When the 2007 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX "crossover" vehicles appear in showrooms later this year, a 4,000-ton new press at the Ford Stamping Plant in Woodlawn will play a starring role.


The mammoth piece of machinery, expected to be fully operational in a few months, will churn out the vast majority of new vehicles' stamped parts, including doors, hoods and floor pans.

The roar of the press will be welcome noise to the earplug-protected ears of the plant's employees, who are counting on sales of the Edge and MKX as a source of job security.
Ford has invested $214 million in the project, a figure that includes the new Schuler press, 120 dies, 10 subassembly lines and a plant upgrade to support the new tooling.

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