- Brazilian pop-country singer Daniel stages private concert to 1,800 employees at industrial site
- Resende plant received additional R$ 750 MLN investment to make the crossover
- Specialists trained in Japan and Mexico to enhance manufacturing processes
- Country concert kick-starts 3rd anniversary of Nissan's Industrial Complex
RESENDE, Brazil – During daily operations at Nissan's Resende Industrial Complex, in southern Rio de Janeiro State, AGVs (Automatic Guided Vehicles), or mobile robots, swing into action following a playlist of up to eight songs. However, this Tuesday the playlist was given an exciting boost. On the first day of production of the Nissan Kicks, 1,800 employees who work at the industrial site celebrated it with a private concert by Brazilian pop singer Daniel, whose performance lasted more than one hour in the middle of the production line.
The show started shortly after a presentation of results from the Nissan Latin America chairman, José Valls, and president Nissan Brazil, Marco Silva, and other executives from the company's management.
A success in Brazil, the Nissan Kicks formerly was imported from Mexico. To meet the brand's premium Japanese quality standards, local production required an additional R$ 750 million investment channeled into installation of new machinery and training of hundreds of highly skilled employees.
Indeed, more than 700 employees were specifically trained to manufacture the new compact SUV, with a focus on onboard technology and an array of safety systems that are part of the Intelligent Mobility concept, particularly the 360º view camera integrated into the in-dash radio display, the Moving Object Detection, as well as the Chassis Dynamic Control, Active Trace Control, Active Ride Control, and Active Engine Braking.
Specialists were trained at the Global Pilot Line at the Oppama plant in Yokosuka, Japan, as well as in Mexico's Aguascalientes plant, where the Kicks models are already manufactured. The international training sessions allowed employees to fully absorb the entire manufacturing processes in order to perfectly perform their operations in Resende.
"Production of the Nissan Kicks in Resende results from close collaboration between highly skilled professionals who work with cutting-edge equipment", says Hitoshi Mano, vice president, operations and manufacturing, Nissan LATAM.
The Resende Industrial Complex received more than 150 new machines, in addition to new manufacturing and quality inspection areas to make the Kicks in Brazil. New processes and machinery allow performing safe and precise operations to assemble the rear door and the floating roof rack. Advanced technology systems were also implemented to calibrate the 360º cameras of the Around View Monitor, a technology that offers drivers a 360º panorama of the car's surroundings through four cameras, in addition to acoustic parking sensors and in-dash warning lights.
The Kicks' floating roof, with its original two-tone paintwork distinguishing the roof from the rest of the body, required the creation of two new highly specific procedures to allow masking the body to delineate the areas that are painted in a different color. The two-tone paint is an exclusive feature that is increasingly luring Brazilian consumers. Known as 3-WET, the automated painting system is both innovative and sustainable, as it significantly reduces process time and energy use at paint booths. Paint robots apply three layers of paint in succession – primer coat, colored base coat and clear top coat – while still wet, without drying in between. In addition to the use of water-based paint, the eco-conscious production process is ensured by the use of paint cartridges that allow reducing waste of solvents and coats, while decreasing Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) emissions. The whole process is completed by 10 cutting-edge robots that work in conjunction with highly skilled operators.
The innovations were added to high-end machinery and processes adopted at Nissan's Resende Industrial Complex, in operation since April 2014. Pop singer Daniel's performance in the middle of the production line also marks the start of the plant's third anniversary celebrations. There are currently 1,800 employees working at the site, where the Nissan March, Nissan Versa and Nissan Kicks – as of today – are made, in addition to 1-liter 12V and 1.6-liter 16V engines. Since 2016, cars and powertrains made locally are sent both to the domestic and overseas markets in Latin America.
Nissan Kicks
With a dynamic and bold style, the Nissan Kicks was created for customers in big cities who lead busy lives and must deal with all the challenges set by the "urban jungle."As one of the first Nissan models that apply the "Intelligent Mobility"concept, it encompasses many engineering, building and technological resources to provide the right balance between performance and fuel economy.
The Nissan Kicks has a modern engine, a state-of-the-art XTRONIC CVT gearbox, less weight than its competitors, and an aerodynamic design that makes it efficient. Additionally, the Nissan Kicks is equipped with useful safety technologies, such as a 360° camera, as well as Moving Object Detection, Dynamic Chassis Control, Active Trace Control, Active Ride Stabilizer, Dynamic Brake Control and Active Engine Brake, in the high-end models.
The Nissan Kicks was globally launched in Brazil, followed by other Latin American markets, and it is ultimately expected to reach more than 80 countries.
Resende Industrial Complex
In operation since April 2014, the Resende Industrial Complex has a complete manufacturing cycle to meet the brand's high global production standards. Unlike other local carmakers, it has its own stamping shop and plastic injection molding shop, whose complex processes required strong investments. As they are integrated into the manufacturing process, the company saves time, improves quality and production flexibility, in addition to reducing manufacturing inventories.
The Resende Industrial Complex received one of the largest investments of the local auto industry. The comprehensive manufacturing site was built thanks to an R$ 2.6 billion investment, for a total capacity to make 200,000 vehicles and 200,000 engines a year. Since April 2016, the Resende plant exports to Latin American markets, such as Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, among others.
Sustainability at Nissan's Resende Industrial Complex goes beyond the use of the latest generation machinery and production processes to make cars and engines. Since the architectural design phase, the manufacturing site was meant to be a green construction and one of the brand's most sustainable plants.
Buildings are equipped with natural lighting and venting solutions to reduce energy consumption and protect the environment. Special attention was given to the implementation of waste management practices, with water reuse and selective extraction of disposed waste. The purpose is to reduce emissions of CO2 and VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) released by the manufacturing process.
Nissan is also committed to protecting the ecosystem where its manufacturing site is located. Thousands of trees of 20 native species were planted in the surroundings of the Resende Plant to create a green belt. Additionally, Nissan contributed to implement an Environmental Protection Area at the Turfeira Lake, located next to its industrial site.
# # #