Avon Lake Medium Truck Plant? How about it? anything happening? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Rosadini Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 Again Avon Lake folks- we "civilians" have noted posts on employee forum about possible additions to 650-750. What's up with that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 Again Avon Lake folks- we "civilians" have noted posts on employee forum about possible additions to 650-750. What's up with that?It's rumor posted by people stirring the pot. Don't believe anything until Ford makes the announcement themselves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pioneer Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 Again Avon Lake folks- we "civilians" have noted posts on employee forum about possible additions to 650-750. What's up with that? You really have to weed through the bull$#it in the employee section to get any good info. Don't believe everything you read in there. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twintornados Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 Wondering if there is any activity (early builds, pre-production runs, etc) at Avon Lake....would love to spot a new F650/750 on the job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Rosadini Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 Wondering if there is any activity (early builds, pre-production runs, etc) at Avon Lake....would love to spot a new F650/750 on the job. TT- I believe" job 1" is July 13th. I assume "job 1" is a production vehicle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lfeg Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 Oh there are pre-production units out there, but they are probably running with the old style tilt front, so they look like the many other F670 /750 out there. There is a staging lot that I sometimes drive by where incomplete units and chassis cabs sometimes accumulate waiting for shipment to upfitters. Might check it out more often when we get into July Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theoldwizard Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 Oh there are pre-production units out there, but they are probably running with the old style tilt front, so they look like the many other F670 /750 out there.PP build would not use previous generation parts. PP builds prove that the parts are "production ready". 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 TT- I believe" job 1" is July 13th. I assume "job 1" is a production vehicle? Yes. Job 1 is the official start of production Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 PP build would not use previous generation parts. PP builds prove that the parts are "production ready". He might be thinking of mules. They will frequently test new vehicles with old bodys or old parts on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Rosadini Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 Yes. Job 1 is the official start of production Thx- and what typically becomes of first few production numbers? do they actually get out to the dealer world or do they go to select "test fleets"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 Thx- and what typically becomes of first few production numbers? do they actually get out to the dealer world or do they go to select "test fleets"? I'm not sure. I would think that a few of them might be test cars, but i think most of them, if not all are for customers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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