Automotive Trucks information on net.

Dofasco de Mexico SA de CV has launched commercial production of its $40-million steel tube mill for automotive hydroformed applications. Virtually all the production at the new facility in the Escobedo section of Monterrey will target frames for light- and heavy-duty trucks sold in North America.

William T. Chisholm, director-general of the facility, said production and shipments began during the first week of January. The 256,000-square-foot tube mill with a work force of 135 has a fully rated annual production capacity of 150,000 tons, but actual production during its first year most likely will be about 60,000 tons.

The facility thus far has two primary customers: Metalsa SA de CV, a unit of Grupo Proeza, Apodaca, Mexico, which builds Chrysler and Dodge trucks; and the Saltillo, Mexico,-based Formex Automotive Industries SA de CV, a unit of Canadian manufacturer Magna International, which produces parts and systems for General Motors Corp. trucks. Dofasco de Mexico supplies cut-to-length steel tubes to its customers, which then hydroform the tubes to fabricate a complete truck frame.

Thermatool Mill Systems, Perry, Ohio, supplied the plant's 2-inch- to 6 5/8-inch-diameter tube mill, and also built Dofasco's two other tube mills in Hamilton, Ontario, where parent company Dofasco Inc. is headquartered. Chisholm said the mill could produce tubes of one-half ASTM standards on cold-rolled and galvanized steel.

Dofasco de Mexico produces a range of round outer-diameter and inner-diameter scarfed products. Customers later bend the round tubes into ovals and squares, depending on the part design. The production incorporates on-line, non-destructive-testing equipment, including eddy current testing, phased array ultrasound and laser outer-diameter gauging.

The mill manufactures tubes in a continuous process that automatically feeds three different processing lines that cut, deburr, wash, dry and then package into storage bins. In addition to the production area, the Monterrey site includes a 65,000-square-foot climate-controlled warehouse with four shipping docks.

# posted by Medical Information : 3:45 AM