Production has begun at BMW's new Hams Hall Engine Plant. The BMW Group
has invested approximately £400million in the 170,000 square metre
facility. It says that once full production volume is reached, 1,500 new
jobs will be created. The new generation of BMW's four-cylinder petrol
engines between 1.6 and 2.0litres will be built at Hams Hall, making the
plant the competence centre for the production of these new Valvetronic
engines in the company's manufacturing network. Valvetronic technology
replaces the throttle butterfly with variable valve control, allowing the
engine to breathe more freely without throttle losses. The result, says BMW,
is an improvement in power and performance, and a significant reduction in
fuel consumption and emissions. Engines from Hams Hall will go to BMW's
plants in Munich, Regensburg, Dingolfing, Spartanburg (US) and Rosslyn
(South Africa). In the first year of operation BMW will produce some 60,000
engines, with capacity eventually rising to 400,000. Production at Hams Hall
will also allow BMW's Steyr Engine Plant to expand its production
capabilities for diesel engines.
