Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company is an American multinational corporation and the world's fourth largest automaker based on worldwide vehicle sales, following Toyota, General Motors and Volkswagen. Based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit, the automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury brands sold in the US and elsewhere, Ford's international brands also include Volvo of Sweden. Ford also owns a one-third controlling interest in Mazda of Japan and a small holding in former subsidiary Aston Martin of England. Ford's former UK subsidiaries Jaguar and Land Rover were sold to Tata Motors of India in March 2008.

Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa

The Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) has been an active participant in the South African economy since 1923. It is the South African home of Ford, Mazda and Volvo, and is one of Southern Africa’s leading automotive companies. The Silverton Plant assembles Ford and Mazda passenger and light commercial vehicles. This local range is supplemented with imports for all brands from a number of different countries. FMCSA locally engineered and manufactures the Ford Bantam half-ton pick-up based on the company’s small-car platform. Ford Motor Company announced during October 2004 that the Ford Focus would be built in South Africa.

Pre-existing situation & UTCFS’s role

The Silverton site comprises more than ten buildings across the facility, including administrative buildings, stock warehousing and manufacturing where more than 400 motor vehicles are produced each day. Life safety and property protection is a very important aspect of the security solution on the site. Ford wanted a fire detection system capable of protecting both the workforce and site infrastructure by detecting fire threats at a very early stage. To ensure the installation of a high quality security solution, Ford engaged UTCFS.

UTCFS’s solution

UTCFS deployed its FP addressable control panels across the facility, each building having a standalone system monitoring and protecting the lives of the Ford staff members, as well as the manufacturing facility itself. Each panel currently runs independently, and is monitored by Ford's own software from a central control room. However, given Ford’s satisfaction with the original installation, plans have also been made for the fire panels to be integrated with Alliance software, providing the opportunity for full access and views on all onsite panels. By installing Alliance, a multifunctional and scaleable security software platform, Ford will also develop its future capacity to integrate more fire panels, access control and video surveillance systems if required at a later date.