Mitsubishi Electric to help automate GEMA plants in Michigan

Vernon Hills, IL— Mitsubishi Electric Automation Inc. . to manufacture four-cylinder automotive engines.

When completed, the two facilities will annually produce approximately 840,000 “world engines” under a manufacturing partnership agreement among the three automakers. The new plants will use flexible machining, assembly, and process technologies and techniques to produce these globally designed engines.

The world engine project includes a family of four-cylinder, 1.8, 2.0 and 2.4-liter gasoline engines, designed jointly by Chrysler, Mitsubishi, and Hyundai. These engines will be used in future small and mid-sized Chrysler and Mitsubishi vehicles in North America. Two GEMA facilities are being built on the Dundee site. Engine production at the first GEMA plant is scheduled to start in September 2005, and begin at the second in September 2006.

Mitsubishi Electric will provide the GEMA plants with flexible machine control solutions. This new flexible machinery control concept will help Chrysler save $100 million annually when compared to previous traditional powertrain plants.

“GEMA is an outstanding example of what teamwork, perfect choreography of people and technology can contribute to improved value for customers and shareholders,” says Bruce Coventry, GEMA’s president. “It’s helping us

能工厂将使用大约250之状bishi Electric’s Q PLCs, 400 of its A900 GOT HMIs, and more than 100 MR–J2S servos for complete engine assembly line, and complete head and block lines. More than 100 of Mitsubishi’s compact C64 CNCs will also be used for complete head, block lines, and gantries on machinery controls. Mitsubishi also will provide the plant with IT validation, customized training, and support services. This machinery is being provided to GEMA through major automotive suppliers, including Nippei Toyama Corp. (NTC), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), Durr, ICA Cinetic Automation, Harry Major Machine, and Comau Pico.

“We’re delighted that Mitsubishi Electric Automation was chosen for this important project,” says Richard Bertolone, Mitsubishi Electric Automation’s vertical marketing manager. “Industrial automation equipment is usually installed for the life of the plant’s machining and assembling lines, which could exceed 25 years. Our expertise in automating manufacturing facilities, and our well-established product quality standards, will help GEMA cost-effectively produce a quality, reliable engine that meets the demanding standards of the automotive industry, as well as the GEMA alliance.”

Control Engineering Daily News DeskJim Montague, news editorjmontague@reedbusiness.com

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