BMW Group ’ s UK engine manufacturing plant at Hams Hall , in North Warwickshire ( UK ), has reached a major milestone . Officially opening and starting production in 2001 , the plant is marking 20 successful years manufacturing efficient and award-winning three- and fourcylinder petrol engines .
A committed workforce of more than 1,000 people support the day-to-day operations of the site , which opened on 8 February 2001 . Around a third of the team are also celebrating their own 20-year or more contribution to the plant , with some of the original project team members who were involved in the development of the site still a part of today ’ s workforce .
Plant director , Dirk Dreher , said : “ Twenty years of manufacturing our award-winning engines and precision components is a fantastic achievement , and testament to the very loyal and committed workforce we have at Plant Hams Hall . Thanks to a series of investments and a diverse workforce who take pride in striving for continuous improvement , our plant remains efficient , at the cutting edge of technology and able to make a very positive contribution to the wider BMW Group .”
As well as continuously improving to ensure the plant produces the latest generation of engines and components , developing people has also been high on the agenda . The plant currently has 53 apprentices participating in four-year training programmes - the highest number to be training at any one time in the 20-year history of the plant – and the search is already underway to find the next apprentices . Apprenticeships with the company have proven to be a great foundation from which to progress to become specialists , be part of the leadership team or go further afield to take up roles elsewhere in BMW Group worldwide .
Michael Nikolaides , Senior Vice President Production Engines and E-Drives , said : “ With sales in multiple and diverse markets , BMW Group offers its customers a combustion engine , a plug-in hybrid or a fully-electric motor and the Hams Hall plant makes a valuable contribution to this overall company strategy .”
Today the plant produces the latest generation of BMW Group engines and
GENERAL NEWS
20-year milestone for BMW UK engine plant
Plant Director , Dirk Dreher , pictured with Shuk Ali ( left ) who has a 20-year history with the plant , and apprentice Annabel Chivers .
ISME celebrates 75th anniversary
The Institute of Sheet Metal Engineering ( ISME ) in the UK has a long history as a standard-bearer for British industry and this year celebrates its 75th anniversary .
“ ISME started in 1946 as the Sheet and Strip Metal Users Trade Association ( SASMUTA ) when members were firms rather than individuals . It provided a unifying element and 300 corporate members . in a fragmented industry , quickly became
“ Inevitably , the decline of industrial active and was very well received ,” said Bill manufacturing during the 70s and 80s was Pinfold , ISME ’ s Honorary Secretary . tough for all organisations , although the
“ The immediate success of SASMUTA institute continued its activities throughout saw it convert into an Institute and introduce those years , and strengthened its focus on individual membership . Anyone could join who promoting both the science and the working of worked in the sheet metal industry at any level sheet metal ,” added Pinfold . without the need for formal qualifications .” ISME also widened its social agenda by
Its council then set up regional branches launching an annual dinner dance ( known as with committees of volunteers who would ‘ the Metal Bashers ’ Ball ’) and introduced a arrange their own programmes of activities , craft award which continues to this day as lectures , works visits and other events . The the annual ISME Skills Competition . In 1997 , organisation flourished because it was based the institute was a driving force behind the on friendship and a willingness to share creation of the British Metal Forming Trade expertise with other members . The years Association , which later evolved into the CBM . up to the mid-60s saw British industry
“ We have always been what I call a transformed , and ISME expanded to a
‘ learned body ’, providing opportunities for record size with around 1,200 individual members to exchange ideas and information ,
supports the company ’ s ‘ power of choice ’ offer to customers across diverse global markets . Facilities at the plant are also enabled to build three and four-cylinder engines for plug-in hybrid models contributing to BMW Group ’ s electrification strategy . In addition , the plant is preparing to take over production of the company ’ s most prestigious V engines which will be moving from the engine production plant in Munich , Germany .
Engines roll off the Hams Hall production line at more than one per minute and are currently supplied to nine different BMW Group vehicle plants globally , with the majority going to Plant Oxford in the UK for MINI and to Plant Spartanburg , USA , for the BMW ‘ X ’ model range . More than five million engines have been produced since the plant opened , with annual production in recent years exceeding 375,000 engines .
As well as engine assembly , a high-tech machining hall is a core part of the Hams Hall site , producing key engine components – crankshafts , cylinder blocks and cylinder heads . A large investment in the last decade has meant the plant is able to produce these parts for other BMW Group engine plants too , with annual production exceeding more than one million components .
ISME judges a skills competition .
encouraging the development of skills in the next generation and driving innovation across the sector ,” explained Pinfold . “ Our journal ( Oracle ) is still published twice a year , featuring technical articles of interest to those in the sheet metal sector , academics and other observers . At the same time , we recognise that change is just as vital for ourselves as for industry . We have to remain relevant in the digital age , so we recently widened our presence by setting up feeds on LinkedIn and Twitter , which rapidly gained traction and raised ISME ’ s profile among new audiences .”
ISME hopes to hold its annual Skills Competition in June 2020 and expects to publish a special edition of Oracle as well as hold its ‘ Metal Bashers ’ Ball ’ in October 2020 . Details of the events will appear on the ISME website at
www . isme . org . uk n
ISMR March 2021 | sheetmetalplus . com | 9