Ford’s engine plant on a roll

The expansion also introduced higher production capacities for the component machining and engine assembly for the Duratorq TDCi engines that are used in selected Ford Ranger and Everest models and supplied to customer plants around the world.

The production expansion formed part of a R3-billion investment announced in 2017 for Ford’s South African operations at the Struandale Engine Plant, as well as the Silverton Vehicle Assembly Plant in Pretoria. The official announcement of the new diesel engine programme took place in March 2018, with the first production-ready engines produced at the end of last year in the new 3 868m2 facility in preparation for the recent market introduction of the latest Ranger and Everest models.

Plant manager John Cameron says: “Last year was extremely busy for the Struandale Engine Plant as we went through the build-up phase for the new Bi-Turbo and Single Turbo engines, increased our capacity and added 22 new derivatives of the Duratorq TDCi engines.”

The plant is capable of producing up to 120 000 Bi-Turbo and Single Turbo engines annually. All of these units are supplied to Silverton for installation in the new Ranger and Everest models, with about two thirds destined for 148 global export markets and the balance sold locally.

The Duratorq TDCi engine programme has an installed capacity for up to 130 000 TDCi engines which are also supplied to Silverton for local vehicle production, and exported to customer plants in North America, China, Turkey, Russia and Italy.

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