Obviously, the earthquake forced the factory Sling in Kumamoto to stop the activity of the plant from the afternoon of July 28 to «ensure the safety of your workers and check the condition of facilities and equipment«. The company then began a progressive recovery and has already been able to recover the production of finished motorcycles.
Sling announced on August 20 that the factory was sufficiently recovered to return to producing finished vehicles starting Monday the 24th. The brand assures that “will continue to prioritize the safety of its employees as it works to regain a stable supply of its products«.
Kumamoto, a key factory for Honda
The earthquake in Kumamoto It occurred on July 28 at 4:27 p.m. local time. The earthquake reached a maximum seismic intensity of 7 on the Japanese scale and caused significant damage in the region. In fact, the tragedy left at least 39 dead according to data available in mid-August.
Kumamoto It is not just any plant within the industrial structure of Sling. It is the fourth factory that the company opened in Japan, it began operating in 1976 and is currently its main motorcycle production center in the country. Sling points out that the facility has a production capacity of up to 320,000 motorcycles per year. Both small displacement models and large motorcycles are manufactured there, as well as other company products.
The list of models associated with Kumamoto explains why any prolonged interruption of activity may be relevant to Sling. Among the motorcycles that currently appear linked to this factory are the Goldwinghe X-ADVthe CBR600RRthe GB350the Super Cubthe Rebel 1100 and the CRF450R. That is to say, in its lines some of the most emblematic motorcycles of the golden wing brand coexist with high-volume models and different segments.
The return of the lines does not necessarily mean that production has immediately returned to its usual pace. Sling has explained that the restart is being carried out progressively and that it will continue to work with the parties involved to guarantee a stable supply. The company has not reported that the plant has already reached its maximum capacity, so it is too early to talk about complete normalization. «The priority is to progressively recover the manufacturing rate without compromising safety«.
By the way, the installation occupies approximately 1.65 million square meters and has several assembly lines. Sling describes it as its largest domestic production center and as a facility capable of carrying out different phases of the process, from the manufacturing and machining of components and engines to the final assembly of the motorcycles. Its annual motorcycle production capacity is currently estimated at 320,000 units. Besides, “The factory also produces engines and other products. Sling«.
