One of my destinations during my trip to Europe this year was to visit the AMG One Man One Engine in Affalterbach Germany. On July 16 I visited the Mercedes Benz Museum in Stuttgart and later that day I took the S-Bahn as far as it would take me north in the direction of Affalterbach so that I would be near by the Engine Plant in the morning my private tour was at 9am on Monday July 17. I share some photos here with you.
History if one should be interested on the AMG Story ....
Can be found here ---->
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-AMGMy guide provided a most interesting 2 hour tour. He started by explaining in detail how 2 Mercedes Engineers started the company on there own once they were no longer required to fine tuning of Mercedes engines for the raising sport and how they were rejoined with Mercedes later once there work was in high demand. We then toured thru a section of the plant were customers shipped there cars to perform special work on them. One customer had his 300SL Gullwing in the shop to have it completely modernized inside as well as for the engine. We both agreed what a mistake this is and joked about that the car might be returned some day in future by a new owner to reverse all this work to bring the car back to original.
We then visited a special area where customers can pick materials for the interior as well as colours. Some people ask for colours that are not standard. One couple after they were married and ordered there car ask for a very special light blue exterior colour the same as there wedding theme colour. Special family logos can be engraved into the seats backrests i.e. whatever the customer wants.
The tour of the engine assembly was next. There are 2 floors, on each floor some 20 Individuals assembling engines. I used individuals since there are also women assembling engines. They work 2 shifts and on one shift an individual assembles 2 1/2 engines. The engine is mounted on a cart and each individual has a dedicated parking spot were a uncompleted engine is parked until he/she returns for the next shift. Each engine assembly component and assembly step is scanned into the computer during the assembly. At the end of the assembly the completed engine is couppled to a electric motor in a sophisticated test stand and completely cold tested to check that everything is according to specification.
Needless to say it was a very impressive private tour, I did not have a chance to meet the gentleman that build my engine for he was promoted to the development area.
Enjoy the photos (some of them were taken on July 16 at the AMG Section of the Mercedes Benz Museum in Stuttgart)
Dieter
Edit; corrected some typos... don't you hate autocorrect ... I do!
