MORE BAD NEWS !!

[hedgehog]

I'm surprised Ford's latest announcement concerning the Cleveland-Brook Park engine facilities hasn't been discussed here.

Ford announced that one of the casting plants would be closing for at least 12-18 months and a second casting plant would be closing permanently.

Being that I've never ever relied on hauling auto freight I'm not that familiar with that type of news or environment.

How serious is this announcement to the expediting workforce ??

Be safe.

 

[MSinger]

Probably just means more runs out of Laredo if we can keep the Mexican trucks out.







2002 GMC Savana 3500 DRW 15' cube 10,000 GVWR

 

[jasonsprouse]

I used to work there (as did my father and grandfather). There are 2 engine assembly plants and 1 grey iron casting plant. There was also a aluminum casting plant that was already shut down and had only operated for a few years.

What is closing is the grey iron casting plant which was the last in the U.S. (The one in Canada is closing also). This will leave iron blocks most likely being cast in Mexico. This will not effect expedite work as the only things that went into that plant was iron and sand, and all that came out was engine blocks.

The other plant in Brookpark that is being shut down temporarily is an engine assembly plant (CEP1). There is another engine plant (CEP2) there that is staying open. The closing plant is only 1/2 full, the other half is empty space. The plant staying open is 100% full.

 

[hedgehog]

jasonsprouse :

I think Cleveland will be the next Pittsburgh/Youngstown catastrophe.

How sad that generations of your family spent a great deal of their hard-working life at the Brook Park plants, only to lose these jobs to a foreign country.

Do you still live near the west side of Cleveland ??

Be safe.

 

[jasonsprouse]

I live in North Ridgeville, which is the first city west of Cuyahoga County (Cleveland's county). From here to the doors of the Ford plant is approx 22 minutes.

We also lost the Lorain Assembly plant which was the original Econoline Assembly plant. Loss of the Ohio Assembly plant (Avon Lake) is also anticipated at the next redesign or replacement of the Econoline.

My grandfather started working at Cleveland Foundry (now Cleveland Casting) in spring of 1952 when the night shift was added to the plant after opening in 1951.

Honestly with all of the automotive and industrial losses in the region Cleveland was due for a hit.

I've been completely self employed (as opposed to being a sub) for almost 4 years now. I did this because there simply was not decent work to be had in the area.

 

[unorthodoxneon]

I hear about the lack of work. I'm from the metro detroit area. I could of been a 4th Gen chrysler employee but no luck now that this is alot of crap going on. There is a chance could go work at the new axel facility being built in Marysville in the next couple of years.

Nothing we can do. Just another way to make the fat cats happy.

 

[Tennesseahawk]

Fat cats? I think you could put a huge part of that blame on the unions. Granted, with the fat cats it's all about profit; but the unions were all about the unions. Now their cash cow is giving their milk to a cheaper labor force.

Hear the Russians are looking into buying Chrysler? So much of having a better life than our fathers. I'm questioning why I helped bring two kids into this world when it's only going downhill.

-Vampire Super Slooth Trucker!!!

 

[unorthodoxneon]

By fat cats its actually a pretty broad term. It the unions, the big shots at the company, stock holders, ect.


Last i heard was Magna pretty much has the go ahead to buy chrysler. You know what i think. Its all a gimmick. If they wanted chrysler gone they would of off them the first person to throw cash their way.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Hmmm...just seen the new Ford Fusion commercial at the end they say it outranks the 2 top imports in it's class!!! The Fusion IS an import. Built in Mexico.

 

[lisalewis]

I too worked in a factory making automotive parts...I ran machines that molded various plastic pieces for some major automotive companies. You would be surprised that one of my jobs was to actually stamp "made in America" on parts that came from the mexican plant!!

 

[nightcreacher]

In the early 80s,before i got into expedite,I ran everyweek out of that ford plant in brookpark,hauling iron cast engine blocks to mexico,but non of them were paid an expedite rate,it just depended how much weight I was willing to put in my trailer, what it paid.As most of our engines are now alluminum,I can see why they would be closeing an iron casting plant,from what I've read they arent closeing the engine assembly plants there,just the iron block plant.

 

[jasonsprouse]

The plant isn't being closed because of lack of work. There were 2 redundant plants, Windsor and Cleveland Casting. Both plants were well below 100% capacity. Windsor was already closing, which would have consolidated the grey iron work into Cleveland and moved it much closer to 100% capacity.

Ford's truck blocks are still made of iron for durability, in addition diesel blocks almost have to be made of iron to handle the much higher stresses. In addition, there are parts like exhaust manifolds and various small parts made of iron. This closing is simply to subcontract the work to a Mexican company. The work will still be done.

They are calling the engine plant closing an "idling". Because of the union contracts, a plant "closing" must be negotiated. It's simply a wording issue that has nothing to do with the actual status of the plant.