Another parts supplier goes bust

WOTDAH · 03-06-2009, 08:48 AM

Trident the company that manufacture the Rgor (major component for the front end of FG) for ford has apparently gone bust and are no longer manufacturing anymore. Parts are due to run out at about midday. At the moment Ford are using stock allocated to spare parts. Dont know if they have anyone else lined up to manufacture it. Could be interesting times ahead.

cant · 03-06-2009, 08:58 AM

Will probably end up getting made off shore damn it !

Hope for the workers sakes it gets sorted and they all keep their jobs.

Does anyone know how many components of OUR AUSSIE made FORD FALCON are made off shore ???????

Cheers

Dave_au · 03-06-2009, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cant

Does anyone know how many components of OUR AUSSIE made FORD FALCON are made off shore ???????

Cheers

Somewhere between 25-35% depending on trim, transmission etc.

VE sources around 45% of components offshore now.

mcnews · 03-06-2009, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cant

Does anyone know how many components of OUR AUSSIE made FORD FALCON are made off shore ???????

Cheers

Well the six cylinders obviously have more local content than the V8s and I would say base model is most Australian as the bottom rung tranny is also made here I believe.

AUXRVIII · 03-06-2009, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcnews

Well the six cylinders obviously have more local content than the V8s and I would say base model is most Australian as the bottom rung tranny is also made here I believe.

Base model petrol uses 5 speed auto, it's made in France, base model LPG uses aussie made 4spd auto.

4Vman · 03-06-2009, 09:02 AM

Trident plastics? Terrible news if its true, ive got friends there. They manufacture the bumpers for FPV too.

yift · 03-06-2009, 09:16 AM

no wonder it takes forever to get an fpv bumperbar

cant · 03-06-2009, 09:46 AM

One word

......................... TARRIFS

Dave_au · 03-06-2009, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cant

One word

......................... TARRIFS

What and penalise my buying rights just because the locals don't offer the car I want because they were living with their heads in the sand?

No thanks.

And lets not forget the in-kind response that we might get from our trading partners if we do increase tariffs, eg we are country A, we place a tariff on imports from X country, X country responds by placing tariffs on our exports to X country, meaning its cheaper for X country to buy the goods/stock/commodities from Y country.

kezzer · 03-06-2009, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave_au

What and penalise my buying rights just because the locals don't offer the car I want because they were living with their heads in the sand?

No thanks.

And lets not forget the in-kind response that we might get from our trading partners if we do increase tariffs, eg we are country A, we place a tariff on imports from X country, X country responds by placing tariffs on our exports to X country, meaning its cheaper for X country to buy the goods/stock/commodities from Y country.

Exactly, the moment you start imposing higher tarrifs the more expensive everything becomes.

Might as well turn australia into a closed economy

**ebxr8240** · 03-06-2009, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave_au

What and penalise my buying rights just because the locals don't offer the car I want because they were living with their heads in the sand?

No thanks.

And lets not forget the in-kind response that we might get from our trading partners if we do increase tariffs, eg we are country A, we place a tariff on imports from X country, X country responds by placing tariffs on our exports to X country, meaning its cheaper for X country to buy the goods/stock/commodities from Y country.

Would o/k if they all played on level playing fields??
But they DON'T!! Tried exporting to Japan ??
If you think these other countries don't have tariffs ??
Your mistaken !!

AzuR · 03-06-2009, 05:16 PM

Interesting

My new FG xr8 ute is meant to be being built this week, wonder if this is going to affect me getting it on time? anyone know?

Scotty

Dave_au · 03-06-2009, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ebxr8240

Would o/k if they all played on level playing fields??
But they DON'T!! Tried exporting to Japan ??
If you think these other countries don't have tariffs ??
Your mistaken !!

We export coal and iron ore to Japan all the time.

Re Exporting to Japan - none of our cars would be suitable for their insular automotive preferences anyway.

Of course other countries have tariffs but I think the last thing we all need is more pandering in our day to day lives by Government; tariffs are just another form of taxation; I'm sure everyone would be whinging on here if the govt raised GST to 15 or 20% to support local industry, why then should they raise tariffs 5 or 10% on car imports. It's our locals own faults for the predicament that their now in.

**ebxr8240** · 30-06-2009, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Au

We export coal and iron ore to Japan all the time.

Re Exporting to Japan - none of our cars would be suitable for their insular automotive preferences anyway.

Of course other countries have tariffs but I think the last thing we all need is more pandering in our day to day lives by Government; tariffs are just another form of taxation; I'm sure everyone would be whinging on here if the govt raised GST to 15 or 20% to support local industry, why then should they raise tariffs 5 or 10% on car imports. It's our locals own faults for the predicament that their now in.

I was a primary producer .. We could NOT sell directly to Japan..
They buy dairy products and meat off us for 10 th of the $$ they sell over there.. There are jap owned avitores [sp] in Queensland. They buy Aussie meat [in Qland] for low price so they pay very little GST etc .. Then sell it for $100+ a kg in Japan.. Wheat in U.S is subsidised until recently meat and lamb was too..

4Vman · 03-06-2009, 10:05 AM

Is there a link to this info?

WOTDAH · 03-06-2009, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4Vman

Is there a link to this info?

Na dont have a link. I was told the info by a manager at Ford but have seen production use the stock that is allocated for spare parts. They are actually grinding off the e-coat from the Rgor before it gets welded on to the car. I'll try get some more info and pass it on.

Road_Warrior · 03-06-2009, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WOTDAH

They are actually grinding off the e-coat from the Rgor before it gets welded on to the car.

