Recently CK won a contract for the supply of production fixtures for use in the Ford Hermosillo assembly plant, which is located in Mexico. The contract was awarded after successful completion of the prototype tooling contract.

CK are looking to supply 24 complete front Slave Tool decking pallets and 24 rear axle decking fixtures.

The project is considered to be a very tough deadline in terms of production timing, although CK are looking to meet the customer's needs by implementing radical production strategies over the Christmas holiday to provide the required end goal.

The vehicle variant is now looking to be phased into additional global locations and currently CK are involved in initial high level conversations on the implementation strategy within these additional global areas.

In conjunction with the projects listed below CK are working on numerous global projects in areas such as Spain, Russia, India, South America, UK and Germany.

These projects include decking tooling, buckle up fixtures, Slave Tool Introductions, Racking, dress fixtures and new vehicle launches.

CK are currently working towards the completion of the new Valencia RGV decking system.

For this project CK have supplied 84 front Slave Tool decking pallets and 24 rear decking pallets.

The challenge for CK in this project was the incorporation of the compression on the rear axle fixtures due to the different vehicle platforms and suspension variations.

CK will provide additional information on this large project in due course once the main installation has been completed.

CK are currently working on our first project within the South America region, which involves supply 20 decking fixtures to the Camacari decking plant.

The solution supplied by CK was a Slave Tool decking solution so that 3 model variants could be accommodated onto the same decking fixture, whilst also supplying plant with the required flexibility to build new engine transmission combinations.

This strategy has already ready reaped rewards for the customer due to the introduction of a Non AC variant after all the tooling was into bulk manufacture. Using the CK design system it enabled CK to handle this change with little or no impact to the cost or timing, which typically could have had large timing and cost implications if non flexible tooling was utilised.

Currently the fixtures are in bulk manufacture and are expected to be supplied for installation in March 2012.

CK have now completed the tooling for the Louisville Assembly Plant (LAP)

The tooling consisted of supplying 54 front Slave Tool decking pallets and all the associated Slave Tools to enable the plant to adopt the CK flexible decking system.

To date the system has produced the first batch of builds with CK supervising for a period of time and the system seems to be running to production intent.

The tooling for this project was similar to the tooling supplied to the Michigan Assembly Plant so the project could draw from the experience gained in the MAP project so that lessons learnt ensured the project was implemented in an effective manor.

CK have now completed the bulk manufacture and initial production builds for the C346 Slave Tool decking pallets. The process of supplying tooling for this project has been a great success and has proved that CK have the ability to supply tooling globally to a very high standard.

To date there have been no changes required to the production tooling, although CK will continue to support the MAP plant as and when required.

The updated images show the tooling installed within the MAP plant.

CK have just completed the installation of the C346 tooling modifications for the Ford Saarlouis assembly plant.

The work consisted of major tooling changes to the existing decking tooling within the plant, which CK successfully installed over a 6 week period.

The changes consisted of modifications to the Radiator supports, Tie Blade supports, Exhaust supports and other key modifications that CK managed to integrate onto the existing tooling within the assembly plant.

The Saarlouis assembly plant is now in the process of building the C346 on the production line and the system is all in place for Job 1. The image shown on the right shows the tooling that CK have modified to allow the new Ford Focus to be built on the existing production line.

CK are currently modifying 287 existing decking pallets to now accept the CK standard slave tool. Ford Cologne is introducing a number of new engines into their production in July 2012.

The existing decking pallets in Cologne have the CK standard flip tooling to cater for different engine & gearbox combinations. Due to the new engines being introduced, the flip design is no longer efficient in both cost and feasibility. CK have therefore designed a solution that makes use of 90% of the existing tooling. CK have added slave tools onto the pallets which has also provided greater flexibility and lower long term costs.

CK will support Ford Cologne in this engine introduction by completing all modifications by July 2012.

CK are currently installaing a project within Ford Romania to design, manufacture and install a range of tooling & equipment to assist with the manufacture of the new B-Max.

CK has supplied our own standard "slave tool system" for engine build up and powertrain marriage processes along with various bespoke sub-assembly fixtures for the powertrain components.

CK are managing a number of suppliers to provide conveyor systems, assembly machines and storage systems.

CK are currently completing the final installation of the tooling & equipment on site. The first test vehicles will be processed through the line in Q1 of 2012. CK will be on site to provide start up support and ensure any issues are resolved. Job 1 for the new B-Max is planned for July 2012.

Earlier in 2009 CK were provided with the opportunity from Ford North America (FNA) to visit Detroit and give a presentation on the unique and successful Slave Tool principles. FNA were keen to learn about the flexibility that Ford of Europe (FOE) have enjoyed over the past 8 years within engine decking.

During the visit CK were able to promote the Slave Tool solution and explain the synergies that FNA could take from FOE to ensure that the solutions would be commercially viable over the life of a vehicle program.

The visit was very successful to the degree that CK were successful in winning in the contract for the supply of 54 off front decking tools.

During the project CK would need to work closely with the Ford chosen supplier, Fori Automation, and as proved on numerous occasions CK are more than able to work with many different project structures to ensure that a successful conclusion is reached. To date both CK, Fori and Ford have worked closely together proving that distance is no longer an issue with the business world.

CK are now currently on the bulk manufacture stage of the project and expect to see no issues prior to dispatching another Slave Tool system.

CK are now looking forward to developing a working relationship with FNA to enable CK to supply more products to provide greater synergy between FOE and FNA, which in turn will help to reduce costs within the One Ford group.