Metaldyne said that is has begun supplying exhaust components to
Visteon Corp. for late Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable vehicles. The
contract calls for Metaldyne to supply the Y pipes, outlet pipes and
inlet pipes for the exhaust system.
The components will be manufactured at Metaldyne's Tubular
Products facility in Hamburg, Mich.
Metaldyne also said that it has been awarded a contract to supply
fully machined powder metal forged connecting rods for GM's new
3500 V-6 engine program. The contract calls for Metaldyne to supply
connecting rods for GM's new high volume 3.5-liter engine program
that will be used across many of GM's mid-size passenger cars and
minivans.
Production will begin in 2003.
This is the first time an original equipment manufacturer has
outsourced a fully machined connecting rod to a forging supplier for a
high volume engine program, Metaldyne said. In the past, Metaldyne
supplied the connecting rods and the OEM performed the machining and
assembly operations.
The value added represents a 230 percent increase in value-added
content compared to shipping a connecting rod without the machining and
assembly operations, the company said. The connecting rods will be
forged and machined at Metaldyne's Sintered Components facility in
Ramos Arizpe, Mexico, it added. As a result of the new business,
Metaldyne said it added 30,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing floor space at
its Ramos Arizpe operation, which opened in 2000.
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