All Article articles – Page 89
-
ArticleWinkelmann named as Bugatti leader
France – Replacing Wolfgang Dürheimer, who is retiring after five years as president, Stephan Winkelmann will take over on January 1. Winkelmann has served the Volkswagen Group as managing director of Audi since 2016.Before taking the role at Audi, Winkelmann was president and CEO of Lamborghini for 11 years. He ...
-
ArticleToyota responds to Kobe quality issues
Japan – The vehicle-maker said it had examined data provided by Kobe Steel, which has admitted quality violations in aluminium and copper products, and “confirmed that the materials satisfy applicable statutory standards, and our own internal standard, for key safety and durability requirements for vehicles”. However, Toyota emphasised that its ...
-
Article8-spindle multi for turn-milling components
German turning machine builder, Index, says it has launched a second 8-spindle CNC multi-spindle automatic, designated MS40-8, that is capable of turn-milling components from bar up to 40mm diameter. CNC multis normally have six spindles. The two additional stations offer the manufacture of components of higher complexity in the short ...
-
ArticlePlug & play process automation
The Simatic PCS 7 Plant Automation Accelerator is a cross-system engineering tool for planners and automation specialists, says Siemens. The company claims the object-oriented approach of the system enables users to work on a central data platform, delivering integrated planning based on an electronic workflow, starting with plant engineering through ...
-
ArticleA curva ascendente do servo
A recente instalação do que é reivindicada como a maior máquina de serviço em qualquer parte do setor global de produção de metais automotivos demonstra os principais avanços feitos na tecnologia de pressão.A tecnologia de prensa servo vem aumentando cada vez mais as aplicações de moldagem de metal automotivo há ...
-
ArticleMotivação para autonomia
A Suzuki permaneceu independente de grandes empreendimentos conjuntos apesar de se tornar cada vez mais dependente de mercados fora do Japão Em uma indústria onde as fusões e colaborações entre os principais participantes são cada vez mais comuns, a Suzuki continua tendo um valor desproporcional. Em grande parte, evitou grandes ...
-
ArticleVolvo plans Polestar plant in Chengdu
China – The Swedish company and its Chinese owner, Geely Holding, announced that together they will invest 5 billion yuan ($754.5m) to support Polestar’s product, brand and industrial development, which will include the establishment of a manufacturing facility in Chengdu. The Polestar 1 hybrid coupe will be made there from ...
-
ArticleMazda Hofu starts making new CX-5
Japan – Plant 2 in Yamaguchi Prefecture has joined Hiroshima Plant and other facilities in China and Malaysia as a producer of the new model. Mazda said this will enable it to “flexibly and rapidly” meet growing global demand for crossovers.At the production launch, Hidenori Kawakami, executive officer and plant ...
-
Article
Volando libre
Suzuki se ha mantenido al margen de las grandes asociaciones de empresas a pesar de depender cada vez más de los mercados fuera de JapónLas colaboraciones y fusiones son cada vez más frecuentes en el sector automotriz, pero Suzuki permanece independiente. Hasta el momento ha evitado las grandes alianzas con ...
-
ArticleEl auge de las servoprensas
La reciente instalación de la mayor servoprensa de conformación de metal en el sector automotriz muestra los últimos avances en la tecnología de prensadoLa tecnología de prensado servo lleva tiempo avanzando en las aplicaciones de conformado metálico en el sector automotriz. Los motivos no son exclusivos para el sector automotriz ...
-
ArticleIacovelli to replace Klebert at Schuler
Germany – Schuler said that CEO Stefan Klebert “is not extending his contract and will leave the company by mutual consent” on April 24, 2018, the day of the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting. His successor, Domenico Iacovelli, has served as deputy CEO since 2007.Klebert joined Schuler on October 1, 2010. The ...
-
ArticlePower measurement software
Yokogawa says its new WTViewerE software provides PC connectivity for the company’s power analysers – including the WT3000E, WT1800E, WT500 and WT300E models - via Ethernet, USB, GPIB or RS232 interfaces. The company claims this connectivity allows users to control, monitor, collect and analyse measurement data, and save measurements remotely.WTViewerE ...
-
Article
Composites take shape
Pressing and forming technology for composite materials are a key part of modern automotive production. Andrew Williams looks at the latest developmentsWhen manufacturing composite parts, companies throughout the automotive supply chain commonly rely on hydraulic press systems, which are generally far better at increasing the curing time of materials compared ...
