INDUSTRY NEWS
GM Invests $332 Million for New Fuel-Efficient Powertrains General Motors Co., De-
troit, will invest nearly $332 million in four manufactur- ing sites to produce more fuel-efficient engines and transmissions. Investments will be made at Flint Engine Operations, Flint, Mich., for a new small Ecotec gasoline engine and upgraded tooling for the current V6 engine. Toledo Transmission Opera- tions, Toledo, will increase capacity and tooling to pro- duce an 8-speed automatic transmission and an existing 6-speed transmission. Bay City Powertrain, Bay City, Mich., will produce components for a new V6 engine and for the small Ecotec gasoline engine. Bedford Castings, Bedford, Ind., will produce components for the small gas engine and the new 8-speed and existing 6-speed transmissions. GM also is increasing its previ-
ously announced powertrain invest- ment in Romulus Engine Operations, Romulus, Mich., and Saginaw Metal
much support,” said Diana Tremblay, vice president of GM North American Manufacturing. Combined, the two investments will retain about 1,650 jobs at the six facilities. “Te selection of these plants and the opportunity for the United Auto Workers to build the next generation of engines and transmissions reflects the great efforts of our work force,” said UAW vice president Joe Ashton, who directs the union’s GM department.
Castings Operations, Saginaw, Mich. An additional $46 million, for a total of $646 million, will support production of the new V6 engine. Since 2009, GM has announced
nearly $1.8 billion in investments for the six Powertrain facilities. “Today’s announcement demon-
strates GM’s commitment to growing the business and strengthening the plant communities where we receive so
Te new small Ecotec gasoline engine
is part of a global engine family that could top 2 million engines a year by the end of the decade, based on production in Flint and other locations around the world. Te new engines will offer improved fuel econ- omy, higher quality, better performance and reduced carbon dioxide emissions. Since 2009, GM has announced
investments of more than $8.5 billion in its U.S. operations.
University of Alabama Opens Metalcasting Facility Te University of Alabama (UA),
Tuscaloosa, Ala., has opened a new metalcasting facility to encourage cre- ative collaboration between engineer- ing and art students. Located between Hardaway Hall and the old Bureau of Mines build- ing, the facility will provide space and equipment for teaching, research and service to metalcasting and processing industries for students in the College of Engineering. It adjoins a metalcasting facility used by the College of Arts and Sciences, and students from both colleges will share expanded and renovated col- laborative space. “I am excited about the opportunities
the new joint-use foundry will present our students,” said Dr. Charles L. Karr, dean of the College of Engineering. “I strongly believe students from the arts and engineering can learn from
each other. Tis space allows our stu- dents to enhance their creativity, and it is a plus for the College.” Te new building houses a machine
and construction shop used by many departments in the College of Arts and Sciences, as well as a workshop
used by the College of Engineering. Students and faculty in both col-
leges will learn from one another about the different kinds of mold- making processes, as well as how to work with various metals and alloys for different purposes.
From left, UA student James Davis, College of Arts and Sciences Associate Dean Thomas Wolfe, UA President Judy Bonner, College of Engineering Dean Charles Karr, engineering professor Dr. Viola Acoff and UA student John Calhoun cut a ceremonial ribbon to a new metalcasting facility that puts art and engineering students in a shared space to spur creativity.
May 2013 MODERN CASTING | 9
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