06/22/2008) – New-opened, Honda Powertrain in Sumaré (SP) is already studying it´s enlargement. The building of 13.500m2 (6.500m2 to machining area) will have more 3.500m2 and a second line to machines to attend Honda Argentina that is being installed in Campana, in Buenos Aires province, foreseen to be opened in 2009.
Sérgio Kawase, Powertrain unity´s Production Manager, says that the brazilian automobilistic market is very heated up. According to him in 2006, in the beginning of Sumaré Powertrain studies, the projection of production capacity was 400 sets of engine blocks and cylinder heads/day to attend the production of 315 vehicles/day. “It means we would have a momentum of 30%. But, during the details and budget approvation this projection was increased to 420 vehicles/day and the plannings were changed to a capacity of 600 sets/day”.
However, nowadays there is a prevision of production rhythm in November – when the present project would be concluded, with the beginning of production to engine blocks and cylinder heads to Honda Fit -, it will be in 650 vehicles/day. “Today it is in 560 units/day”, says Kawase, informing that upgrades were already done to reach the 650 sets/day.
Besides all this, in 2009 the second line will already be in operation to attend Argentina´s plant that, in the first moment, will produce 30 thousand vehicles/year, upgrading to 50 thousand/year. “We can say this plant was already created small. It started the production in its maximum capacity”, highlights Kawase, explaning that the unit is already operating in three workshifts, informing that the third one works only to test production and homologation of Fit engine blocks and cylinder heads.
To the new line in what R$98 millions will be invested (including casting equipments), Kawase remembers that new furnishers surveys will be made. Although being satisfied with the present ones, he remembers that the plant was built in a really different moment than the present one; dollar was R$2,40/2,50 and nowadays is around R$1,60.
“The process is open. There is nothing defined”, observes. “We have being evaluating furnishers who show commitment, seriousness, competence in implanted projects not only in Honda but in the market in general”.
Other reflection of Powertrain – in Sumaré – implantation success is that they already cogitates the ampliation of products range produced there. Nowadays the transmission case and clutch, that are already machined in Sumaré, are imported from Japan and are under evaluation to local casting production. There is also the possibility of implantation to a cast iron machining line of parts as crankshaft, thrust rod and axle valves gear. “But these are speculations because they depend on Honda´s worldwide strategies”, says Kawase, adding that nowadays nationalization level in Sumaré is near to 80%
* Translated by Luara Fukumoto.
