Holden Plant To Undergo Major Revamp

[Darren]

<p> More than 1500 contractors from across Australia, Europe and Asia will descend on Holden’s Elizabeth plant over the next fortnight in one of South Australia’s largest capital expenditure projects. <p> Equipment valued at more than $30 million will be installed at the plant in Adelaide’s northern suburbs during the two-week work blitz. <p> The contractors will take over from Holden’s 5,500-strong workforce in Adelaide to deliver one of the largest parts of Holden’s $440 million investment in South Australia over the next two years. The Elizabeth operations will be in shutdown during the installation period, from July 5 to 16. Employees will take a combination of programmed days off and annual leave. <p> The entire building and maintenance program will be finished by 2006 - in time for the all-new Commodore. <p> Holden Executive Director Jeff Jamieson said the program was vital to ensure Holden continued to make world-class vehicles to compete in the increasingly competitive global automotive industry. He said the works were part of the plant’s strategy to achieve output capability of 820 cars per day to meet and build on domestic and export programs. <p> "This investment highlights Holden’s confidence in the future of Australian manufacturing and is part of its $2 billion, five-year capital expenditure program across Australia to 2006," Mr Jamieson said. <p> "Holden has also delivered more than 1000 new jobs to South Australia in the past 18 months. The works over the next two weeks will accelerate production in the second half of the year." Holden’s total building and maintenance program in South Australia includes: <p> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" id="AutoNumber1" width="411"> <tr> <td width="312"><u><b><font size="2" face="Arial">Press Shop and Fabrication: </font></b></u></td> <td width="99">&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="312"><font size="2" face="Arial">Machining Centre </font></td> <td width="99"><font size="2" face="Arial">$4.90M </font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="312"><font size="2" face="Arial">9AA Press Line</font></td> <td width="99"><font size="2" face="Arial">$40.7M </font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="312"><font size="2" face="Arial">8A Press Line</font></td> <td width="99"><font size="2" face="Arial">$23.5M </font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="312"><font size="2" face="Arial">B Class Transfer Press Line</font></td> <td width="99"><font size="2" face="Arial">$45.7M </font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="312"><font size="2" face="Arial">AA Class Blanking Facilities</font></td> <td width="99"><font size="2" face="Arial">$40.0M</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="312"><font size="2" face="Arial">Rear Cross-member</font></td> <td width="99"><font size="2" face="Arial">$17.2M</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="312">&nbsp;</td> <td width="99">&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="312"><u><b><font size="2" face="Arial">Plastics: </font></b></u> </td> <td width="99">&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="312"><font size="2" face="Arial">Robotic Bumper Facia Paint facility</font></td> <td width="99"><font size="2" face="Arial">$25.4M </font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="312"><font size="2" face="Arial">Four New Medium Injection Machines</font></td> <td width="99"><font size="2" face="Arial">$7.60M</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="312"><font size="2" face="Arial">Front End Module</font></td> <td width="99"><font size="2" face="Arial">$9.90M </font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="312">&nbsp;</td> <td width="99">&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="312"><u><b><font size="2" face="Arial">Body Shop: </font></b></u> </td> <td width="99">&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="312"><font size="2" face="Arial">Southern Body Shop Vision</font></td> <td width="99"><font size="2" face="Arial">$55.0M </font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="312">&nbsp;</td> <td width="99">&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="312"><u><b><font size="2" face="Arial">Paint Shop: </font></b> </u></td> <td width="99">&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="312"><font size="2" face="Arial">Interior Spray Robotics</font></td> <td width="99"><font size="2" face="Arial">$6.90M</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="312"><font size="2" face="Arial">Electro-Coat Facilities</font></td> <td width="99"><font size="2" face="Arial">$65.0M</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="312">&nbsp;</td> <td width="99">&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="312"><u><b><font size="2" face="Arial">General Assembly: </font> </b></u></td> <td width="99">&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="312"><font size="2" face="Arial">T-Shape General Assembly (Stage 2)</font></td> <td width="99"><font size="2" face="Arial">$98.3M </font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="312"><font size="2" face="Arial">Front End Module in General Assembly</font></td> <td width="99"><font size="2" face="Arial">$3.90M </font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="312">&nbsp;</td> <td width="99">&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="312"><b><font size="2" face="Arial">TOTAL</font></b></td> <td width="99"><font size="2" face="Arial">$444M</font></td> </tr> </table> <p> Mr Jamieson said there was also heavy focus on significantly enhancing employee ergonomics and safety, whilst increasing productivity and capacity. <p> The works began in the second half of 2003 with upgrades in both general assembly and the press shop. <p> "This is a massive project for Adelaide and Australia. At Elizabeth, we now make more than 40 models and export cars to every continent except Antarctica. <p> "It is vital that we continually improve the plant to make sure Holden remains a viable and competitive car-maker well into the future." <p> Mr Jamieson said Holden employed around 5,500 people at Elizabeth and was South Australia’s largest private sector employer.
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Full press release can be found <a href="http://www.media.holden.com.au/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http://image.emerald.gm.com/gmnews/viewpressreldetail.do?domain=20&docid=5677" target="_blank">here</a>