All Article articles – Page 188
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Article
Fenzi assumes Comau leadership
US – Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) announced that Mauro Fenzi will become the robot-maker’s CEO as well as COO Systems. He will also join the FCA Group Product Committee.Fenzi arrived at Comau in 2001 and has held a number of roles with increasing seniority, including head of NAFTA.Fenzi’s predecessor, Riccardo ...
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Article清洁的未来
尽管政治压力很大，但是汽车业仍然践行绿色环保原则汽车制造业是一个能源密集型行业，一般情况下非常依赖石油；PwC公司估计，这个行业每年的碳排放大概占全球的15%。这些年来，许多汽车原始设备制造商都制定了可持续性能源计划和目标，现在他们加大努力来实现这些目标。 福特公司可持续性交流部经理John Cangany说，“自2000年，当福特第一次公布《企业公民》报告（现在被称为可持续性报告）以来，公司就一直坚持致力于可持续性。我们的主要目的就是让人们生活得更好，因此我们投资发展那些能减少全球环境破坏的技术。我们非常积极地投入到替代能源的安装、示范和开发。我们还间接从公共设施部门购买可再生能源。” 同样，本田公司北美区公司事务与交流部的副经理Eric Mauk也说，“本田公司一直在追求节能、减少石油消耗、减排的发电方式。使用可再生能源，帮助我们向这些目标更前进了一步。” 有数据显示，事实上整个行业使用可再生能源的比率在上升。Frost & Sullivan的“2014可再生能源前景展望”预测，全球可再生能源发电量，将会从2012年的1,566GW，增长到2025年的3,203GW。这就意味着，年增长率达到5.7%。太阳能、风能和水力发电将位居榜首，太阳能会占到全部可再生能源的33.4%，风能将占到32.7%，而水力发电稍微落后，占到25.3%。这是一个广泛的趋势，同样也反映在汽车业，这些能源成为主要的可再生能源设备。研究咨询公司HIS Automotive的卓越工程与创新部主管Andy Brown说，“看看大型汽车原始设备制造商的可持续性报告，我们就会发现，几乎所有的公司都在制造厂投资了至少一种可再生能源。” “早期尝试的公司有大众，在北海专注风力发电厂，风能仍然是一种非常可观的投资。然而，其他公司下功夫投资于太阳能、生物质、地热和沼气项目。不管是什么地区，这个趋势正在越来越快。” 从政治压力中受益Brown提到，有很多因素都驱使这种投资，来自政府的压力是主要原因。3月份，美国政府出台最新气候变化政策。而德国政府于2014年12月公布了一个计划，要加速实现到2020年减少温室气体40%（与20世纪90年代的水平相比）的目标。 但是，还有更多的实际问题要解决。Frost & Sullivan的报告里显示，近几年来，可再生能源的价格大幅下降。比如，太阳能光伏组件的整体成本，从2008年到2013年下降了70%。Brown说，“开始，我们使用可再生能源是为了促进公司获得行业可持续性认证，这被认为是最环保的，这也可能是捍卫能源稳定性的方法。然而，汽车原始设备制造商的高能源消耗，毫无疑问已经激起了对技术的兴趣。”“可再生能源的采用一直以来受到所产生财务效益的影响，现在的成本与石油差不多” – Rob Threlkeld, GMBrown说，“我们现在对汽车业创新新技术使用非常感兴趣，我认为这种趋势会不断加大，所以人们汇讯减少能源消耗的创新方法也不足为奇。苛刻的排放规定，只能让情况更糟。 通用汽车可再生能源经理Rob Threlkeld也肯定了经济利益：“可再生能源的采用一直以来受到几年来所产生财务节约的影响，现在的成本与石油差不多。” 成本是主要因素，品牌形象也是：消费者越来越关注他们所购买的汽车制造商们对可持续性方面的投入。Brown说，“和显著地成本节约一样，最受关注的问题就是消费者信心。我们看到，原始设备制造商们越来越陷入一种情结，想要获得和分析消费者对他们所做的投入的反应，以及对他们购买决定的影响。这会产生较低的制造成本和较高的销量。” Threlkeld说，“向消费者进行清洁能源汽车营销，我们得到了回报。我们在俄亥俄Toledo变速器工厂屋顶太阳能电池板，就是一个很好的例子。开车经过俄亥俄Turnpike时，可以清楚的看到这些，让消费者们想到我们在可持续性上的投入。” 克服核心挑战大多数汽车制造商在努力实施可再生能源技术，远离石油的过程中，困难是不可避免的。Threlkeld说，“通用在可再生能源技术业上奔波了10多年了，其中浮沉无数。