The Ford factory in Dagenham, Essex is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year and even in the face of the global economic downturn appears to be going from strength to strength.

The 475-acre complex on the banks of the Thames to the East of London, is now dedicated to diesel engine design and manufacture and currently turns out over one million units a year. Indeed increased demand for diesel power saw output rise by 16% last year, while a £800 million investment means capacity is now 1.4 million engines a year.

The Dagenham plant, which was founded by Henry Ford\'s son, Edsel on May 17th, 1929, employs some 4,000 people and currently produces engines, for 28 different Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover and Peugeot Citroën models in engines sizes from 1.4 to 3.6-litre V8. Crucially the factory has its own deep-water port facility which means engines can be easily shipped to other Ford factories around the world.