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Ford Invests in New Research and Manufacturing Facilities

Staff, Thursday December 13, 2007.

Page 1 of 1

Ford Australia today unveiled its new Research and Development Centre in Geelong, as the first of a number of new facilities that will enable the company to continue developing world-class vehicles for Australia and overseas markets.

In mid-2006, Ford Australia announced a new strategic direction for the company, including significant investment in new projects and accompanying facilities totalling more than $1.8 billion over the next decade.

Fords New Research and Development Centre

The front façade of the building is a modern interpretation of the original brick Ford manufacturing building, which was built in the 1920s. No combustible materials were permitted in the building construction in order to comply with Ford Motor Company’s strict standards of fire protection.

The new R&D Centre, to be officially completed in early 2008, will be one of the first facilities to come on line as part of the overall investment program, along with the addition of new equipment and facilities within Stamping Operations and at the Ford Australia Proving Ground.

"The new R&D Centre is set to become a centrepiece of our local operation . ."

"For over 80 years, Ford has taken a leadership role in automotive design, engineering and manufacturing in Australia," Ford Australia President, Mr Tom Gorman said.

"The new facilities in Geelong and at our Proving Ground represent some of the most significant facilities investment programs ever undertaken by the company, demonstrating our commitment to technological leadership, as well as helping build Ford’s capability as an innovative and progressive vehicle manufacturer."

"The new R&D Centre is set to become a centrepiece of our local operation, which will underpin future engineering projects and equip Ford Australia to play an even greater role within the Asia Pacific region."

"It will enhance Ford Australia’s position as a design and engineering centre of excellence within the company’s global product development community, as well as ensuring our local operation can take advantage of strategic global opportunities."

Research & Development Centre

The new $27 million R&D Centre is larger and more efficient than the Product Engineering Office (PEO) it replaces, which was actually built during WWII as a warehouse and then converted to the PEO in the early 1960s to support the early development of the Falcon.

Located adjacent to the company’s Engine and Stamping plants at the Geelong Automotive Manufacturing Operations (AMO) site, the new R&D Centre contains two separate buildings connected by an overhead walkway. A two storey office complex sits across the front of the site, with three large workshop bays extending behind the offices and a smaller, second building also at the rear of the facility.

Ford Invests in New Research and Manufacturing Facilities

Covering a total area of almost 10,000 square metres, split 40/60 between office and workshop spaces, the new buildings will house approximately 350 engineers and support staff in the office complex and a further 120 employees across the workshop areas.
The design and layout of the office complex permits a flexible arrangement that allows for alternate work group requirements depending on the various stages of a vehicle development program.

The four adjoining workshop areas are all larger and more efficient than in the PEO and include a Prototype Shop, Development Garage, Mechanical and Hydraulic Test Laboratory, and an Engine Test and Development Laboratory.

In the Prototype Shop a team of highly skilled tradespeople craft prototype panels and modify complete vehicles to enable package clinics and dynamic evaluations of future vehicle proposals.

The Development Garage contains the latest vehicle-lift hoists to suit a wide range of vehicles, including those with low ground clearance and others with high ground clearance conditions.
The Mechanical and Hydraulic Test Laboratory contains new noise enclosures for completing component and full vehicle testing with servo hydraulic road simulators and high frequency vibration testing equipment.

In most cases, the equipment is mounted on specially designed large seismic masses (huge concrete blocks) sunk metres into the ground, so as to isolate major rig test facilities from the surrounding building.

More articles on the Ford Research and Development Centre at Geelong can be found here – New Vehicle Semi Anechoic Chamber and here – Technical Specs.

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