A few nice automotive industry images I found:
201107120-RD-LSC-0282
Image by USDAgov
Recycled aluminum melts in the furnace crucible at Port City Group’s Port City Castings Corporation, a manufacturer of high-pressure aluminum die-castings, mostly for the automotive industry, in Muskegon, MI, facility on Wednesday July 20, 2011. Port City Group boosted its employment by 12 percent over last year thanks to two Rural Business Guaranteed Loans totaling .6 million. In its 80,000 sq. ft. facility, machines that range from 800 – 1,600 tons, and cast A380 aluminum alloy products from melted ingots of aluminum, into automotive components of U.S.A. made vehicles. The process features a variety of robotic presses; computer controlled machining; quality control facility; and complete measurement and testing laboratory. In 2009 banks were backing out of loans for PCG equipment purchase agreements. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) loan guarantee helped make the loan possible with its guarantee. PCG obtained the needed robotic and other equipment. This resulted in a stable workforce that has since grown. When asked about their USDA experience, Port City Group Sales Manager Laura LaGuire said, “It was great! They were very helpful. Everything that came up was handled smoothly, the money came in place when it was needed, and it was a very smooth transition.” USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.
201107120-RD-LSC-0293
Image by USDAgov
Recycled aluminum melts in the furnace crucible at Port City Group’s Port City Castings Corporation, a manufacturer of high-pressure aluminum die-castings, mostly for the automotive industry, in Muskegon, MI, facility on Wednesday July 20, 2011. Port City Group boosted its employment by 12 percent over last year thanks to two Rural Business Guaranteed Loans totaling .6 million. In its 80,000 sq. ft. facility, machines that range from 800 – 1,600 tons, and cast A380 aluminum alloy products from melted ingots of aluminum, into automotive components of U.S.A. made vehicles. The process features a variety of robotic presses; computer controlled machining; quality control facility; and complete measurement and testing laboratory. In 2009 banks were backing out of loans for PCG equipment purchase agreements. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) loan guarantee helped make the loan possible with its guarantee. PCG obtained the needed robotic and other equipment. This resulted in a stable workforce that has since grown. When asked about their USDA experience, Port City Group Sales Manager Laura LaGuire said, “It was great! They were very helpful. Everything that came up was handled smoothly, the money came in place when it was needed, and it was a very smooth transition.” USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.
Dalton Mills Northern Face
Image by tj.blackwell
This site in Keighley is recognised as being a former centre of industry in new plans which have been drawn up by the Airedale Partnership, a private sector attempt to modernise the area and return it to business use. Under their proposals, an old foundry to the rear of Dalton Mills would become a Centre for Heritage Restoration with a focus on developing skills in the restoration of buildings, automotive vehicles, canal boats and railway engines. This is, however, very much dependent on funding availability and it seems that in the current economic climate the site will continue to brood in silence and fall apart as officials deliberate over its future.
