In its preliminary report, the fire department determined that the cause of the fire was molten aluminum and hydraulic fluid used in the massive machine. Luckily, no injury was reported and the blaze was brought under control rather quickly.
In a newly released statement, Knowles said, “Fremont firefighters responded to a working fire at the Tesla Factory (45500 Fremont Blvd) at 4:27 PM. Located in an area of the factory property that is under construction, the deep-seated fire was contained to a vehicle manufacturing stamping machine … the cause was molten aluminum and hydraulic fluid.”
The Tesla Fire Response Team coordinated with the fighters from the Fremont Fire Department in controlling and extinguishing the blaze. A couple of Fremont Fire engines and one truck remained at the scene for several hours.
12. March 2021
Fire in Tesla`s Fremont Factory: The Giga Press caught on fire by burning hydraulic fluid - Fire extinguished and nobody injured
Tesla’s giant stamping machine, believed to be the world’s biggest, caught on fire at Fremont factory today.
No one was injured, but the incident is likely to affect production.
We previously reported that Tesla is now producing the Model Y with one giant rear underbody that used to be made of 70 parts.
That’s possible due to Tesla’s first Giga Press, which was installed at the Fremont factory and put in operation last year. The machine, nicknamed Giga Press, is the first of its kind and is produced by Idra Group in Italy. It has a clamping force of 55,000 to 61,000 kilonewtons (5,600 to 6,200 tf).