Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has unveiled a new turbocharger manufacturing plant in the city of Franklin in Indiana, US.
The move comes as the company anticipates increasing demand for turbochargers in the North American market in view of stricter fuel efficiency standards for vehicles.
Designed for final assembly of turbochargers, the new Franklin facility has set an annual production capacity target of 10 million units.
The facility will be managed by Chicago-based Mitsubishi Engine North America (MENA), the firm responsible for marketing engines and turbochargers of MHI in the region.
The company said that the plant will have an initial annual production capacity of 600,000 units, with the capacity to be subsequently increased to 1.2 million units and beyond.
The turbocharger production line has been developed in a newly expanded building as part of a shared factory arrangement which aims to help increase operating efficiency and other synergy merits.
The factory area also features storage space for assembly components and finished products. An existing building at the area will be used to produce compressors for car air-conditioning systems manufactured for Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Climate Control (MCCA).
Mitsubishi is eyeing an annual global output of 10 million units, with the new plant figuring in this scheme. It will further set up such flexible production structures in North America, Europe (the Netherlands), China, Thailand and Japan.
Image: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries launched turbocharger manufacturing plant in the city of Franklin anticipating turbochargers demand growth. Photo: Courtsey of MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
