WCA January 2013

From the americas

popular car, the midsize Altima, among other models. Production of the company’s all-electric Leaf was scheduled to begin at Smyrna in December, with assembly of the Rogue compact SUV to begin there this year.

The entire project was expected to be online by the end of 2012. When fully operational it could provide enough solar power to meet the annual energy demands of 100,000 homes. Fong Wan, a PG&E senior vice president, said in a statement, “This project will play an important role in our efforts to meet California’s 33 per cent renewable portfolio standard and make progress toward a clean energy future for all Californians.” Automotive in brief . . . ❖ Chrysler on 8 th October said it was recalling Dodge Ram 1500 and Dodge Dakota trucks from the 2009-2010 model year because a lack of adhesive could cause the rear axle pinion nut to loosen. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the vulnerable axle can lock up, causing the driver to lose control and the vehicle to crash. The recall involves 44,300 units manufactured from 1 st July to 30 th November, 2009. Government and company officials say there had been 15 reports of such rear axle failures, including four that resulted in a loss of vehicle control and one in which the driver crashed into a concrete barrier. Chrysler was to notify owners that its dealers would install a retainer to secure the pinion nut free of charge. ❖ Nissan Motor is recalling almost 14,000 of its Altima sedans for the 2012-2013 model year because of a steering defect that could cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle, according to a report the Japanese auto maker filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on 22 nd October. Nissan told the US safety agency that bolts for the power steering rack and transverse link were not torqued to the proper specification. This could allow the bolts to loosen, causing rattle and vibration on start-up. Nissan told NHTSA that it found a loose transverse link bolt late in July “during a routine dynamic driving evaluation.” In early August, loose bolts were identified in vehicles at a Nissan assembly plant in Canton, Mississippi. The auto-maker, which requested that its dealers check vehicles for the condition, said it did not conclude until 3 rd October that a recall was needed. NHTSA also announced an investigation into the possibility of “a complete loss of steering capability” on 70,000 Hyundai Santa Fe crossovers from 2011. The investigation into the Santa Fe involves a concern over a loose fastener in the steering shaft of 2011 models. ❖ In other news of Nissan Motor – and a first for its Smyrna, Tennessee, assembly plant – the company on 19 th October announced that it was adding a third shift at the facility. The expanded work hours brought the total of Nissan new jobs in the state to 2,000 since mid-2011. Bill Krueger, the Nissan Americas vice chairman, said, “By 2015, 85 per cent of Nissan vehicles sold in the US will be built in North America.” Some 5,600 people now work at the Smyrna plant, which started up in 1983 and makes Nissan’s most

Steel

A number of steel expansion projects in northeastern Ohio are nearing completion – or already there “Steel producers have started and, in some cases, completed several large expansions in the region in the past two years.” Robert Schoenberger, who is the automotive reporter for the Plain Dealer (Cleveland), wrote this on 15 th October. The information in these status reports, summarising some major developments in northeastern Ohio, was current as of that date: Project : ArcelorMittal in January 2012 announced plans to reopen the west side of its Cleveland steel mill. Progress : Work resumed in May with 150 new employees. The west side includes a basic oxygen furnace that utilises steel scrap, a ladle metallurgy furnace that further refines the steel, and a caster that converts the molten steel into slabs. Total employment at the plant is 1,800. Project : In early 2011, Republic Steel said it would add a new line at its Lorain plant to increase oil and gas tubing production. The company also announced plans to expand its Pro-Tec joint venture with Japan’s Kobe Steel. That plant, near Toledo, galvanises steel mainly for automakers. Progress : The new Lorain line started production late in 2011, adding 100 jobs. At Leipsic, the Pro-Tec plant has begun an 80-job, $400 million expansion planned to be ready in 2013. Project : In early 2012, Republic Steel said it would build a new electric arc furnace at its Lorain plant. Progress : Marketing manager Mark Huemme told the Plain Dealer in October that crews were pouring cement for the foundations of the furnace. The new equipment should be in place early in 2013 and producing steel by midyear, adding 450 jobs. “It’s not just a simple matter of turning an electric furnace on,” Mr Huemme said, when asked about the delay between installation of the equipment and commencement of service. “It’s going to be supplying continuous casters that haven’t been used in several years.” Project : Timken Co in April 2012 broke ground on a $225 million expansion of its Faircrest steel plant. The three-phase project was to add a forging press to shape steel, a ladle refiner to purify it, and a massive continuous caster intended to improve productivity and cut waste as the molten steel hardens.

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Wire & Cable ASIA – January/February 2013