Louisville Plant Gets Ready for Aluminum Ford Super Duty - The Fast Lane
Ford looks to be making progress on the next generation Super Duty, although many details have been a close-guarded secret. Ford announced that $80 million are being invested into the Louisville plant for additional space for parts storage, new paint shop, and replacing other equipment. Ford will likely need to invest even more to get the old welding equipment out and bring in the new machines that bond and rivet aluminum parts together. It’s not clear if the Louisville location will see a growth in workforce, or what the increase will be. The next Super Duty will use a high-strength steel frame. Ford has not released any specifications for the next Super Duty, but it’s possible for the big truck to lose over 700 lbs. On the flip side, it will likely increase the purchase price (the base price of the new F-150 went up about $400). The body repair costs will likely be higher as well. We look forward to learning more details about the next generation Super Duty. Check out these Ford Super Duty prototypes testing at high altitude in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Since 1999, the Super Duty has used a completely different body and bed vs. the F-150 line. Source: www.tfltruck.com
