Honda to Expand Metalcasting in U.K.

Honda of the U.K. Manufacturing Ltd. is planning a new metalcasting operation at its central production plant in Swindon, England, part of an overall $157-million expansion and upgrade of that plant. The announcement came as the automaker celebrated manufacturing its 2 millionth car at Swindon, a plant that was inaugurated 22 years ago. The other projects in the expansion include a new plastics operation, launched in January, which is capable of molding and painting 1,300 bumpers daily; and more improvements to the welding and painting processes, to improve productivity and efficiency. The new casting center will involve Honda’s patented Advanced Semi-Solid Casting Technology (ASCT). It will allow the British plant to cast diesel engine blocks on-site, rather than import them from Japan (the current practice.) Honda of the UK Manufacturing Ltd. is a fully integrated automotive plant (casting, engine production, stamping, painting, assembly) that presently produces Honda CR-Vs and Civics. It exports the vehicles to 60 countries.