All Article articles – Page 101
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ArticleGM to build supplier park at Arlington
US – The new park in Texas will consist of two manufacturing and warehouse buildings covering 1.2m sq.ft and will require up to 1,250 workers, including 850 in newly created positions. The park will begin supporting the Arlington Assembly plant in 2018.“Through strong supplier and community relations, we’re able create ...
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ArticleVW and GAZ extend production deal
Russia – The manufacturing agreement to produce Volkswagen and Skoda cars at Gorky Automobile Plant, originally signed in 2011, will now run to 2025. Moreover, the two companies defined the model versions to be produced, set out plans to adapt GAZ’s production capacities for the launch of new models for ...
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ArticleSeat launches 4.0 training programme
Spain – The OEM says that personnel will interact with some of the tools and technology that will become common in production processes in the near future and are already being introduced, including virtual reality, collaborative robots, 3D printing and augmented reality. Of 2,000 employees registered for training, 1,200 have ...
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ArticleFord and Deutsche Post to make e-van
Germany – Based on the chassis of the Ford Transit, the vehicle will be fitted with an electric drivetrain and a body tailored to Deutsche Post and DHL Paket specifications. The start of production is scheduled for July 2017.“E-Mobility and innovative traffic solutions for urban areas are key focuses for ...
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Article
Robôs incandescentes
A AMS examina as mais recentes instalações e inovações no mundo de braços de robô e automação usada para aplicações de soldagemDe acordo com a Federação Internacional de Robótica, 50% dos robôs mundiais são usados para soldagem. Além disso, um relatório recente da BCC Research revela que o segmento global ...
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ArticleLaser de duplo propósito
In laser technology, the distinction between diode and fibre methods is clear – but automotive manufacturers are likely to need both types on their production linesLasers são agora uma ferramenta comum em pisos de fábricas e são universais em ambientes de fabricação volumosa de automóveis. Eles se enquadram em duas ...
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ArticleBharatBenz reaches 50,000 units
India – The milestone came fewer than five years after the introduction of the brand, which Daimler claims “has never been achieved by another market entrant in India before”. The country has traditionally been dominated by domestic truck brands.BharatBenz was introduced to the market in September 2012 to cater to ...
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ArticleMercedes Kassel makes new Actros axle
Germany – The “intelligent” axle, featuring actively controlled oil regulation, offers fuel and weight savings, according to Daimler. The component is being made on a highly automated assembly line which was installed over the past few months.“The second generation of the Integrated Powertrain from Daimler Trucks – consisting of engine, ...
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Article
Láser con función dual
En tecnología láser la distinción entre sistemas de diodo y fibra esta clara, pero puede que los constructores automotrices necesiten ambos métodos en sus líneas de producciónLos sistemas láser son ya habituales en las fábricas y son universales en los entornos de producción automotriz en cadena. Hay dos categorías principales, ...
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El momento de los robots de soldadura
AMS analiza las últimas innovaciones y equipos en el mundo de los brazos robóticos y la automatización utilizados en soldaduraSegún la Federación Internacional de Robótica, el 50% de los robots del mundo se utilizan en soldadura. Además, un informe reciente de BCC Research revela que el sector global de accesorios ...
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ArticleLohscheller replaces Neumann at Opel
Germany – Stepping up from his role as CFO, which he has held since September 2012, Michael Lohscheller becomes CEO with immediate effect. Karl-Thomas Neumann is no longer speaker of the management board but will remain as a member of the board until the sale of the company to PSA ...
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ArticleTravel blog: Getting hands on in Japan
Are traffic lights in public toilets strictly necessary? I would suggest they are a little redundant when the possession of at least one functioning eye can alert you to an available cubicle just as easily. Japan, however, is a nation so fussy about functionality that it takes automation to extremes, ...
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ArticlePSA and Changan strengthen JV for DS
China – The vehicle-makers have signed a strategic cooperation agreement to expand the partnership which began six years ago with the aim of establishing PSA’s premium brand in the country. Supported by an equally shared investment of 3.6 RMB ($556.2m), Changan Automobile and PSA (CAPSA) plan to launch one new ...
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ArticleEVs: The end of the beginning?
For some years, mainstream vehicle companies have largely toyed with producing electric vehicles (EVs); Ford, with its now-ended Focus Electric, and Volkswagen, with its Golf Electric, tested the market using existing vehicles fitted with first-generation electric powertrains. Nissan and Renault co-developed a purpose-built urban runaround (the Leaf and the Zoe), ...
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ArticleSeat surpasses environmental targets
Spain – The vehicle-maker stated that by the end of last year it had seen an improvement of 33.6% across five key indicators of environmental performance – energy and water consumption, waste, volatile organic compounds and CO2 – and therefore reached its target of 25% by 2018 two years early. ...
