Voith expands into Automotive sector
Voith Industrial Services, a leading service provider to the UK automotive industry, has won a key contract by adding Engine Dress to its existing modular assembly contracts at Vauxhall Motors’ Vivaro van manufacturing facility in Luton.
The contract represents a major stepping stone for Warwick-based Voith Industrial Services who are increasingly growing their business into specialist technical areas of the UK automotive sector.
At Luton Voith has been working in partnership with Vauxhall to design and develop several different lay-out options for part of the engine assembly line for the Vivaro van.
The selected lay-out, now being operated by Voith Industrial Services, is more streamlined and requires less manpower. It involves six work stations complete with no-fault-forward interlocks to ensure product quality so potential faults cannot be carried forward.
It is viewed by Vauxhall as an integral part of the existing engine assembly facility.
Voith is responsible for managing and controlling all incoming material, preparing engine kits, assembly of the gearbox and ancillary parts to the engine including starter motors, alternators, power take-off, pulleys, fan belts, and the full wiring harness. Each day a total of 270 engines are built to sequence and delivered to point of fit on a two-shift system.
“The latest contract recognises our growing capability in specialist technical areas of the automotive industry,” said Martin Dunne, Voith Industrial Services’ regional manager who has 36 years’ experience with major automotive manufacturers in the UK and overseas.
“Voith started with a cleaning contract with Vauxhall, and 12 years ago installed a
£1.2 million wax booth to provide underbody protection for vehicles being exported to overseas markets,” said Martin.
“Since then our business with Vauxhall has grown from carrying out small sub-assembly works to assembling safety-critical modules including axles, struts, front corners and sub-frames. The latest work uses our specialist expertise in more advanced technical areas.”
In the UK Voith Industrial Services employs nearly 2,100 people – mainly at customer sites across the country. The company has an increasing sales turnover and provides services in four main areas – facility management, technical cleaning, wheel and tyre assembly, and managed processes.