Ford has increased engine and parts exports from its Dagenham complex in the UK by over a third in the last 12 months because of demand in Russia, Australia and the Far East.
The company said that the increase in exports has boosted activity in other areas of its business, including Ford's Transport Operations, responsible for transporting a range of products including vehicles and complete built-up engines, as well as body panel parts and rivets for attaching components to vehicles.
The company’s Export Distribution Centre (EDC) at Dagenham ships components from the nearby engine plant and its Stamping and Tooling Operations facility also in the vicinity.
The mixed volume of vehicle components transported overseas comprises approximately 30% vehicle panels, 30% engines and 40% trim-metal. Engines are also shipped through Ford Component Sales to both Ford and non-Ford dealers in the UK.
The heaviest items moved by the Transport Operations division are engine consignments of six per pallet weighing approximately 1.2 tonnes.
In August last year a single container of just 36, 2.7-litre V6 diesel engines was shipped to Melbourne, Australia. These shipments have now increased to 1,200 engines a month according to the company, while engine exports to Thailand are expected to quadruple in 2011.
Paul Arrowsmith, Transport Operations manager, Ford of Britain said: "It's good news for the future of our business that the export arm of our operations is being kept so busy that we need to take on extra employees – additional packing work translates into more road movements of containers to and from various ports around Britain."