领导层的认可就是一个大问题，尤其是人们对可再生能源设施的使用寿命不确定。” “之前在成本上也受到抑制，而且还有能源市场规定的问题。在通用公司，我们用‘可再生能源购买者原则’来解决问题，让机构更容易购买可再生能源。” 福特的Cangany补充说：“最大的挑战可能是时机。我们能做很多事，但是在一个时间段里我们只能做一件事。优选权的最佳例子就是我们在密歇根全球总部安装的太阳能板。这是一个大事，但这对员工和社区都非常有益，而且可再生能源可以抵消其他能源形式。” 本田公司Mauk说，每个位置的特点和普遍环境条件都是更高的挑战，因为这会影响有些形式可再生能源的可持续性。他说，“不同的地方，困难都不同；有些地方没有容纳太阳能板或风力涡轮机的空间。气象因素决定使用哪种可再生能源最合适。” 工程进行中Forst & Sullivan报告称，中国、土耳其、巴西、越南、印度和俄罗斯将是水力发电的主要贡献方，因为国内拥有丰富资源。事实上近年来，一些主要汽车原始设备制造商有过一些非常有意思的计划。比如，大众巴西公司在圣保罗州，斥资5,900万美元建设一个水力发电厂。工厂与2010年开始运行，每年发电1.2亿KWh，满足大众在该国18%的能源需求。计划未来会建设第二个发电厂，使大众巴西的绿色能源提供40%的能源需求，最后要占到90%。虽然水力发电还无法与全球太阳能与风能相同，但是这是最有效的能源。2011年，宝马公司和碳纤维制造商SGL物流公司在华盛顿州的Moses Lake建厂，为汽车业提供碳纤维。所需能源全部来自水力发电，得益于清洁能源激励政策，这个地区的成本非常便宜。靠近可再生能源循环，碳纤维进入德国宝马电动车系列生产过程。去年，还原始设备制造商邮箱Moses Lake工厂投资1亿美元，碳纤维产量达到9,000吨 — 是原来的3倍。总体来说，去年宝马公司生产所需的一半能源都是可再生能源。同时，近年来，风能也有所崛起，很多制造商和政府部门都认同它的潜力。美国能源效率了与可再生能源办公室出版的《风能前景报告》揭示，有39个州已经安装了风力涡轮机，而风能已经站到该国每年发电量的4.5%。该报告还提到，到2050年，所有50个州都可以使用风能，显著替换石油消费。 在俄亥俄Russells Point，美国本田变速器厂使用风力涡轮机，发电超过10%。Mauk说，“Russells Points的所在地在俄亥俄州海拔最高的地方，是风力发电的最佳地点。”这里的有点似乎很多。“周围的地方很大，足够我们建设两个260英尺高的塔，而且也不会打扰社区或对野生动物造成危险。能源带来的好处是一方面，我们还发现，这些风力涡轮机还提高了员工们的士气。他们认为，为一个努力改善环境的公司工作，感到非常骄傲。”“最大的挑战可能是时机。我们可以做很多事，但是我们在一段时间里只能做一件事” – John Cangany, Ford太阳能的闪闪光辉随着太阳能成本的大幅度下跌，有大批的制造厂都在迅速安装太阳能板。去年4月，Ford（福特）公司与其伙伴DTE Energy公司，在密歇根的全球总部开启了最大的太阳能板。Cangany说，“太阳能板层每年发电1.13KWh，足够为160户人家的用电。它还将覆盖360个停车场，包括30个充电站，可以让员工们在工作时充电。” 福特公司在美国和英国，成为太阳能安装的领军。公司在威尔士的Bredgend发动机厂，是欧洲第一家翻新安装一个综合性光伏并网的太阳能光伏的汽车制造商。该系统自1998年就开始运转。在北美，福特公司在密歇根Ford Rouge参观中心的可再生能源安装，包括光伏阵列和太阳能集热器。Cangany说，“旁边的迪尔伯恩卡车厂有一个‘活屋顶’系统，就是利用一层植被来帮助降温和冷却，同时吸取雨水。“ 俄亥俄州利马发动机厂里还有一个地热系统，“能降低工厂运行时的温度，同时也让员工工作地更舒服”。Cangany说，“该系统是利用工厂的两个废弃的采石场里，自然冷却到40°F的水。安装成本与传统冷却装置和冷却塔相当。这个项目每年能嫌少4,300公吨的二氧化碳排放。” 风能、太阳能和水力发电构成汽车制造商的主要可再生能源，但是人们还在调查新的方案。本田的Mauk说，“我们继续探索，进一步利用现有的可再生技术，同时还在研究能制造清洁、低排放能源的可再生技术。” HIS公司的Brown说，“最初在可再生能源上的投资，很大程度是投资在成熟技术或项目上。但是，很多原始设备制造商实现摊平衡的企业目标，迫使他们越来越多地投资到前沿技术。我们从提供的可再生技术分析上可以看出，这些公司真的获利了。” “我们从其他行业能学到什么？从他们的竞争中，我们能了解到什么？甚至从他们在多国、多品牌的公司运营内部，我们能学到什么呢？真正的发展应该是围绕知识支持，以及我们如何能推动创新，同时又能降低快速发展的行业风险。”
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ArticleCleaning up the future
