Released on October 5, 2011

Nissan Australia has carved out space in its metalcasting facility in Dandenong, Victoria, to manufacture a range of fabricated vehicle accessories.

The fabrications, previously produced by overseas suppliers, will consist of tow bars and, later, sport-bars and nudge bars. The 30,000 tow bars will be used on Nissan’s range of four-wheel drive and passenger vehicles. Nissan spent more than $4 million on the retooling, which includes robotics for the polishing and finish of the accessories.

“The restructure gives Nissan direct influence over the factors which will have a critical influence on its growth and development,” said Tony Carraturo, Nissan Australia’s executive general manager of aftersales. “We will have more control over lead times, costs and shipping.”

Nissan Australia said in a press release that the Dandenong casting plant itself also has grown, with a suite of global manufacturing contracts being awarded to it in March. The contracts are for the production of several aluminum components for Nissan’s new zero emission vehicles, such as the Leaf electric car. The Dandenong plant is eventually expected to produce 22,000 electric vehicle components per month.

The Dandenong plant offers high pressure and low pressure diecasting. It was forecast to produce 6,000 metric tons for the fiscal year ending March 31, but actual production is now expected to exceed 8,500 metric tons. The metalcasting facility exports most of its parts to Nissan factories in Japan, Thailand, Mexico and the US. It currently produces eight core aluminum castings, including transmission housings, clutch housings, cylinder heads and oil pan assemblies. The plant operates three shifts, six days a week and employs 146 full-time and 26 casual employees.