Control systems supplier Autotech has won an order from Ford in Romania, just as its solution for Coca-Cola in Romania goes live.
Luton-based Autotech Controls Limited has secured a prestigious order to supply the control and electrical solution for a brand-new paint shop for Ford Motor Company in Romania. Autotech’s proven track record in delivering large installation projects overseas was instrumental in winning the contract from Dürr Limited, one of the world’s leading suppliers of automotive production facilities.
Explains Andrew Robinson, Managing Director for Autotech, “Dürr has selected us to provide the electrical installation services for all the material handling equipment being installed in the new paint shop at Ford’s plant in Craiova. The system includes 3.5 kilometres of handling equipment, which will need to be brought on stream within a very challenging timeframe.”
The first vehicle – a Transit Connect van – rolled off the production line at the new Craiova factory in September 2009. Ford has since confirmed that it will also build a new, small vehicle as well as an advanced, eco-friendly petrol engine at Craiova in the near future. Once fully operational, Craiova will employ approximately 7,000 people and have a production capacity of up to 300,000 vehicles and 300,000 engines a year.
Coca-Cola Hellenic’s automated system now on stream
The automated handling system at Coca-Cola Hellenic’s bottling and distribution facility in Ploiesti, Romania, has gone live following a very rapid installation and commissioning period.
Autotech was commissioned by the project’s main contractor, Logistex, to provide the conveyor and crane control systems for the facility and has worked closely with Logistex for the past year to ensure that the project’s tight deadlines were met.
The project includes what is believed to be the first high-bay, clad-rack warehouse system in Romania – reaching up to a height of 27m – and the handling equipment includes 11 cranes, shuttle cars, elevators and 2km of conveyors, some of which have been installed at a height of 3.5 metres above the floor to maximise the use of available space.
Coca-Cola Hellenic – which is the largest bottler and vendor of Coca-Cola products in Europe, serving some 560 million people in 28 countries – decided to make the multi-million Euro investment to automate the plant’s handling processes in order to meet forecast growth in the Romanian market.
A critical factor in awarding the contract was the need to minimise downtime during installation, despite a challenging timescale of just nine months. Every aspect of the installation also had to be designed to withstand potential seismic activity in the region.
Autotech Controls Ltd
Mr Andrew Robinson, MD
Tel: 01582 400690
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