All articles by AMS – Page 28
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Mazda hits 50m production milestone
Japan - The company has recently announced that it has made over 50m units in the country, 86 years after it produced its first three-wheeled truck in October 1931."Even making 1m cars a year, it would take 50 years to reach this milestone, showing just how long Mazda’s history is," ...
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BMW Brilliance boosts battery output
China - Just months after opening the facility, the BMW Brilliance Automotive (BBA) joint venture has announced an expansion to its battery plant in Shenyang. New batteries for the BMW iX3, which is set for launch in 2020, will be made here."Today, we break ground for the next stage of ...
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Volvo Cars increases XC40 capacity
Sweden - Around 80,000 orders have been made for the XC40 since it was launched in late 2017. As a result, the OEM has announced it will expand production of the model, which is the first to be based on its compact modular architecture (CMA), at its Ghent manufacturing plant ...
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Toyota to build fuel cell facilities
Japan - The OEM has revealed plans to construct a new building next to its Honsha Plant in Toyota City for the production of fuel cell stacks. Work on the exterior has already been completed, with the facility covering an area of 70,000 sq.m, and work on the interior is ...
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Groupe PSA creates Digital Factory
France - The OEM has turned an area covering 3,000 sq.m at its Poissy plant into a digitalised centre. It hopes that the centre will allow it to bring resources and skills together in one place to support various departments, from manufacturing to customer experience."The 3,000 sq.m renovation was completed ...
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BMW starts Leipzig extension
Germany - The OEM revealed its intension to expand the plant back in July 2017. It originally said the cost would total around €200m (US$234.82m), but has revised that figure to €300m.Construction work has started to extend and update both the bodyshop and paintshop. 500 new robots are being ...
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Optimising compressed air quality
The Drypoint M eco control system allows for the precise control of the degree of compressed air drying across a defined range, says Beko. The company says this system allows operators to optimise the compressed air quality to suit specific applications, even under changing operating conditions.The purge air demand is ...
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Infrared thermometer for steelworks
The Endurance series pyrometers are suitable for primary and secondary metal production applications, claims Fluke Process Instruments. The infrared thermometers take non-contact measurements and can be used to control process stability, product quality and fuel efficiency, says the company. The units offer a 1µm, 1.6µm, or 2.4µm spectral response and ...
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Tool management service
Mapal says it now offers its Tool Management services based on the c-Com platform. It’s claimed this system offers accurate inventory and tracking usage data and reduces downtime due to issues such as missing tools, data trawls, restarts and tool selection. The company says this system is features a modular ...
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Ford invests in Craiova plant
Romania - The OEM has confirmed it is spending €200m (US$236.17m) to ready its Craiova plant for the production of a second vehicle, the name of which will be confirmed closer to launch. It will be built alongside the EcoSport small SUV and the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine."This new investment will ...
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High-speed measuring
A combination of precision mechanics, optoelectronic sensor systems, image processing and measurement software, allows the Inspector FQ to perform measurements on the shop floor with short cycle times, claims Werth. The company says the system’s drive concept is based on linear motors and provides very high measuring speeds enabling the ...
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Silicone free tyre production
Rhein Chemie says its new Rhenodiv BP-166 and Rhenodiv BP-9500 products are 100% silicone-free and claims they are easier to wash off due to a new, water-soluble release agent. The company claims the permanently coated Rhenoshape bladders enable tyre manufacturers to vulcanise tyres using no additional release agents, eliminating the ...
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All-wheel drive coupling
BorgWarner says it is supplying two versions of its electro-hydraulically actuated, all-wheel drive (AWD) coupling for the new Volkswagen Crafter. One with a differential lock control at the rear axle, the other without this feature. The unit distributes torque between the front and rear axle and the company claims this ...
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Constellium expands aluminium plant
Czech Republic - The supplier has announced that it is building an extension to its facility in Decin, which houses the production of customised aluminium extrusions primarily used in automotive and industrial applications. Construction is expected to finish in October 2019."As the auto industry increasingly turns to lightweight, high-strength aluminium, ...
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Mercedes prepares plant for electric EQ
France - Mercedes-Benz has announced that its Hambach plant will produce a new compact electric car under the EQ brand - it's electric vehicle (EV) family. In order to ready the facility, a total of €500m (US$588.14m) will be spent on a new body shop and surface treatment system, while ...
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Novelis builds new aluminium facility
US - The supplier has started constructing a new plant in Guthrie, Kentucky. Costing US$300m, it will be used to house the production of aluminium sheet for the automotive industry."The increased adoption of aluminium in cars, trucks and SUVs, coupled with more automotive manufacturing plants in the southeast makes Guthrie ...
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G-Class production starts in Austria
Austria - Production of the new Mercedes-Benz G-Class has begun at the Magna Steyr plant in Graz, Austria. It made its global debut at the 2018 Detroit Auto Show in January."With the model change the new G-Class experienced the biggest transformation in its 39 years-old history," explained Gunnar Güthenke, head ...
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Magnetic grippers for materials handling
Magswitch has introduced its new T30 magnetic gripper, which the company says features larger airports for increased compatibility, robust connections and is claimed to be 20% stronger, 26% more compact and manufactured to precision tolerances (+/-0.02 mm). According to Magswitch the T 30 can replace suction cups ...
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Acura RDX production starts in Ohio
US - Honda is now making the all-new 2019 Acura RDX SUV at its East Liberty Auto Plant. This follows on from a US$54m investment in new technologies and processes at the facility, including a multi-layer paint system, a roller hemming process used specifically for the model's ultra-wide panoramic roof, ...
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Powder coating booth
The S-Cube CleanAssist powder coating booth can change colours in five to six minutes, and combines this with automated booth cleaning, says Wagner. This system utilises the company’s Energy Efficiency Package (EEP) powder recovery system, which it’s claimed minimises powder loss, optimising material usage.According to the company this booth uses ...