The factory buildings were specially designed with both style and incredible amounts of functionality in mind, from Renzo Piano’s Wind Tunnel building, completed in 2007 and resembling a part of an engine, to Marco Visconti’s visually stunning aluminum and opal glass paint shop, designed to minimize contact between the workers and toxic materials.
The central element of the Wind Tunnel building is a tubular duct 80m long where airflow can be artificially generated and modified for turbulence, angularity, and uniformity. The turbine guarantees an airflow of about 250kph for models in 1:2 scale and of about 150kph for 1:1 scale models, as well as real cars.
The central element of the Wind Tunnel building is a 80m tubular duct where airflow can be artificially generated and modified for turbulence, angularity, and uniformity.
Thanks to a mechanism controlled by more than 300 sensors and a conveyor belt that is synchronized with the wind speed, Ferrari's engineers can simulate and monitor practically every movement of the various models, from rolling to yawing, pitching, and swerving.
Engineering engines that purr
The mechanical workshop, too, was built with advanced technology in mind, as was the new logistics Ges, a long hangar-like building designed by Sturchio Architects & Designers, where the logistical heart of the Ferrari team is located.
It’s the eight-level paint shop, however, that is probably the most impressive facility at the Ferrari plant. Designed by Marco Visconti and opened in 2004, the paint shop is a magnificent structure of aluminum and opal glass, interspersed with clear insets that serve as an adjusting filter to the outside weather conditions, which helps to cut down on energy. Controlled by one operating and control center, the building was constructed in such a way as to ensure that contact between the workers and the materials used by the paint shop remained at a minimum. The powder-based primer and water-based paints are applied in a process of pretreatment and cataphoresis in a tunnel where the car bodies are immersed and rotated 360 degrees in 11 successive tanks, without any human intervention whatsoever.
Ferrari even has its own foundry on site, mainly to manufacture primary aluminium alloys, as well as to manufacture parts for engines and body work. Engine parts are cast by means of sand molds and gravity die-casting for what Ferrari maintains is “the best mechanical performance.”
There are also two prominent engine assembly lines in the Ferrari complex, for the production of the iconic eight- and 12-cylinder engines. The 12-cylinder line is reserved for the most experienced workers, who carry out all of the final assembly operations and sign the technical sheet of the engine. The eight-cylinder engine base is manufactured in the foundry unit by casting aluminium with 7 percent silicon (at approximately 760 degrees centigrade) into a shell.
There is definitely an allure and a mystique to the Ferrai brand. I rode in one once and it was an exhilarating experience. Nice job of providing background on the history of the company and the manufacturing and engineering processes to produce these cars. I'm wondering given the energy and expense Ferrai put into pulling together a sophisticated green production facility if they have plans to put any of that sustainability muscle into their car design. My guess is not because Ferrai owners likely care more about horsepower and performance.
Sylvie, nice article. I have always been enamored of Ferraris.I saw a Dino inLondon when I was a teenager and it was really something.Besides the beauty of the designs, the sophistication of the engines was always impressive.As for Beth's question about eco-friendly cars, that depends.I understand that in Formula 1 they are using electric boost (sort of a mild hybrid).So, if it becomes something that is used in Formula 1, you should see it in a Ferrari.
I'm still saving my lunch money for one :-) There was an older 1978 308 for sale in town for $22k! Problem was it was robins eg blue, just wasn't right for my cheap look at me mid life crisis.
Yup something about a overhead cam v12 at full throttle. Funny thing is even their v8s sound pretty good. Maybe have to start saving other peoples lunch money as well. I'm quite willing to skip on the matching luggage for the 599 if this will get it sooner :-)
Maybe I missed it in the story, Beth, but I believe Ferrari is developing a 900-HP, V-12 hybrid. I don't know if that will be considered "sustainable'...
A Ferrai hybrid--that's something to see. I can admire the beauty and history of the cars and while not a car enthusiast, I can see where the elegance and power of the engine design would be an allure. Still, the Ferrai and all of these out-of-reach (sorry guys) performance cars seem a little over done.
The "hybrid" car you are referring to is the Enzo replacement I think. Some prototypes are due out early next year, or a little before that. The technology is supposed to be similar to the formula 1 KER's unit, but I can't comment on that. F1 (racing) cars use regenerative energy (KER's) to charge batteries, these can be discharged directly into the crankshaft via a motor generator unit to enhance the powewr for over taking, but only at a specific rate of discharge. On to the article. Alas the engine on the first page of the article is a V8 and not as labled a V12, also it's a formula 1 motor and not a road car engine as the title leads the reader to belive. Having said that, it's interesting to read an "outsiders" perception of what Ferrari is like. Oh and if you have to ask how much the new Enzo costs, you'll get the Rolls-Royce answer; "if you have to ask, you probably can't afford it."
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