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ArticleGKN to expand at Bruneck for eDrive
Italy – The company said it will increase the existing floor space by more than 60% to create an 18,000 sq.m, dedicated production area. Constant velocity joint manufacture will be relocated to other sites in Europe and 70-80 employees refocused on eDrive, while the Off Highway business will move to ...
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ArticleHonda UK's new head of motorcycles
UK – Neil Fletcher will take up his position in July after a handover period with the current incumbent, Nick Campolucci. The latter is moving to McLaren Automotive.Fletcher is returning to Honda after a five-year break, during which he set up his own business. He previously served the company for ...
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Article
两用激光
在激光使用技术方面，二极管和纤维之间的区别非常明显 — 但是汽车制造商的生产线或许同时需要这两种类型的材质目前激光已经成为工厂里的常用工具，而且在量产汽车制造环境中不断普及。激光分为两种 — 二极管和纤维，二者的区别体现在光束产生的方式，以及各自的应用领域。在光束产生方面，直接来自二极管的实用点。在应用方面，二极管与一种光导纤维向结合，产生的光束具有完全不同的特性。关键的是，光束更具有扩散性，因此适用于钎焊等应用领域，而纤维光束更加紧凑，因此更适用于金属切削。两种类型的激光在特殊应用方面都非常行之有效 — 并不是说哪一个比另一个要强，只是更适合某个任务 — 因此，制造商可能在生产线上同时需要这两种激光。但是，两种类型的光束需要两种不同的设备，至少现在是这样。意大利公司Comau（Fiat旗下公司）刚刚推出新产品，是与相同国家公司Prima Electro一同开发23个月得到的。据说，这个产品可以取缔之前需要多种设备才能生产不同类型光束的局限性。[sam_ad id=17 codes='true']激光操控该产品被称为LHYTE，解决了一直困扰大家的问题，即从相同的来源生产不同的光束，其方法就是利用激光可以用光学系统来操控的原理。在系统的外格里，二极管和掺镱纤维元素是分开的，而不是一起的，这和传统纤维机械的情况的一样的。因此，当需要二极管类型激光时，内部系统就将最初的激光从纤维元素中转移，以便转达至使用点上。当需要纤维类型的激光时，二极管中产生的激光不会被拦截，而是抵达纤维并激活，这样激光就会在转达之前就改变成功。 LHYTE’s dual lasers, monitoring sensors and cooling systems are housed in a single, compact unitComau公司材料与加工技术部长Giovanni Di Stefanoc证实说了新系统的详细资料。他说，“纤维激光里面都有激光二极管。因此，我们做的就是把他们分开，并加入我们的创新，即一种特殊的组合器。”他说这种技术就是该系统最核心的部分。Di Stefano还说，核心技术里面的首要因素就是“机械精度”，确定激光系统内部的准确位置。第二个因素就是系统内部的二极管光源能够产生不同波长的激光 — 分别是950nm和920nm — 各自的额定功率为3,0kw。反过来就是说，作为系统关键因素的镜子一面必须反射波长，另一面还要透明，才能使系统按照要求工作。据Di Stefano说，该系统由不同的的组件构成。他证实说，“我们有一个特殊的滑移单元，上面安装了镜子 — 一个标准镜子和一个双色镜，能够传到920nm的激光，并反射950nm波长的光。”“在光束分裂镜上安装多个镜子，能够在发光的同时还能反射。这里还需要电子元件，对内部光室、温度和冷水进行检测和监控。”这样就能产生区别度很高的光束。在二极管模式下，最大功率可达6kw，光束质量可达66mm mrad。在纤维模式下，相关数据分别为4kw和4mm mrad。两者的波长范围为920-1070nm。近距离监控Di Stefano解释说，为了有效操作，机械上通常安装了很多传感器。他说，每个单元都有“50个嵌入式传感器”，包括24个热装置和11个功率传感器。它既是说，“我们需要控制不同的参数，包括寒流、电压、电流和温度。我们尤其需要监控冷水机的温度、冷水机的热交换器、二极管和纤维模式、冷板，冷水机流入光学链中。”他还说，多种传感器搜集了大量的数据，是系统满足“工业4.0”理念的要求。在这方面来说，系统还符合Profibus, Profinet, EtherNET/IP 以及 DeviceNT fieldbus通信协议。 Comau’s dual-function system offers users ...
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ArticleDual-purpose laser
In laser technology, the distinction between diode and fibre methods is clear – but automotive manufacturers are likely to need both types on their production linesLasers are now a commonplace tool on factory floors and are universal in volume car manufacturing environments. They fall into two categories – diode and ...
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ArticleFCA hails first Indian Jeep compass
India – The milestone vehicle rolled off the assembly line at the Ranjangaon factory near Pune, a joint venture between Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and Fiat India Automobiles Private Limited (FIAPL). The Jeep Compass is expected to enter full production in July, serving both local and global demand.“The establishment of ...