BMW builds two millionth engine at Hams Hall
THE two millionth engine has been produced at BMW’s plant at Hams Hall.
A four-cylinder 2.0L petrol engine was the two millionth power unit to be built since production commenced nine years ago at the plant in North Warwickshire.
The engine will be transported to the Regensburg vehicle plant in Germany, and is ultimately destined for a British customer purchasing a 318i Saloon – the UK’s best selling BMW model.
Former plant director Harald Krüger returned to the site to mark the occasion. Mr Kruger is now BMW’s board member in charge of industiral relations.
He said: “To reach two million engines is a fantastic achievement. The Hams Hall plant is our centre of competence for the production of four-cylinder petrol engines within the BMW Group and is a credit to the skill, flexibility, commitment and motivation of the workforce.”
The plant was the result of a £400 million investment and volume production started in 2001 with four-cylinder petrol engines for BMW vehicles.
Additional investment was made in the facilities to extend production and a second family of engines was launched in 2006 to power the entire range of Mini petrol derivatives.
Last year, in which production at the plant exceeded 360,000 units, further investment was made to enable a revised range of petrol engines for the Mini to be built, offering more power and torque and reducing emissions and fuel consumption.
The plant, supplies engines to the Mini plant in Oxford and to BMW factories in Germany, Austria and South Africa.
“There is a strong team culture at the plant and we have a highly skilled and committed workforce with a wealth of experience,” said plant director, Mathias Hofmann.
“Our engines are built to the highest standards of quality and delivered to the vehicle production plants in the exact sequence they are required.
Everybody at the plant is proud of reaching this major milestone and to be building engines that power both BMW and MINI vehicles sold across the world.”
