Ford of Canada's largest engine plants soon will begin full-scale production of a new 5.4-litre Triton V-8 engine that will power the next-generation Ford F-150 pickup. The milestone will mark the culmination of a massive, three-year expansion program and investment of nearly $770 million (Cdn(*)).
Key to the new engine's increased power, refinement and fuel economy, is a 3-valve cylinder head produced by Windsor Engine Plant and shipped to an all-new production line at Essex Engine Plant for final assembly.
The two-plant collaboration is Ford of Canada's most ambitious engine plant expansion in recent history, representing 70,200 m(2) (780,000 ft(2)) of new facilities and an injection of millions in the economy of Canada's automotive heartland.
"Ford F-Series has been Canada's best-selling full-size pickup for 36 years and is one of our top nameplates in the world," said Alain Batty, Ford of Canada's president & CEO. "That underscores the importance of our new engine and Windsor's unique role in the success of the F-150."
"Windsor is the largest centre of engine production in Ford's global operations," said Chris Bolen, Plant Manager at Ford's Windsor Engine Plant. Bolen noted both Windsor and Essex Engine Plants are on track to surpass last year's production of 1.1 million engines.
Graham Harris, Ford of Canada's launch manager for the new engine, noted the new cylinder-head line at Windsor Engine Plant utilizes flexible manufacturing techniques.
"The installation of flexible manufacturing at Windsor Engine Plant is the first in what will be a global rollout of new and innovative manufacturing techniques at Ford engine facilities throughout the world," he said.