I thought the RGOR was bolted on

Road_Warrior · 03-06-2009, 10:32 AM

Is there a news source for this information??

vztrt · 03-06-2009, 03:01 PM

Not Bust but Pilkington is finally shutting down its Geelong Operation.

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...2575CA00170322

Quote:

Toyota’s glass supply shattered

Former Pilkington auto glass operation in Geelong to close

By IAN PORTER 3 June 2009

TOYOTA will have to find a new source for windscreens and other auto glass after CSR made a final decision to close its North Geelong automotive laminating operation with the loss of 70 jobs.

It means an end to local production of automotive glass after decades of operation under the Pilkington name – CSR Viridian since 2007 – and makes car windows the latest car part manufacturing process to move offshore.

CSR has twice extended the intended closing date from the original June deadline to September, and now to December, in a bid to give adequate preparation time for both the employees at the plant and to Toyota.

Toyota will now have to join GM Holden and Ford in sourcing its automotive glass from offshore suppliers.

“We have done everything we possibly could to work with both Toyota and other stakeholders, but unfortunately no offer has materialised which is consistent with the value of the land, plant and equipment,” CSR spokesman Martin Cole told the Geelong Advertiser.

Unlike many earlier instances when component manufacturers had stopped operating, the 70 affected workers will receive their full entitlements under CSR’s human resources policies.

"We're disappointed, despite doing everything we possibly could to accommodate a possible sale we're left with no alternative now but to pursue the original plan, which is an exit of the business.

"It's around 70 jobs in total, the majority will regrettably go from October 1 in Geelong and I'd like to stress the point that CSR will continue to ensure we provide support to those employees and will obviously ensure they receive full entitlements in line with human resources policies."

Pilkington opened the Geelong plant in 1937 to support the emerging Australian car industry and, in particular, Ford, which was making cars in Geelong. The Broadmeadows assembly plant was not established until 1960.

Staff peaked at 900 in the 1980s before the Button Plan tariff reductions forced the adoption of more automation.

In 2000 Pilkington installed a state-of-the-art laminating machines but continuing tariff reductions recommended by the Productivity Commission and locked in by the Howard government finally meant local glass production was no longer possible. Another piece of Australia’s manufacturing base has now been lost.

MAV50L · 03-06-2009, 03:08 PM

What is the RGOR?

Wally · 03-06-2009, 03:15 PM

Reinforced Grille Opening Reinforcement

JPFS1 · 03-06-2009, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAV50L

What is the RGOR?

it's basically a mounting bracket made of hydroformed plastic that ties together several front end components. It has enabled a more efficient production process and enabled the styling guys to achieve a more tapered/round nose etc.

WOTDAH · 03-06-2009, 03:17 PM

Rgor is the main front end structure which holds the radiator and headlights. It is bolted on from underneath but also spot welded at either side to the engine box apron.

MAV50L · 03-06-2009, 03:58 PM

Cool thanks for that. I dont know as Im not really into new Fords so dont keep up on all the info for them.

**Silver Ghia** · 03-06-2009, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WOTDAH

At the moment Ford are using stock allocated to spare parts.

So dont have a front-ender in your FG. If you do, you wont be getting it back on the road for sometime.

Hope they get it sorted out quickly, surely Ford will do something being such a key part of the car.

Personally I think some of the Asian cars and parts should have higher tariffs as Australian industry just cannot compete with the cheap labour in those countries.

Dave_au · 03-06-2009, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silver Ghia

Personally I think some of the Asian cars should have higher tarrifs as Australian industry just cannot compete with the cheap labour in those countries.

It's got nothing to do with cheap labour and everything to do with economies of scale.

Korean line worker wages are similiar to Australian line worker wages, around $70,000 per year. Where they have the advantage is that they are producing over half a million cars a year giving favourable production line variances and scale.

vztrt · 03-06-2009, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave_au

It's got nothing to do with cheap labour and everything to do with economies of scale.

Korean line worker wages are similiar to Australian line worker wages, around $70,000 per year. Where they have the advantage is that they are producing over half a million cars a year giving favourable production line variances and scale.

Its the extra costs in employing someone in Australia (directly) that Korea don't have. But otherwise payments wise is the same with an Aussie worker.

last fairlane · 03-06-2009, 09:26 PM

Its true coal and wheat go to Japan
but back in the 70s Japan imported an Australian car called the Mazda
"road pacer"
it was an HX Holden Premier with a rotary engine fitted under the bonnet
a 13b from memory

vztrt · 03-06-2009, 06:03 PM

For all the protectionist v free trade people. This is what the ACTU are proposing.

http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/lateline...42_1769487.wmv

or transcript
http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/busin...6/s2587635.htm

.............

ebxr8240 - can you show me Japans tariffs as I've shown on here before that Japan has no tariffs on their imports.

phillyc · 03-06-2009, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vztrt

ebxr8240 - can you show me Japans tariffs as I've shown on here before that Japan has no tariffs on their imports.

Just because there is no tariff doesn't mean there isn't significant barriers to exporting cars to Japan.

Doing business in Japan is incredibly tough. There are multiple layers of distributors and resellers for any type of goods, plus the cost of establishing shop fronts / dealers etc is massively expensive due to real estate alone.

Of course they are keen to import our commodities, they have none themselves and use ours to turn them into goods and what was bought by them for $100/ton comes back to us for $20,000/ton in the case of a car... Electronics, probably 10x that.

NB They also take stakes in our companies to help manipulate the prices we sell for too. Is it any wonder we have a Deficit, monthly to the tune of $5B, they have a surplus of $30B?