All Article articles – Page 116
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ArticleEnsuring global productivity
With low heat input, high welding speed and short weld-to-weld times, laser welding is helping meet the demand for increased output and use of lightweight materialsAs a system integrator of high-end automatic welding equipment, the Dutch company AWL-Techniek has grown into a global partner for its customers with branches in ...
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ArticleParts makers in the driver's seat
Using ABB robots, an IAC Group facility in Sweden has streamlined its production of interior plastic components for VolvoThe town of Skara in south-western Sweden is home to a manufacturing plant that has produced plastic goods since the mid-1930s. “In the beginning, the plant produced household goods, before shifting its ...
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ArticleMetrology meets automation
Portable systems have made high-accuracy measurement possible across all plant areas – the next step in this evolution is the integration of metrology with automationIn years past, automotive manufacturers have been forced to choose between very different paradigms in the search to improve the quality, shorten design-to-launch times and better ...
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ArticleA red e-volution
From NY to KL, cities all over the world are jumping on BYD’s electric bus It looks like any of the other thousands of red double-decker buses proceeding through the loud traffic on London’s streets, but if you listen closely you’ll soon realise that some buses are different. Instead of ...
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ArticleFitting rewards
ArcelorMittal’s stronger hot-stamping grades are ideal for laser-welded blank applications, leading to further weight reductions and increased safetyThe automotive industry faces two major challenges today: emissions reduction and improvement of safety standards. Reducing vehicle weight by using lighter materials is an obvious way to cut emissions, but steel offers unbeatable ...
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ArticleFrom success to excellence
Siemens’ TIA Portal helped Continental Regensburg simplify and interlink its evolving standard cell manufacturing processContinental AG is one of the world’s largest automotive parts suppliers. The group’s automotive division operates from around 200 locations worldwide and at its largest facility, in Regensburg, Germany, around 8,000 people are employed in production ...
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ArticleJust-in-time to fit the perfect wheel
Series production of complete wheelsets in JIT manufacturing operations is one of the decisive process stages in final vehicles assemblyWith its new wheel-tyre assembly line, Schenck RoTec offers both OEMs and main tier one automotive suppliers and tyre wholesalers a flexible, highly scalable and efficient solution for just-in-time (JIT) production. ...
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ArticleNew generation of robots
Dürr’s new seven-axis EcoRP E043i robot features a kinematic system, which the company claims enlarges the work zone and can be used instead of a linear displacement rail system. Dürr says this improves access and avoids collisions with the vehicle, particularly in interior painting.The six-axis EcoRP E/L133i robots can operate ...
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ArticleConnected services for robot systems
Connected Services are a suite of resources designed to help UK manufacturers maximise robot uptime using data access and problem resolution says ABB Robotics. Delivered via the company’s single interface called MyRobot, Connected Services will make actionable data immediately available to plant engineers, maintenance staff and managing directors via smart ...
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ArticleIndustrial Ethernet switches
Siemens says with its new Scalance XC-200 compact industrial ethernet switches users can set up electrical and optical line, star and ring structures in industrial networks. The layer 2 network components can be integrated into both Profinet and EtherNet/IPdiagnostics. For transferring large volumes of data, the company offers the Scalance ...
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ArticleInjecting a dash of insulation
Automotive interiors specialist International Automotive Components (IAC) has further expanded its operations in EuropeIAC's newest production facility, at Prestice in the Czech Republic, will initially be producing the company’s injection moulded inner dash, acoustical insulation product for two major vehicle OEM customers – including trunk trim and dash insulation components ...
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ArticlePloys against noise
Following a joint project with Henkel, BMW is piloting a new generation of sustainable, lighter, liquid-applied sound deadening materials for series productionWind whistle and engine sounds work against the quiet enjoyment that OEMs seek to provide for drivers and passengers. Noise-Vibration-Harshness (NVH) materials placed onto the vehicle BIW structures help ...
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ArticleOperation and cooperation
The working relationship between design and manufacturing departments can optimise processes, reduce costs and make the most of the best ideasGenuine leather, synthetic leather, thermoplastic polyolefins and slush skins have become standard surface materials in cockpit production. These various surface concepts usually call for multiple-stage production processes, requiring specific tools. ...
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Article
Zero tolerance for error
If a single word can sum up the key challenge involved in the manufacture of injector valves for diesel engines it is very likely ‘tolerances’Summing up the high-precision machining operations at Delphi’s Storehouse plant, chief manufacturing engineer for commercial vehicle fuel injection systems Dave Jewell says: “We have got to ...
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ArticleBraking point
The last decade has seen the most dramatic and potentially disruptive burst of innovation in braking system developmentWith new vehicle power sources, increased viability of extensive ‘Driver Assist’ technologies, and a movement towards electronic control and actuation, the challenges facing suppliers and the opportunities offered to designers perhaps seem greater ...
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ArticleTransfer of power
GKN is supporting the growth in electric and hybrid vehicle production with the development of its eDrive powertrainsThe company has spent the past 15 years acquiring the production experience needed to transfer the technology from niche vehicles to high-volume mass-market applications,” says Peter Moelgg, All-Wheel & E-Drive CEO at GKN ...
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ArticleAssembly language
A flagship plant in Portugal provides Visteon with the platform to innovate and find best practices it can roll out worldwideFrom Palmela, its key European production base and centre of excellence based on the outskirts of Lisbon, Visteon supplies to almost every OEM in the market. Half of the Palmela ...
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ArticleKaizen in Karben
As one site in a huge global network, Continental’s plant near Frankfurt provides a fine example of how improvement by knowledge sharing comes in forms both old and newEvery morning at 9am, the managing director of Continental’s plant at Karben, Germany takes a gemba walk. Following a different route each ...
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ArticleSkoda Kvasiny reaches 2m vehicles
Czech Republic – The milestone car was a Kodiaq, the brand’s first large SUV. For the launch of this model, the factory recruited an extra 2,600 personnel by the end of 2016 and is still progressing with a modernisation and expansion programme.Skoda has invested 7 billion crowns ($269.4m) at Kvasiny ...
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ArticlePosition of power
Flexible power distribution systems are energising automotive tier one suppliers’ growthGrowth in the automotive industry is benefiting from an extensive global network composed of thousands of tier one suppliers. While not only good for business, this growth functions as a catalyst for advancements in technology that eventually will be adopted ...