Holden reintroduces second shift as V6 demand grows
November 16, 2009 by Matt Brogan
Holden has today reintroduced the second shift at its Port Melbourne engine plant on the back of rising local and global demand for its 3.0 and 3.6-litre V6s.
Production has increased from 240-320 to 440 units per day, a move that Holden powertrain lead executive, Mr Martyn Cray, says reflects higher export orders and a short-term rise in vehicle production at Adelaide.
“Holden has received an increase in orders for our global V6 engines which are exported to markets including South Korea, China and Mexico and we are lifting production of our engines as a result.
“We are also seeing increased local demand for Commodore after launching the new Spark Ignition Direct Injection (SIDI) engine,” he said.
The daily rate will remain at 440 until the end of the year before dropping back to 400 through January and February 2010.
Mr Cray says the existing workforce will operate the reintroduced second shift, after a lack of demand forced the Fishermans Bend plant to switch to a single shift in June.
“The past year has been an incredibly challenging time for Holden’s manufacturing workforce as they manage their lives around changes in our production schedule.
“We managed to retain a skilled workforce through difficult times because we were confident things would turnaround. We are now able to lift production from within our existing team.”
Holden Vehicle Operations at Elizabeth will continue on a single shift despite production rising from 310 to 340 cars per day earlier this month.
by Tim Beissmann
Print it: 
Excellent news for Holden, and for the workers.
This will only kick on again when the engine exports to China start.
Agreed Bent 8 Brigade; great to see that Holden is forecasting a positive upswing to manufacturing. This is great news for all workers here locally.
It’d be nice if Holden was proud enough to let us know what manufacturers it supplies engines too and what cars they are going into. I’m guessing it’s Daewoo, but i’d like to think it’s something better.
Still laugh everytime I hear “SIDI”. Not from the fact that its sounds like i feel after a big night out but that Holden feels they need to remind me that spark plugs ignite the fuel. If it was a new technology for spark plugs in a diesel engine I’d understand, its not like laser ignition is in production yet.
Plus the ability of the auto industry can apply acronyms to everything despite how stupid it sounds.
Major customers for the Holden engine are: Opel, Saab, Alfa Romeo & Cadillac.
“Major customers for the Holden engine are: Opel, Saab, Alfa Romeo & Cadillac.”
On final legs with Alfa Romeo, WORST engine ever fitted to a A/R product
They will start using the Chrysler built SUPERIOR V6 Penstar as soon as production is ramped up
Cheers
F-0
is that customers for the motor in general, or holdens supply.
I do believe they still make the 3.6L elsewhere aswell…..
@ Trump: Mazda’s acronym for their 2.3 turbo is DISI, which is how i feel when my head hits the pillow after a big night out, just before i take a ride on the porcelain bus :( ;)
Still a few down on the 900/day capacity.
Seriously though this is positive news.
The article also fails to mention the 2.8 litre version, which is actually one of the biggest exports.
Couldnt agree more Mr DE .
This is fantastic news for the workers. The Holden bashers are nowhere to be seen. It just goes to prove though that the public will soak up anything.
I said it from the start, who cares about fuel economy.. Holdens marketing of recent has been spot on!
Nah they just feel sorry for them.
600 engineers and the 4 cyl plant closure and thousands sacked over the last few years and factory still running at nowhere near capacity should be the headline. How much does OBAMA GM pay for the media bias it gets in this country? The DIDI Direct Injection is nowhere near as good as it should be as the 4 litre non-DI engine in the Falcon still gets better economy…….after spending all that money they came up with that? from all the media positive feedback GM get here anyone would think GM is doing ok in this country……..when its quite the opposite in reality.
SIDI not DIDI……. Spark Ignition Direct Injection Direct Injection…..lame.
The new Ecoboost motor will feature Progressive Direct Ignition Direct Injection (P.D.I.D.I.). P.Diddy will also be appearing on the ads.