The eBearing News
July 9, 2002
SKF Invests to Expand
Hub Unit Production in Brazil
copyright © 2002 eBearing Inc.
SKF do Brasil (a division of SKF, Sweden) is reportedly investing
over USD $800,000 to ramp up additional production of unit hub
assemblies for the new Ford Fiesta to be built in that country.
In September 2001, SKF won the hub assembly supply contract
for all four corners of the new Fiesta - a contract which
covers Ford's production facilities worldwide.
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Ford initially began Fiesta production in Europe, the
car's home market, then
extended to Japan and now Brazil.
SKF's Camjamar (near Sao Paulo) plant already manufactures hub assemblies,
but had to be expanded to accommodate the high-volume Fiesta units.
The Cajamar plant is a major facility, producing USD $100
million worth of bearings every year - half of it going to the
Brazilian original equipment auto industry. SKF is also targeting
Cajamar to produce more bearings for export, aiming for a 15%
increase in exports during 2002.
Ford has said it expects to sell nearly one million Fiestas worldwide
every year, and SKF put the value of that contract at over € 200 million
(USD $197 million).
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