Sunderland press shop buys Japanese press

Nissan is continuing to prepare for production of the next generation Primera at Sunderland in December, by installing a GBP 1.5 million press at the Wearside plant.

Nissan is continuing to prepare for production of the next generation Primera at Sunderland in December, by installing a GBP 1.5 million press at the Wearside plant.

An extension to the press shop had to be built to accommodate the 21MN machine, which will be used primarily to service and maintain the body side die of the incoming model.

Nissan sent a team of engineers to Tokyo, led by Eric Fenwick, to purchase the press from Japanese manufacturer, Kojima.

Eric explained: "For new Primera, the decision was taken to create the entire body side from a single panel.

This is because using multiple parts can be less accurate and less efficient because of the need to change dies during the pressing process, and also the need for welding at a later stage.

"As well as being large enough to house the die tool for servicing work, the new press can also be used as a reserve production press and is capable of stamping out car panels in the unlikely event of our main 50MN machine ever breaking down." Kojima engineers flew to Sunderland to oversee the installation of the press, which was lifted by hydraulic jacks onto a concrete plinth built into a pit in the press shop floor.

Eric added: "It was a big operation but I'm pleased to say everything went very smoothly.

The installation of the press takes us a step closer to being ready for the start of production of the new Primera next month." In total, Nissan is investing GBP 215million to prepare the Sunderland plant for the arrival of the new model.

The current Primera has been built on Wearside since 1990 when it replaced the Bluebird.

Since then, well over one million Primeras have rolled off the factory's production line.

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