INDUSTRY NEWS
The road to ‘ sustainable profitability ’
Ford is taking a significant step forward in its European transformation with a commitment to go ‘ all-in ’ on electric passenger vehicles and to substantially grow and electrify its leading commercial vehicle business . It has committed that , by mid-2026 , 100 per cent of its passenger vehicle range in Europe will be zero-emissions capable , all-electric or plug-in hybrid , and will be completely all-electric by 2030 . Similarly , Ford ’ s entire commercial vehicle range will be zero-emissions capable , all-electric or plug-in hybrid by 2024 , with two-thirds of Ford ’ s commercial vehicle sales expected to be all-electric or plug-in hybrid by 2030 .
Ford reported , in the fourth quarter of 2020 , a return to profit in Europe and announced it was investing at least US $ 22 billion globally in electrification through to 2025 , nearly twice the company ’ s previous EV investment plans .
“ We successfully restructured Ford of Europe and returned to profitability in the fourth quarter of 2020 . Now we are charging into an all-electric future in Europe with expressive new vehicles and a world-class connected customer experience ,” said Stuart Rowley , President , Ford of Europe . “ We expect to continue our strong momentum
Plans for the new Ford Cologne Electrification Centre .
this year in Europe and remain on track to deliver our goal of a six per cent EBIT margin as part of Ford ’ s plan to turn around our global automotive operations .”
Central to Ford ’ s transformation of its operations in Europe over the past two years were a US $ 1 billion improvement in structural costs , addressing underperforming markets , the creation of a more targeted vehicle lineup within three customer-focused business groups and partnerships to drive growth and improved levels of profitability across the business .
“ In 2020 , we achieved our sixth successive year as the leading commercial vehicle sales brand in Europe . Growth in our strong commercial vehicle business is key to
European profitability , supported by new products and services , working with an extensive network of commercial vehicle converter partners , with our strategic alliance with Volkswagen and its Ford Otosan jointventure providing cost-effective vehicle development and sourcing ,” added the automotive OEM .
Driving further growth in the commercial vehicle business will be an ecosystem built around connected services . Ford and Google also recently announced the establishment of a new collaborative group , Team Upshift , to drive disruptive , data-driven opportunities . Spearheading Ford ’ s advance into an all-electric future is a new US $ one billion investment to modernise its vehicle assembly facility in Cologne , Germany , one of its largest manufacturing centres in Europe and the home of Ford of Europe . The investment will transform the existing vehicle assembly operations into the Ford Cologne Electrification Centre for the manufacture of electric vehicles , Ford ’ s first such facility in Europe .
Ford also confirmed that its first Europeanbuilt , volume all-electric passenger vehicle for European customers will be produced at the facility from 2023 . n
Don ’ t miss Blechexpo 2021
The latest technologies for sheet metal processing , metalworking and joining technology will be the focus of the 15th Blechexpo international trade fair for sheet metal processing . It will be held , together with the 8th Schweisstec international trade fair for joining technology , in Stuttgart , Germany , from 26-29 October 2021 . Exhibitors will present stand-alone and system solutions for the process chains associated with the fabrication of parts made from sheet metal , profiles and pipe at an international level .
The Blechexpo / Schweisstec trade fair showcases sheet metal processing and metalworking technologies , along with joining technology , once every two years . Attention will be focused on stand-alone and system solutions for the process chains involving the fabrication of parts made from sheet metal , profiles and pipe , as
well as associated thermal and mechanical processing ; cutting technologies ; processing machines ; equipment for punching , bending , braking and forming . It also includes system peripherals , such as controls and software , as well as solutions for handling and quality assurance .
“ Sheet metal processing companies are faced with the challenge of networking their production departments to an ever greater extent in the future . Many suppliers from sheet metal processing , metalworking and joining technology view themselves as solution providers for the entire sheet metal fabrication process . They not only offer their own machines , software and services – by working together with their partners , they are also able to offer holistic system solutions from a single source ,” said show organiser , P . E . Schall GmbH & Co . KG .
“ Digitalisation , sustainability , process efficiency and future-proof solutions in the face of a rapidly changing production environment are high-priority driving issues for the sheet metal processing industry . Great attention is also still on energy efficiency , advanced mechanical joining and fastening technologies because production is working to an ever greater extent with new plain and hybrid materials . Modern cutting technologies , such as high-pressure waterjet cutting , will also be in the spotlight .”
In 2019 , exhibitors from 36 countries and visitors from 113 nations attended the event in Germany . n
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