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In the next issue... |
July/August edition 2008 |
Vehicle makers
GM
AMS travels to Vauxhall's Ellesmere Port facility to speak to manufacturing chief Tom Schmidt and reports on preparations for production of the new Astra.
23 - 24
September 2008,
Detroit, MI, USA
Lotus
AMS visits Group Lotus to examine the company's production methods and how it has managed to successfully build its brand in times of tightening credit.
smart
As Mitsubishi, Fiat and others enter the city car market, AMS reports from Hambach, France, home of the original city car, the smart, on how the manufacturer plans to stay ahead of the pack
Motorsport
Motorsport manufacturing - Part 2
Following on from his investigation on how F1 technology has been incorporated into mass-produced vehicles, Matt Youson concludes his study by analyzing advances in transmissions, thanks to FIA involvement.
Machining and automation
Mark Venables looks at how carmakers are using the latest in machine tools, and how advances in casting and forging techniques are changing the way cars are being produced around the world.
Ceramics
Steed Webzell gets to the heart of how ceramics are being incorporated into vehicle production and how the use of these materials has altered production line setups
Environment
Solar power and renewable energy sources
With new car plants opening around the world, Ruari McCallion reports on how various green initiatives are being incorporated to involve renewable energy sources and energy-saving measures.
Regional foucs
North America
In light of declining domestic sales, striking suppliers and Federal energy guidelines, Lillie Guyer takes a look at how US carmakers are weathering the latest round of economic storms
IMTS, 8-13 September, Chicago, US
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Front Cover
Robot revolution
Joe Hinrichs, Ford’s Group Vice President of Global Manufacturing is changing the way work is done at the vehicle maker. AMS plugs in to his ideas on revolutionising productivity.
Truck making
Rising star
Medium and heavy truck maker Navistar is tipping 
the business in favour of more productive processes in the
manufacture of its products. AMS reports on its move from transfer lines to CNC technology.
Technology robotics and materials handling
Armed forces
The quest for increased productivity is the perfect laboratory for innovations in robotics.
Room for manoeuvre
Traditionally AGVs were used for moving parts from a shipping dock to the assembly line; now they are actually used in place of the assembly line in some cases, as AMS discovers
Materials
Material world
High-strength steel will remain the dominant car material for some
time, but a greater proliferation of other materials is on the up.
Environment
Race to save the earth
Honda F1 Racing has a new environmental engineer who has been tasked with shrinking the company’s environmental impact.
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