New HRT machine centre "lifts the bar higher" for opposition
23/6/2000 13:34 (Jason Whittaker) - Victorian Premier Steve Bracks was on-hand Wednesday evening to officially “lift the bar higher” for HRT’s opposition, when he opened the team’s new hi-tech Machining Centre at HRT’s Melbourne headquarters.
You are not seeing things, that is a politican cutting red tape!
MD of John Hart Technology, together with Victorian Premier Steve Bracks, and HRT's Jeff Grech launch the Machining centre that will allow HRT to make 90% of it's components in-house.
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The new Yamazaki Mazak Multi Task Machining centre – a joint venture between the Factory Holden team and John Hart Technology – will allow the team to be, almost, self-sufficient when it comes to the design and development of machining parts for the team’s VT Commodores.
In commissioning the new centre, Mr Bracks said the team was not only celebrating the opening of a new facility, but also, “celebrating a great Australian and Victorian success story.”
“This new centre at the Holden Racing Team, reflects Holden’s commitment to innovation, its willingness to explore new technology and design and its dedication to giving its customers top quality service and performance,” the Victorian Premier said.
HRT’s John Crennan said the expansion of the team’s Clayton factory was a necessary step to retain the mantle of the country’s number one Motorsport operation.
“Today we lift the bar even higher for our competitors to catch us when Premier Bracks commissions our new, John Hart Technology-supplied Mazak Integrex 300Y machine and design centre,” Crennan said.
The half-million dollar facility will allow the team to produce 90% of it’s prototype and racing components in-house, ensuring that the “key performance-related components” will be confidential and exclusive to the Factory outfit.
Holden’s Managing Directory, Peter Hanenberger, also highlighted the benefits of the new facility for the average car consumer.
“There is no difference between the main stream car business and Motorsport, you only improve, grow and expand if you concentrate on R&D and product development,” Hanenberger said.
The Mazak Multi Tasking machining unit is supplied to the team by John Hart Technology, which, Managing Director Ian Rehfisch says, will be of benefit to both operations.
“John Hart has had a long association with Holden both in Adelaide and Melbourne so a link was already established, while it made sense to be in partnership with a market leader, as the Holden Racing Team is in V8 Supercars,” Rehfisch said.
With the challenge to the red and white dominance increasing over the past few years, it is hoped the new facility will help Holden remain the market leader – both on and off the circuit.
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