More power to the people Honda

MORE POWER TO THE PEOPLE

Honda, the global automotive giant is also a world leader in the manufacture of household and industrial power products. Honda’s European operations are based at Ormes, near Orleans in France, from where they export their products throughout the European markets. Philip Yorke looks at their latest achievements and the company’s next generation of multi-purpose engines.

IT was to fulfil the wishes of Soichiro Honda, the founder of the Honda organisation that the company moved into the production of power products in 1953. Honda’s mission was to utilise its superior engine technology to help people perform jobs at work and at home more efficiently and to improve their quality of life. The new division was launched with a unique power product engine which became a global success. Today Honda’s power products include tillers, portable generators, marine outboard engines, water pumps, lawn mowers and four-wheel scooters. All these diverse products incorporate patented Honda technology and achieved European sales of nearly 1.2 million units in 2010.

However, it wasn’t until 1993 that Honda Europe Power Equipment (HEPE) became a fully integrated subsidiary of the Honda Motor Group. More recently, Honda Europe Power Equipment SA was reorganised as Honda France Manufacturing SAS and in 2008 its R&D activities were transferred to Germany with its marketing and sales operations being moved to Honda UK.

Today Honda France Manufacturing (HFM) is responsible for the manufacture of petrol and electrical walk-behind lawnmowers, ride-on mowers and power generators as well as hand-held trimmers and tillers. HFM supplies more than 30 countries in the European region as well as Japan for some items.

New technology driving sales

Honda’s continuing commitment to R&D has resulted in the creation of a wide variety of advanced-technology products of exceptional efficiency and value. The company’s R&D operation is the driving force behind its continuing success, and its philosophy is based upon the thoughts of Honda’s founder, Soichiro Honda. Marc Noury, HFM’s production manager commented, “Since the global downturn many customers are focusing on low prices and turning towards cheaper Chinese imports. Our answer to that is to focus on quality, productivity, new technologies and dedicated services that are contributing to Honda’s uniqueness in that market segment. In the future, HFM plans to introduce new models, with related investments, as well as introducing new in-house processes. We are committed to providing the best products for our customers, with speed, affordability and low CO2 emissions.”

Recent Honda power innovations include the iGX440 multi-purpose engine launched earlier this year. Honda’s iGX engine is the first in the world to incorporate ‘STR Governor’ technology and electronic rpm controls that can facilitate constant control of the throttle opening and the engine’s rpm. The latest large GX and iGX engines offer more power and even better fuel economy and emissions performance, as well as quieter operation throughout the range.

Recently, Honda also launched a household cogeneration unit, which combines the GE160V, (the world’s smallest gas engine) with Honda’s unique sine-wave inverter technology. This ground-breaking unit is enhanced with a high-efficiency heat exchanger with its own integrated catalyst.

Cutting-edge lawn mowers

Annually, HFM’s petrol lawnmowers achieve the highest volume of sales, peaking at more

Metalfirma

For more than 10 years Metalfirma has collaborated with Honda France Manufacturing in the development of lawnmowers. Metalfirma works on HFM’s plans and all the components manufactured are checked by our quality department control. In fact the quality level of Honda’s products is very high and, over the years, Metalfirma has committed itself to respecting the demands and applications of the customer through constant control of the whole manufacturing process. Metalfirma started its relationship with Honda with only few spare parts but as the years have gone by we have increased our production and now Metalfirma is able to produce a lot of different parts designed by Honda.

Kongsberg Power Products Systems

Kongsberg Power Products Systems is a global leader in the design and manufacture of vehicle control systems, and provides cable systems to HFM, recently launching a range of cables for the VK8 petrol walk behind mower. Kongsberg takes great pride in its long term relationship with HFM, based on excellence in quality and delivery, value-added initiatives, a global footprint, and outdoor power equipment market leadership that spans more than 40 years. Kongsberg also supplies products to Honda motorcycles in China, and to Honda Automotive. Kongsberg’s global focus on lean manufacturing with quality products meets or exceeds Honda’s high quality expectations.

than 130,000 units per year with trimmers achieving sales of around 50,000 units followed by electrical and ride-on mowers with annual sales of approximately 15,000 units each.

Today the demands on lawnmowers are diversifying and they must be safer, cleaner to operate and help in the processing of the grass that’s been cut. Honda’s latest range of garden mowers incorporates Honda’s unique hydraulic, step-less shifting mechanism which allows forward and reverse motion as well as acceleration and deceleration freely controlled with a single lever. In addition to lawnmowers the HST mechanism can be used on a number of other Honda power products.

Honda also pioneered the world’s first lawnmower safety mechanism, which is called the ‘Roto-Stop’. This revolutionary device immediately stops the rotation of the machine when the mowing lever is released and is now referred to internationally as the blade, brake and blutch mechanism or ‘BBC’.

This was universally acclaimed when it was launched in 1986 and triggered the implementation of regulations for safety brakes on all lawnmowers throughout Europe and the USA. A brighter, greener future

As early as the 1960s, Honda took steps to reduce the air pollution created by its manufacturing processes. By the early 1980s, when it became apparent that the environment was clearly at risk from C02 emissions, Honda embarked on a major global programme to minimise the impact of its manufacturing operations worldwide. A message from Honda’s president and CEO states: “Honda strives to be a company that society wants to exist through leadership in environmental and energy technologies.” Today the company’s ‘green factory initiative’ operates globally and seeks to improve the working environment for everyone, as well as for associates and to enhance cooperation with its local communities. Honda said, “Through these efforts we strive to give local communities the reason to be proud to host our factories.”

Among the many new technologies implemented by Honda in its quest to improve sustainability and the environment, is its flexible fuel technology for automobiles, the development of the next-generation of non-silicon thin solar cells and its energy-saving, compact household co-generation energy system. n

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