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In spite of setting efficiency and uptime records for assembly lines within the corporation, the two assembly lines were dismantled when the plant was closed. After transporting millions of V8 engines the systems were brutally ripped up and trucked to Mexico where the modules were stacked like firewood, (mostly uncovered) in the parking lot of the plant. The modules were stored like this for many months until the floor space was available for reassembly. Castings and electric motors were literally broken in half during the transport and stacking.
After this “less than ideal” treatment the modules were reassembled to create one “new” assembly line. Many bearings had to be replaced and rust had to be manually removed from many, many parts but the system was brought back to life and (to the best of our knowledge) is still operating today over ten years after it was first installed.
This story is not only a testament to the ruggedness of conveyor itself but also the many components that made it up. Even the PLC’s and operator interface screens survived the ordeal.
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