Ford has new painted MOD top supplier for Bronco after Webasto loses contract

[JimL]

Sponsored

 

[AZshot]

Composites are a great opportunity for a company that wants to invest and profit. 3D printing, rapid manufacturing, Stereolithography, and other new technologies are perfect for a Modular top design. A new company could really reap a great contract doing projects like this.

 

[Carbon Bronco]

I can, and it smells great. Not a hint of stinky Webasto anywhere.

 

[Bronc-O]

The new company has to find a facility if they don't already have one. Ford has to provide them with all the tooling. They have to hire people, train people. It won't happen overnight. They have to get the ingredients to build the tops. shipping racks.....

It could be this company is already operating and producing products for other brands, (Jeep)?
I don't think they plan on going to the Home Depot parking lot and try to hire someone to produce these. They'll be looking for someone well established and turning out quality products.

 

[Norm A.]

I don't see why Ford can't just build these themselves. To AZshot's point, during WWII, Ford was able to drop everything and produce 87,000 aircraft, with finished planes rolling off assembly lines in 6 months. But plastic roofs? No way that's too hard. Thank god B-17s didn't need plastic roofs or we'd be speaking german.

Guten Tag

 

[Dr.Detroit]

 

[PowPow]

nightmare 2

Webasto's revenge?

 

[Bronc-O]

I don't see why Ford can't just build these themselves. To AZshot's point, during WWII, Ford was able to drop everything and produce 87,000 aircraft, with finished planes rolling off assembly lines in 6 months. But plastic roofs? No way that's too hard. Thank god B-17s didn't need plastic roofs or we'd be speaking german.

You can only do so much in house. The trend today is 3rd party manufacturing. The company I worked at for 37 years had a study done looking for a 10 year plan. One of 3 key things they were told was they need more 3PO. They've since sold 2 plants and farmed out ALL manufacturing and taking about 5k jobs with it.

 

[PowPow]

MY23... and that could get a bit tight.

Tight enough to not let water in?

Hi oh! Thank you, thank you. I'm hear till 2023. Try the veal!

 

[Norm A.]

The B-17 did have a plexiglass nose, the navigators sun dome (roof), top turret gun and the windshields.

However, Ford produced the B-24 Liberators, not the Boeing B-17.
https://www.thehenryford.org/collections-and-research/digital-collections/expert-sets/101765/

I had the pleasure to fly in the Nine O Nine when it was in San Diego before it crashed and was lost best $500 I ever spent

 

[Dannyboy71]

One of our knowledgeable members said the MOD tops are very likely SMC.

What’s SMC?

 

[Carolina Jim]

So how did that process work out with Webasto, yeah, the same robust process, or lack of it, they used to pick the new one. And this time, they picked one in a panic, in months, not years.
Stay tuned...

OK...so we know For-Basto is no longer a couple...at least for the MODs. But, do we know 'who' told 'who' to take a flying leap? Not at all clear to me.

My MIC guess is Ford's unreasonable requirements for weight & cost doomed that puppy from the get-go. And guess what...the MOD top has a new fabricator - but its brought to you by the very same engineering/design team that brought you the MIC

 

[Bronc-O]

OK...so we know For-Basto is no longer a couple...at least for the MODs. But, do we know 'who' told 'who' to take a flying leap? Not at all clear to me.

My MIC guess is Ford's unreasonable requirements for weight & cost doomed that puppy from the get-go. And guess what...the MOD top has a new fabricator - but its brought to you by the very same engineering/design team that brought you the MIC

A statement here suggests Ford is the one that pulled the plug. Not sure how reliable this article is.

https://broncobastards.com/blogs/ne...-taking-over-the-webasto-plant-in-plymouth-mi

 

[Razorbak86]

What’s SMC?

Sheet moulding compound (SMC) or sheet moulding composite is a ready to mould glass-fibre reinforced polyester material primarily used in compression moulding.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheet_moulding_compound

Sponsored