|
|
|
||||
|
May
25, 2005
© 1998
- 2005 Copyright & |
"For the past three years, Hyundai has been a great neighbor here in the state of Alabama," said Governor Riley. "I speak for every resident in the state when I say, we are proud to have Hyundai in Montgomery, and we are even more proud to play a role in the company's growth here in the U.S. and throughout the world." HYUNDAI'S MOST ADVANCED PLANT TO DATE All of Hyundai's knowledge in the areas of quality and productivity has been applied to the production techniques in operation at the new Alabama plant. HMMA's Stamping Shop includes two stamping presses, which deliver 5,400 tons of pressure, making them some of the most advanced in the world. All material flow from the Stamping Shop into the Welding Shop is 100-percent automated. After arriving by electro-monorails from the Stamping Shop, more than 250 robots in the Welding Shop move the material, weld and seal, converting stamped steel into vehicles by complete automation. Automation prevents possible damage to the steel and helps ensure quality and consistency. In the Paint Shop, each vehicle body is thoroughly cleaned and a zinc-phosphate coating is applied. This coating allows the water-based electrocoat to adhere to the car body. The body is submerged in a cathode dip bath to provide corrosion resistance, and then rotated 360 degrees through each tank (completing twelve full rotations throughout the entire system) to eliminate any air bubbles in body cavities. The vehicle is primed and then painted with a topcoat, which is the final color of the vehicle. With the help of high-speed atomizers and electrostatic charges, the body is given the smoothest finish possible. Final phases of the paint process include application of a final clearcoat (which gives the vehicle its shine and gloss), passage through a drying oven, and inspection under intense lighting to ensure there are no imperfections in the finish. One hundred percent of the actual paint application is automated and all paint is waterbased, which is safer for the environment. HMMA includes an onsite Engine Assembly Plant for machining and assembly of the V6, 3.3L Lambda engine. The Sonata's engine is entirely new and the most powerful V6 Hyundai has ever produced. The all-aluminum 3.3L V6 generates 235 horsepower and 224 foot pounds of torque. The General Assembly area includes more than 7,000 feet of state-of-the-art conveyors that adjust to the height of each individual team member to allow for optimum position for installation and reduction of physical fatigue. This also improves quality, as parts are easier to install. The Final Evaluation area includes a roll test, a high-pressure water test booth and a 2.3 mile test track with a variety of road surfaces to ensure every vehicle is built and performs to meet Hyundai's high quality standards. (May 20, 2005)
|
|||
