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From raw steel to a new car in 19 hours flat
For kids: Part 2 of the Monitor's visit to a Chrysler factory to see how flat steel is transformed into an automobile.
from the June 26, 2007 edition
Page 3 of 3
Then, one by one the cars are washed and inspected. Those that are ready for delivery get a little sticker – a seal of approval – before being taken to a parking lot outside, where they're loaded on trucks and delivered to dealers around the country.
"It's fun and interesting work," says Emmet St. Andre of labor relations at the plant. "The day goes by quickly because we work in teams and rotate around." He adds that to work on cars, you must be good with your hands, be able to think rationally, and be able to learn something new quickly.
The next time you go for a ride with an adult, try to figure this out: If a new car is completed at the Belvidere Assembly Plant every 42 seconds, how many cars were finished in the time it takes you drive to your destination?
• To see a slide show about carmaking, go to www.csmonitor.com/slideshows/2007/chrysler.
Where does the water go?
Did you know that approximately 800 gallons of water are used during the construction of just one car? At the Chrysler Assembly Plant in Belvidere, Ill., that adds up to about 1 million gallons of water a day or enough to fill more than 40 average-size swimming pools.
Environmental specialists at the plant are working to reduce that amount. Using less water will not only save money, but it also produces environmental benefits.
Water is used throughout the assembly process for various purposes, including washing cars and testing their waterproof seal.
But every time water is used, it collects chemicals, grease, and oils from the production process. So all that water must be treated before it goes back into the ground or the local water supply.
That's why the auto plant has an on-site water treatment facility. It processes water used in the production of cars, separating or eliminating chemicals and oils, and making the water usable again.
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