Sigrid and I joined others from the KCP&L Power Partners Retirement Club in touring Kansas City's Harley Davidson Plant this week. The plant can only handle about 20 people per tour so we had to set up four different groups over two days to accommodate all those wanting to see the plant. Cameras are not allowed in the plant so I only have photos of the outside of the plant and the visitors center.
After a short video on the history of the company, we donned out safety glasses and headsets to tour the plant. The plant manufactures the Harley Sportster, Dyna Series, and VRSC models including the V-Rod with the Revolution water cooled engine. The actual engines and transmission are made at another Harley plant in Wisconsin. In KC, they make the frames, wheels, and fuel tanks from scratch and assemble the cycle with other key components from other plants. The cycle takes it's first breath in the plant as each one is tested coming off the line.
The factory was built in 1998 and has 358,000 square feet under roof. Extensive use of robots for welding, cutting, grinding, and painting helps to ensure quality. I loved the laser cutting machine used to trim the fenders.
Our tour guide signs us in for the event.
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