CGI engine blocks top one million/year

In March, the number of cylinder blocks produced using compacted graphite iron (CGI) with the SinterCast process totalled over 75,000.

On this basis, it is equivalent to 900,000 units on an annual basis. More than likely, precise the number could total one million as some OEMs have no wish to reveal the precise number of CGI engines produced. By any standards this is a remarkable achievement as it is only 12 years since Ford launched its Dagenham-made 2.7-litre Lion production diesel engines with the first SinterCast CGI blocks. Audi launched its vee diesel in the same year, also with SinterCast blocks.

This is the first time that SinterCast has disclosed actual numbers of CGI-based engines produced. Normally the Swedish process control technology company reveals only engine equivalents.

Series production of CGI blocks benefitted from accelerated growth of the Ford 2.7 litre V6 turbocharged gasoline engine as sales of the model year 2015 Ford F-150 ramped-up during the quarter. The EcoBoost engine is the first production gasoline engine to use CGI blocks. 

Volume production also benefitted from increased production of commercial vehicle cylinder blocks and heads in Europe, and by the start of production of industrial power engine components at the newly commissioned installation at the Impro Industries foundry in China. 

SinterCast said the outlook remains positive in each of the passenger vehicle, commercial vehicle and industrial power sectors, as competitive benchmarks and market awareness continue to grow. 

The first quarter also provided three new installation commitments.  However, equipment for the first commitment, at Dongfeng Trucks, China's largest heavy duty truck-maker, has been held at SinterCast’s technical centre in Sweden to allow Dongfeng engineers to train on their own equipment. 

The Dongfeng installation will be shipped, commissioned and accounted for in the second quarter. 

The other two installations, at Doosan Infracore in Korea, and at an undisclosed engine component foundry in Japan, were shipped during the first quarter and have been commissioned. 

SinterCast says its installations in China, Korea and Japan are the result of “our strong commitment to the Asian market over many years; the awareness and acceptance of the SinterCast brand; and, the confidence in our technology and engineering support”. 

Asia currently accounts for 17 of SinterCast’s 42 installations, with 12 of the last 20 installations have been in China, Japan and Korea.