Under strong political pressure, the auto industry is sustaining its progress towards greener practicesAutomotive manufacturing is an energy-intensive business which has traditionally relied heavily on fossil fuels; PwC estimates that the industry is responsible for roughly 15% of global carbon emissions each year. While many automotive OEMs have had sustainable ...
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ArticleWelding for lightweights
With the automotive industry’s shift toward lighter materials, demands on welding technology are changingThe reasons behind the increasing demand for aluminium within the automotive industry are well documented: the material is around one-third the weight of steel, which in turn leads to fuel consumption advantages and, hopefully, higher sales at ...
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ArticleTesla contracts Eisenmann at Fremont
US – According to the Germany-based supplier, the deal to build a new paintshop at Tesla’s growing plant in California runs into “nine figures” and is the most valuable in its history. Eisenmann will provide two fully automated paint lines, one for car bodies and one for components such as ...
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ArticleSeeing green
Every major OEM has laid out bold sustainability targets, but how much concrete progress has been made?Automotive manufacturers have set themselves some ambitious targets regarding their use of renewable energy and how it will affect their emissions output. Honda is aiming to reduce CO2 emissions by 30% globally between 2000 ...
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ArticleTravel blog: Do the Chinese dream of electric cars?
Halfway through my trip around China’s carmakers, a few things inspired me to borrow shamelessly from the great Philip K. Dick’s novel. Firstly the smog-laden, rain-soaked night skyline of Shanghai, in all its neon-lit glory, reminded me of a scene from Blade Runner, the film version of Dick’s novel. Secondly, ...
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Article
Do the Chinese dream of electric cars?
Half way through my trip around China’s car makers a few things inspired me to shamelessly paraphrase the great Philip K. Dick’s novel. Firstly the smog laden, rain soaked night skyline of Shanghai, in all its neon-lit glory reminded me of scene from Blade Runner, the film version of Dick’s ...
