Jared C. Tilton, Getty Images
Industryweek 9320 082615toyotatianjin
Industryweek 9320 082615toyotatianjin
Industryweek 9320 082615toyotatianjin
Industryweek 9320 082615toyotatianjin
Industryweek 9320 082615toyotatianjin

Toyota Will Restart Tianjin Operations After Blasts

Aug. 26, 2015
The factory will start again Friday, more than two weeks after the initial explosions that killed more than 130 people and injured close to 800 more.

TOKYO — Japanese auto giant Toyota said Wednesday it would gradually restart operations in Tianjin after halting production in the wake of deadly explosions at a hazardous goods facility in the Chinese port city.

The firm said workers will begin prep work Thursday to restart a factory that has been offline since a storage facility near the plant exploded earlier this month. “The restart itself will take place on Friday,” Toyota said in a statement.

The huge blasts killed at least 135 people and sparked fears of toxic pollutants contaminating the air and water. At least 67 employees at the Toyota plant, including those who live around it, were injured.

The explosions happened while the plant was closed for a summer vacation, but Toyota said it decided to keep it offline to assess the situation. The main Tianjin factory, which produces several models including the Corolla and Vios sedans, has about 12,000 employees and manufactured 440,000 vehicles last year.

Toyota had also stopped a production line about 45 miles away that depends on parts from the main operation. That facility would be restarted on Thursday, the company said. “So far, we have been inspecting our production facilities and ensuring machinery is safe to operate, while conducting maintenance as necessary,” Toyota said.

The firm added that it was looking at ways to make up for the lost production, either through overtime or extra shifts.

Among two Toyota dealerships that were heavily damaged by the blasts, one reopened this week while the other remains closed.

Other Japanese firms including Panasonic and carmaker Mazda reported minor damage at their operations in Tianjin.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2015

Popular Sponsored Recommendations

Empowering the Modern Workforce: The Power of Connected Worker Technologies

March 1, 2024
Explore real-world strategies to boost worker safety, collaboration, training, and productivity in manufacturing. Emphasizing Industry 4.0, we'll discuss digitalization and automation...

Adopting an Open Ecosystem: The Way Forward for Frontline Operations

March 11, 2024
Today's manufacturing tech stack thrives on connectivity, integrating new and legacy players for a seamless operation - not on monolithic systems. Embrace the future of frontline...

3 Best Practices to Create a Product-Centric Competitive Advantage with PRO.FILE PLM

Jan. 25, 2024
Gain insight on best practices and strategies you need to accelerate engineering change management and reduce time to market. Register now for your opportunity to accelerate your...

Transformative Capabilities for XaaS Models in Manufacturing

Feb. 14, 2024
The manufacturing sector is undergoing a pivotal shift toward "servitization," or enhancing product offerings with services and embracing a subscription model. This transition...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of IndustryWeek, create an account today!