This rather long video (15 mins) is both fascinating and worrying.
When Land Rover ceased production of their wonderful Defender model back in 2016 (I think), Ineos stepped-in and decided to make their own version.
The story has it that Sir Jim Radcliffe (the boss of Ineos) was having a pint at his favourite Pub' (The Grenadier in Belgravia) when he had the idea of replacing the Defender. It soon became a reality, and production eventually began in July 2022, at a French automotive factory in Hambach. The factory had previously made Smart Cars.
Only a true petrol-head will watch all of the video, but it's worth persevering for a few minutes. The technology is totally fascinating, and the lack of humans totally worrying. This is the future of all manufacturing; seeing all those robots at work is amazing; but at least there are one or two humans around.
If you'd wondered who, or what, the British 'Ineos Grenadier' Tour de France cycling team was named after; well, this is it.
I've seen Land Rovers here but nothing like this. I presume they make all sorts of models .
ReplyDeleteI fast forwarded through the Ineos video. The end result is most impressive.
I don't know how many different models they make, but I expect there'll be several in time.
DeleteI didn't watch, I have no interest in how cars are made. As for the robots, this is why there are so many unemployed absolutely everywhere.
ReplyDeleteNor me River, but it's worth watching the first couple of minutes just to see how frightening the manufacturing process has become. It makes 'universal income' seem even more likely.
DeleteI wonder if those robot machines ever get a teabreak so that they can have a fag, attempt the quick crossword in "The Sun" and visit the bog.
ReplyDeleteNo, they get annual service holidays when the tea lady comes round with an oil can!
DeleteNice to see that while the robots do precision tasks superbly... they can't do detailed work that requires eye/brain/hand tasks.... also, the robots do all the heavy work, so that the humans have healthier jobs... and can concentrate on precise placings.
ReplyDeleteVery nice machinery, too....
To me it just looks like a logistical nightmare, but as you say it's good to see someone with a small sander or polisher.
DeleteAnd I'm not a petrolhead.... but definitely a technonerd!!
DeleteI'm afraid I'm neither.
DeleteNice clean, modern manufacturing. A much healthier workplace than what my father and grandfather worked in. The Mercedes factory outside Stuttgart looks much like that.
ReplyDeleteI suppose they all now look like that; or will do so very soon.
DeleteRobots are perfect for repetitive tasks. I agree, in many cases robots will be the norm.
ReplyDeleteI've seen some of the Amazon warehouses that are totally automated.
DeleteI'm not a petrolhead but did watch it all the way through - if only to say that amongst the automated workforce there wasn't a mobile phone in sight!
ReplyDeleteInteresting that there are still those final touches that are beyond the scope of automation.
There's some hope for us humans after all. Soon the robots will be making other robots; perhaps they already do.
DeleteIt was supposed to be built in the old Ford plant near Bridgend...but I am not surprised that it went out of Britain.
ReplyDeleteYes I'm not sure what the problem was with Wales. Were the unions against all the robots?
DeleteWhen he saw the opportunity to buy the ready made plant it was a no brainer. It was all there ready, including the workers. He abandoned any ideas of Wales.
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