Evinrude Sturtevant Plant Featured in BOATING

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Author Topic:   Evinrude Sturtevant Plant Featured in BOATING

jimh posted 03-20-2014 12:13 PM ET (US)
Many thanks to Butch (Jefecinco) for mentioning an article in BOATING magazine's April 2014 issue which provides a brief glimpse of the Bombardier Recreational Products Evinrude plant in Sturtevant, Wisconsin. The six page article includes many large color photographs of facilities, which were recently expanded to include engineering research along with manufacturing. The article begins on page 68. Even though I had already thumbed through the issue, I had not noticed the article. I am most grateful that Butch mentioned it, as it might have otherwise escaped my notice.
Author Charles Pluddeman's narrative of his plant tour is quite interesting, particular the section that explains the very considerable effort and expense that must be undertaken to comply with EPA emission regulations. Even in the brief description of the EPA testing, I was astonished how much effort and expense was needed to satisfy the regulations.
sraab928 posted 03-20-2014 06:13 PM ET (US)
I read the article yesterday. I was quite impressed. The EPA testing was definitely an eye opener. Another interesting part to note (at least for me) was the castings (lost foam) being made in Spruce Pine NC. I honestly would have thought that would have been done in Canada or Mexico. It was refreshing to read it was done in the USA.
Hilinercc posted 03-21-2014 08:41 AM ET (US)
The Spruce Pine Plant is the old OMC one that has been casting blocks for years. My sources at BRP tell me there are of a lot the OMC asset sites that are still active. Waukegan had offices still open (the Johnson Tech Center) for years after BRP stepped in. But that is gone now and moved to Sturtevant.
jimh posted 03-21-2014 09:35 AM ET (US)
According to some comments from people I know who have visited the Evinrude facility at Sturtevant recently, the manufacturing process there is extremely modern. The production line for outboard engines is able to assemble a mixture of products without needing to be reset or reconfigured. The plant is described as being unusually quiet and clean, two characteristics not always associated with a machining and manufacturing facility.
The facility at Spruce Pine, North Carolina is owned by Bombardier Recreational Products. It makes castings for Evinrude and for other BRP products, as well as for external customers. The lost foam casting plant was itself the subject of a recent magazine article. See
http://brp-castings.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/ Modern-Casting-Article-February-2012.pdf
for a copy of a February 2012 plant tour with photographs.
The article explains some of the history of the plant. At one time BRP was considering selling the facility. BRP changed their mind, and has retained the plant as part of its manufacturing operation. I found the article (linked above) to be very interesting.

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Author	Topic: Evinrude Sturtevant Plant Featured in BOATING
jimh	posted 03-20-2014 12:13 PM ET (US) Many thanks to Butch (Jefecinco) for mentioning an article in BOATING magazine's April 2014 issue which provides a brief glimpse of the Bombardier Recreational Products Evinrude plant in Sturtevant, Wisconsin. The six page article includes many large color photographs of facilities, which were recently expanded to include engineering research along with manufacturing. The article begins on page 68. Even though I had already thumbed through the issue, I had not noticed the article. I am most grateful that Butch mentioned it, as it might have otherwise escaped my notice. Author Charles Pluddeman's narrative of his plant tour is quite interesting, particular the section that explains the very considerable effort and expense that must be undertaken to comply with EPA emission regulations. Even in the brief description of the EPA testing, I was astonished how much effort and expense was needed to satisfy the regulations.
sraab928	posted 03-20-2014 06:13 PM ET (US) I read the article yesterday. I was quite impressed. The EPA testing was definitely an eye opener. Another interesting part to note (at least for me) was the castings (lost foam) being made in Spruce Pine NC. I honestly would have thought that would have been done in Canada or Mexico. It was refreshing to read it was done in the USA.
Hilinercc	posted 03-21-2014 08:41 AM ET (US) The Spruce Pine Plant is the old OMC one that has been casting blocks for years. My sources at BRP tell me there are of a lot the OMC asset sites that are still active. Waukegan had offices still open (the Johnson Tech Center) for years after BRP stepped in. But that is gone now and moved to Sturtevant.
jimh	posted 03-21-2014 09:35 AM ET (US) According to some comments from people I know who have visited the Evinrude facility at Sturtevant recently, the manufacturing process there is extremely modern. The production line for outboard engines is able to assemble a mixture of products without needing to be reset or reconfigured. The plant is described as being unusually quiet and clean, two characteristics not always associated with a machining and manufacturing facility. The facility at Spruce Pine, North Carolina is owned by Bombardier Recreational Products. It makes castings for Evinrude and for other BRP products, as well as for external customers. The lost foam casting plant was itself the subject of a recent magazine article. See http://brp-castings.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/ Modern-Casting-Article-February-2012.pdf for a copy of a February 2012 plant tour with photographs. The article explains some of the history of the plant. At one time BRP was considering selling the facility. BRP changed their mind, and has retained the plant as part of its manufacturing operation. I found the article (linked above) to be very interesting.