Honda to Add Aluminum Casting at Ohio Transmission Plant

Honda Transmission Manufacturing of America Inc. has a $50-million plan to install aluminum melting and high-pressure diecasting at its plant in Russells Point, OH, to supply a third transmission assembly line now under construction. That $70-million project was reported in December, and will increase the plant’s output from 800,000 to 1 million transmissions per year.

An aluminum-melting furnace will be installed for the first time at the plant. Details of the furnace design and capacity were unavailable, but the transmission plant currently receives 100,000 lb of molten aluminum per day from two Indiana aluminum producers, to supply its two transmission production lines.

"The new melting furnace will implement technologies that will improve efficiencies and reduce our environmental impacts," according to plant manager Gary Hand. "These improved efficiencies will reduce waste and energy consumption."

The expansion also includes a number diecasting machines to produce the transmission cases.

The automaker said the two expansion projects would result in more than 100 new jobs by 2013. About 1,000 workers are already employed there, producing transmissions and four-wheel-drive assemblies.

Earlier this year, Honda Transmission completed a $25 million renovation of its aluminum machining lines and steel gear production operation, as the automaker began domestic production of six-speed automatic transmissions.

"This latest investment in Ohio is another example of how we intend to meet the needs of our global customers by implementing advanced technologies in our production operations and in our products," stated Honda Transmission president Yuji Takahashi. "It also demonstrates our commitment to Honda's Ohio production operations to reduce the environmental impact of our facilities while positioning this facility to compete at the highest levels on a global basis."