Casting around for performance

摘要

The Landshut plant near Munich in Germany has been an integral part of the BMW Group production network since 1967 - the components produced there being used in almost all vehicles produced by the group from motorbikes to BMW cars. However, an important role that the plant plays is in developing and producing vital parts for the BMW Williams Formula One car. In 2000, for example, a sand-casting technology centre was built on site specifically to produce components for the Formula One engine. It is located directly next to the light-alloy foundry for the cylinder heads and crankcases featured in BMW's regular production engines and is manned by an in-house team "of specialist's coming exclusively from the light-alloy foundry. With the entire process chain from model construction through casting all the way to quality testing coming under one roof, the team is able to respond flexibly and quickly to changes and new requirements. This is why the sand-casting technical centre has its own model-building department complete with CAD facilities modifying or building moulds for sand cores. Perfectly co-ordinated change and quality management in processes and the proximity to BMW Motorsport in Munich even allow the modification of parts and components between races.