-
Article
另类发展
按照惯例，单座汽车是用于赛车当中，但是BAC背后的家族事业却在努力制造例外。JJP_2096单座汽车通常是只用于赛车中的，但是也有例外。其中一个例外就是英国利物浦Briggs Automotive Company公司生产的BAC Mono汽车。该车的底盘较低，诞生于2011年，是Ian和Neil Briggs两兄弟脑力劳动的产物。他们两个现在仍然在公司进行日常工作，分别担任设计及产品开发部总监。该车被公司描述为“道路法律超级跑车”，现在已经出现第三款变体车型，售价为200,000英镑。该车采用碳纤维复合材质包括钢铁防护壳车体，尽管第一眼望去，最明显的特点可能是封闭的前段和开放的后端，发动机和排气系统一目了然。 自2015年以来, BAC的产量已经从一年3辆增长到一个月3辆。现在至少有75辆汽车在使用中。每个汽车的核心特性都是根据特定驾驶员而制造的，驾驶员的尺寸英语定义座舱的设计 — 比如从座椅到踏板的距离。轻质也是一个核心设计原则，可以提高速度，并且不需要庞大而笨重的发动机。目前的版本使用2.5升205马力Mountune发动机，根据选择，净重仅为580公斤。汽车的最高速为170mph，可以在2.8秒内时速从零达到60mph。公司在三年半前搬到目前的场地（离John Lennon Airport很近 — 跑到偶尔会用于汽车的测试）。当时的产量是“每年3辆”，现在是“每个月3辆”。这些数据是由制造总监Rainer Kuehlwein证实的。他是在公司成立之初就进入公司的。与BAC创始人一样，Kuehwein在汽车业各种部门工作过，比如保时捷公司。他说，BAC雇佣的每27个人中，就有10个人是在制造业直接工作的。不出所料，尽管人数很少，Kuehlwein肯定地说，Liverpool的工厂只限于人工装配程序，而主要的组件都是从外面采购的，尽管有些组件是在厂内组装的。事实上，公司的供应商数量要比员工数量还多。大约100家供应商为每辆车提供大约1,200个零部件。他说，车上最大的部件装配就是后部，包括变速箱和后悬架，这是在厂内装配的少数部件之一。Kuehlwein指出，BCA Mono汽车上使用的Hewland公司变速箱实际上是一个“结构元素”，替代底盘。BAC自己负责的另一个主要部件装配是踏板箱，由客户定制人体工学重要因素构成。相比之下，管状底盘焊接完全是与（事先安装好的）铝材地板一同送递的。 BAC公司称，他们使用的最先进的装配技术是“带有电子读数的机械扭矩扳手”Kuehlwein还说，有趣的是那些负责相关工作的供应商，包括底盘焊接，大部分来自英国 — 比率超过90%，还有一少部分来自德国和意大利。事实上，按照大型制造商要靠近供应基地的原则，Kuehlwein称，大约有“20-25%”的BAC供应商偶在英格兰西北部附近。将采购零部件的唯一来源都转移到一个外部公司，这也是标准政策。Kuehlwein称，如果公司开始在同一个时间生产不同的变体车型，那么这个政策可能会改变，即从不同的供应商处采购相似却不同的零部件。但是他坚持认为BAC目前的政策是正确的。他说，“我们永远不会从不同的供应商案例采购一模一样的零部件。我们的目的就是寻求单一供应商的质量水平、送递计划和价格，因为其他政策与我们的生产量并不对等。”建构这种网络和委任供应商的基本理念在这种高水平作业中不太会改变。实际上Kuehlwein的情况恰恰相反，BAC想要更多依赖外部的“系统供应商”。但是他还强调称，自尊心不允许他们跌入这种状况。他说，“持续的工作和交流”是BAC与供应商关系的特点。正如Kuehlwein解释那样，Mono最聪明的一点就是汽车的客户化订制符合个别采购不需要任何根本汽车结构设计的理念 — 最明显的就是底盘仍然是原来的。改变的事内部到驾驶舱 — 从座椅到踏板，以及方向盘位置的举例。此外，公司与供应商密切合作的关系也是在公司选择为个别用户设计座椅的方面也有体现。Kuehlwein称，英国的供应商是Pro-Seat公司，该公司是制造极端环境下客户定制座椅方面的专家，比如F3赛车。他解释说，BAC有一个“座椅装置底盘”，使用了Pro-Seat自己专利工艺，人被放置于高效座垫上，在真空系统运作之前，就准确根据人的形态塑形，记录每一个细节，以便能够准确复制座椅。此外，Kuehlwein还指出，BAC与供应商的密切合作能够促进真正的创新。举例来说，仅仅在去年，公司引进了碳合成材料车轮，用在于英国Dymag公司一同开发的汽车上。Kuehlwein清楚地说，这个车轮“在每个角落都能减重2公斤”，包含了“世界上第一个最轻17英尺车轮”。尽管那些选择这种车轮的客户需要多拿出12,000英镑，但是仍然非常风靡。目前已经“有25套车轮正在送递的道路上”。Kuehlwein说，与Liverpool有限的部件装配工作不同，汽车本身上的工作是从他所说的“底盘外套”和“动力系统外观”开始的。他认为从本质上说，“我们从裸底盘开始，安装一个油箱系统，电气系统和前段，然后就是发动机和后端，包括变速箱 — 在这一点上，我们是真正启动了。”Kuehlwein证实，所有这些阶段和流程都是纯手工完成的 — 混合了车辆运输的物流掌控和人工机械装置。车上使用的粘合剂非常少，但是几乎在所有相关供应商级别上都存在这种状况。他举例说，“我们有所谓的主体 — 在汽车最上面有一个外壳，然后又黏上一个副架。” 装配流程是手工的 — 混合了车辆元素物理掌控与人工机械安装这种BAC自我内部装配流程中的关键参数是螺丝固定中“确保正确扭矩”的根本。Kuehlwein补充说，其中最为关键的就是特殊的制造手册，尽管其他的是有装配工人的技术和经验决定的。尽管如此，说最先进的装配技术是“具有电子读数的机械力矩扳手”却好不夸张。他说，车间适用这些工具的工人，都是从赛车或高端车部门来的，因此对工作需要具有固有的认识。但是作为公司对开发自主供应BAC信心的象征，今年首次雇佣了学徒，这在以后每年都要进行。Kuehlwein称，按照12个月计划，有两个人将进入董事会，并且很有希望在明年永远录用。这在实际生产计划中，可以为个体汽车制造4周的前置时间。Kuehlwein肯定地说，“这是我们第一次接触底盘到车辆为驾驶预备完毕的时间。”但是实际要求是，从订单到客户交付的等待时间从6个月到9个月不等。但是，车辆受欢迎程度对制造工艺具有一定的而影响。