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ArticleHonda to expand Indian capacity
India – Both the car and motorcycle divisions will increase their production in line with expected future growth within the market. Honda Cars India Limited (HCIL) will extend its second plant in the country, while Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Limited (HMSI) will expand its third site.HCIL’s Takupura plant in ...
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ArticleRogers to lead engineering at JLR
UK – Replacing Wolfgang Ziebart, who will stand down from the role next month, Nick Rogers will become engineering director and report directly to CEO Ralf Speth. Ziebart will continue to work with Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), focusing on technology development.Speth said Ziebart had “led the Engineering team through a ...
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ArticlePortable spectrophotometer offers colourimetric performance
Datacolor says its Check 3 portable spectrophotometer features a completely redesigned user-interface with a modern colour LCD display and an LED illuminated viewing port, enabling users to very precisely position samples for accurate measurement. The company claims an enhanced two-way Bluetooth interface allows the user to easily transfer standards and ...
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ArticleNew binder for automotive lightweight composites
BASF claims its new low-emission Acrodur Power 2750 X binder, helps produce cost-efficient lightweight composites with integrated functions and a higher share of natural fibres. The product is designed for the production of natural fibre composites for automotive lightweight applications, such as interior car door panels or shelves. The company ...
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ArticleWireless gap measuring for body construction
The new CALIPRI gap measurement device now uses WiFi, plus it has been redesigned to improve the ergonomics says NextSense. The company claims functionality has also been increased through a software update; derivatives of a car line can now be displayed in one measurement plan, and centrally created plans can ...
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ArticlePre-cleaning & final cleaning of powertrain components
Dürr Ecoclean has replaced the standard 6-axis jointed-arm robot with a proprietary scara manipulator in its new EcoCFlex 3, claiming this offers improved process reliability, quality and energy efficiency in pre-cleaning and final cleaning of powertrain components. The system is available in two sizes; 3M and 3L versions. The scara ...
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ArticleBorgWarner grows at Ramos-Arizpe
Mexico – Requiring 350 new employees over the next two years, the expansion will increase capacity for current products as well as the latest generation of emissions technologies. The facility will produce exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) modules, ignition coils and coolant control valves for passenger cars, minivans and light-duty trucks.“Our ...
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ArticleMelhorando fornecimento de peças
Uma iniciativa de £20m de colaboração no Reino Unido busca inovar, desenvolver e fabricar diversos componentes automotivos; AMS deu uma olhada ao redor da recém-inaugurada linha de montagem da Proving Factory em CoventryCoventryCriando um fornecedor automotivo de nível um a partir do zero em apenas dois anos soa como uma ...
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ArticleGênio do Jaguar?
Um novo motor no Centro de Fabricação em Wolverhampton poderia possibilitar o desejo da JLR de fazer 1m de carros por anoA Jaguar está agora fazendo seus próprios motores, pela primeira vez desde meados de 1990, quando o AJ6, AJ16 e V12 foram aposentados. A nova unidade de £500 milhões, ...
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ArticleJLR’s new engine centre opens doors for Union
UK – The Leeds-based company supplied more than 40 high-speed doors for the OEM’s £500m facility in Wolverhampton, which opened earlier this year. A combination of variously sized Ramdoors, Bulldoors, Matadoors and Picadoors were installed.All the doors are activated by radar motion sensors for fully automated operation, plus active infrared ...
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ArticleProdrive produces composites graduates
UK – The 25 apprentices reached level-two NVQ in composite engineering, after completing what Prodrive claims is the largest composite apprenticeship scheme in the country. The newly qualified individuals are now working at the company’s Milton Keynes factory, on programmes including component manufacture for British sports vehicles and supercars.Prodrive says ...
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ArticleMejorando el suministro de piezas
Una nueva alianza de colaboración de 20 millones de libras pretende innovar, desarrollar y producir diversos componentes de automóvil; AMS pudo visitar la nueva instalación de ensamblado de The Proving Factory' en Coventry Crear un proveedor automotriz de primer nivel desde cero en solo unos años parece una tarea ...