The launch success of the new Range Rover and Range Rover Sport models has recently led to Jaguar Land Rover’s senior management visiting a number of partner suppliers including XANDOR Automotive Larkhall, to see first-hand the technology, investment and teams that help to produce these flagship vehicles.
XANDOR has invested more than £14m in “state of the art” moulding, hot foil stamping and automation equipment specifically for the purpose of making the Front Grille for all Range Rover and Range Rover Sport variants. The grille itself consists of between 5 and 20 engineered plastic components depending on the derivative. Each has been designed using extensive computer modelling to optimise both vehicle operating performance and aesthetics, whilst at the same time passing the very latest industry crash and pedestrian impact criteria demanded of a 5 star Euro NCAP-rated vehicle. To ensure the most stringent of cosmetic standards, certain elements of the Grille are applied in a fully enclosed “cleanroom” environment to guarantee that only the very highest quality components are fitted to customer vehicles.
Pictured here are (left to right) Bryan Don from Jaguar Land Rover’s Engineering Group, Chris Clark, XANDOR Larkhall Plant Manager, Jaguar Land Rover’s Global Supplier Technical Assistance Director Andrew Mclure and Jim McNeil, Managing Director of XANDOR’s Larkhall facility. The cell itself is managed and operated on a 24-hour, 5-day, 3-shift system by an experienced team of assembly and engineering personnel.
XANDOR is a key supply partner to Jaguar Land Rover, not only on the new Range Rover, but on every other major platform across the range. Commenting on the recent visit Andy Blemings, XANDOR’s Technical Director stated, “ This design is the result of excellent team collaboration between the Land Rover Design Studio, Engineering team and XANDOR’s technical experts to deliver a truly cutting-edge tooling and assembly solution, all aimed at delivering the highest possible quality. It is a credit to both of our companies that the finished component performs so highly against all stated functional objectives, whilst at the same time defining the new face of Range Rover’s most iconic models”.