Kuehlwein说，现在至少有75辆汽车正在使用中，这足以产生足够数量的反馈，了解真实的使用中的表现，将整个质量管理系统反馈到Liverpool。他说，“我们可以从车队运营中获得教训，并且勇加强生产。” BAC与供应商的合作关系有助于促进真正的创新此外Kuehlwein称，为了这个目的，公司计划极大提高自己的IT支持。特别的是，他说公司现在实行Autodesk公司出品的Fusion Lifecycle PLM（产品生命周期管理）系统。Autodesk公司的软件已经是公司的主要设计工具了。他还说，该软件的主要特性是云基，一旦厂内开始实行，下一步就能从系统延伸到供应商那里。他解释说，“这会改进我们错误识别及解决的能力，因为所有的信息都在一个系统里。然后我们就能根据工程、生产或供应商进行建构，并规划工作流。”实际上，Kuehlwein说除此以外，BAC还计划实行另一个云基软件系统 — NetSuite ERP（企业资源规划）系统，目前由Oracle供应。他说，公司将获得完全综合性的设计、生产和相关物流及业务管理能力，全部都得到深入发展。完成这些的目标期限是从现在开始到12-15个月之后。公司最终会发展成什么样子，现在还不得而知，但是可以肯定的是，公司制造的汽车仍然会吸足人们的眼球，其他汽车都无法望其项背。
-
ArticleOff the grid
By convention, single-seater cars are machines for the racing circuit but one family business is striving to create and manufacture the exceptionSingle seater cars are usually machines for the race track only but there can be exceptions. One of them is the BAC Mono, made by small UK company Briggs ...
-
ArticleMaster piecers
AMS reports on the techniques used in the typically bespoke but ever larger-scale production of blanksIn itself, the term ‘blanking’ denotes something fairly straightforward and unexceptional – creating flat shapes out of sheet metal that may then be subjected to some further process such as bending. But companies wanting to ...
-
ArticleFord Craiova starts making EcoSport
Romania – The company said that it switched to European production in place of exports from Chennai, India, in order to meet rising demand. The change required an investment of €200m ($235.8m).“EcoSport is another example of how Ford is growing our business on our strengths, including world-class SUVs,” said Steven ...
-
ArticleDigital infrastructure
Smart Ecosystem 4.0 offers a cloud-based hardware and software infrastructure that includes components equipped with sensors through to digital services, claims Schaeffler. The company says its aim is to transform conventional mechanical products and integrate them into the digital world and it has recently presented a rolling bearing system that ...
-
ArticleHonda Anna reaches 25m engines
US – The milestone unit, built on Line 4, was a 1.5-litre turbo for a 2018 Accord made at Marysville Auto Plant, also in Ohio. Honda’s largest engine factory worldwide has reached this cumulative total after 32 years of operation.Anna Engine Plant recently received investment of $47m to introduce engines ...
-
ArticleRenault evolves its Drive strategy
Having driven the change, Renault is now driving into the future – according to its new strategic strapline. Just a few days after Ford announced its latest corporate strategy under new CEO Jim Hackett, Renault’s long-standing leader, Carlos Ghosn, announced its own strategic plan. According to the CEO, Renault had ...