Two weeks ago I took my second tour of the Oxford MINI plant. It's an extraordinary tour that take a little over two hours. The first hour is spent on the factory floor watching 1200 amazing robotics assemble the body and chassis of each MINI. Then you move on to the assembly floor where teams of engineers on long conveyor belts custom assemble each MINI to the specs of each individual order.
Photography is not allowed while you are on the factory floor. In fact, you have to leave all of your personal belongings in a locker, including cell phones and cameras. I wish I could show you the mind-blowing image of 1200 robots all moving at once, some welding, some lifting and moving -- it's defies description and it's about as sci-fi as you can imagine.
"Combining human skill and ultra-advanced robot technology, Plant Oxford completes one MINI every 67 seconds, and up to 1,000 cars every day."
You'll have to take a tour and see how this is done for yourself. I've toured a lot of factories before but none have impressed me as much as the Oxford MINI Plant.
The MINI plant is located on the Easter Bypass and Horspath Road in Cowley. This is where William Morris produced the first Bullnose Morris Oxford in 1913 and where Great Britain's automobile industry began. The plant has been producing cars for over a hundred years.
There is an exhibit that highlights the history of car manufacturing in Oxford In the building behind the MINI Shop. This is the only place where taking photos is allowed on the site. For one who know very little about cars, I have certainly come to appreciate the modern technology that goes into manufacturing the MINI; the genius and generosity of William Morris who started the car industry in the U.K.; and the charming and iconic nature of the MINI.
In the 1930s William Morris (aka Lord Nuffield) was Britain's richest self-made man. He then became Britain's greatest ever philanthropist and gave away over £30m of his fortune, equivalent to £700m in today's money. Yet, despite his enormous wealth, his lifestyle was quite modest. His home, Nuffield Place in Oxfordshire, is now owned by National Trust, is about 40 minutes by car southwest of Oxford, and is well worth a visit.
This is only one of the many different types of robots you can see on the factory floor. Some of the robots are 6 times this size. To see them all moving at once is like watching the most unusual, modern, and amazing dance choreography. It's mesmerizing.
This is a photo of the factory floor that is on display in the factory museum. It doesn't even begin to show the size and scope of the electronics on the floor. Our guide pointed out that most of the electricity used on the floor is solar generated from solar panels right on the plant site.
The best part of the the tour was sharing it with Carlisle and Phil Carrol (Parents of our son-in-law). It meant so much to us to have them come visit and to have the chance to share a bit of our little corner of England with them. These photos were taken in front of a blue screen that projects photos of the factory floor.
For more information about the Oxford MINI Plant
