Automation – Page 157
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ArticleMacro ergonomics
By assessing hundreds of assembly tasks through virtual simulation, ergonomists at Ford have helped to drastically reduce worker-injury ratesIndustrial athletes, that’s how Ford affectionately regards its assembly line employees. The phrase is an acknowledgement of the physicality required to work on an automotive production line. However, the OEM also recognises ...
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Mazda Hofu to make new CX-5
Japan – The plant in Yamaguchi prefecture will start producing the vehicle in November, joining the Ujina factory in Hiroshima where it is already manufactured. Mazda says the production launch is in response to growing worldwide demand for SUVs.“As with the CX-3, starting production of the CX-5 at Hofu Plant ...
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ArticleVW and Tata initiate strategic alliance
Germany/India – The two companies have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) which will form the basis of long-term cooperation in specific areas, with the overall objective of jointly developing components and potentially also vehicle concepts. The project will be led by the VW Group’s Skoda brand.“Our aim with the ...
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ArticleVojvodich joins Ford board
US – Taking up the role on April 1, Lynn Vojvodich will sit on the Nominating and Governance, Sustainability and Innovation and Audit Committees. Last month, Vojvodich completed her tenure with software company Salesforce, where she had served as executive vice-president and chief marketing officer since 2013.“Lynn is a proven ...
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ArticleDetroit Electric enters Far East JV
UK – The deal with Far East Smarter Energy Group of China has helped to secure investment of $1.8 billion for the development and manufacture of electric vehicles (EVs) over three years. Detroit Electric’s European operations will receive $370m during the next four years, enabling it to complete the homologation ...
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Article
Uma ordem para o progresso
Após as quedas na demanda dos últimos anos, os fabricantes de automóveis no Brasil e Argentina antecipam um aumento nas fortunas do mercado e um aumento na produção de veículosFabricantes de veículos em apuros que operam no Brasil estão prevendo um retorno ao crescimento em 2017, após o mercado ter ...
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Terminando em alta
Retificação, acabamento e usinagem de descarga elétrica passaram de processo de nicho para fabricação tradicionalEra uma vez, processos de usinagem, tais como retificação e usinagem de descarga elétrica (EDM) que eram vistos como tecnologias "obscuras". Hoje, no entanto, estes métodos de máquina avançadas entraram no mainstream, com a indústria automotiva ...
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ArticleUnder contract
Valmet Automotive is experiencing rapid growth with a new Daimler contract to build its GLC SUV, partnership with a leading Chinese battery supplier and engineering acquisitions in EuropeIt might have been a chilly -12°C outside the Uusikaupunki plant on the day of our visit, but things are certainly heating up ...
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ArticleGM and Honda pick Fuel Cell team
US – Suheb Haq of GM will become the first president of the newly created Fuel Cell System Manufacturing (FCSM) while Tomomi Kosaka of Honda will serve as its vice-president. The board of directors will comprise three executives from each company and will include a rotating chairperson.Together, Haq and Kosaka ...
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ArticleFord trials large-scale 3D printing
US – The OEM is exploring how substantial, one-piece components such as spoilers could be printed for the prototyping and future production of vehicles, with resultant decreases in weight and fuel consumption. Ford is using a Stratasys Infinite Build 3D printer at its research centre in Dearborn, Michigan.“With Infinite Build ...
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ArticleBuscando la recuperación
Tras las caídas en la demanda de los últimos años, los fabricantes de automóviles de Brasil y Argentina anticipan una recuperación en el mercado y un aumento en la producción de vehículosLos fabricantes de vehículos que operan en Brasil pronostican un retorno al crecimiento en 2017, después de que el ...
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ArticleProcesos de acabado
El rectificado, el tratamiento superficial y la electroerosión han dejado de ser procesos de fabricación específicos y se han generalizadoHace algún tiempo, los procesos de mecanizado tales como el rectificado y el mecanizado por descarga eléctrica (EDM) o electroerosión eran vistos como tecnologías marginales. Sin embargo, hoy en día estos ...
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ArticlePSA acquires Opel/Vauxhall
France – In a €2.2 billion ($2.3 billion) deal, the French vehicle-maker will take control of GM’s two European brands plus its regional financial division. The transaction will make PSA the second-largest automotive company in Europe after the Volkswagen Group, with a market share of 17%.“We are proud to join ...
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ArticleHonda’s $150m for ten-speed transmissions
US – The investment will be spread across two plants in Georgia and Ohio, enabling Honda to produce the automatic transmissions for front-wheel-drive vehicles. Production started today at Honda Precision Parts of Georgia (HPPG) in Tallapoosa.At HPPG, the OEM is spending $100m for a new assembly line and production modifications, ...
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ArticleHonda to double UK apprentices
UK – The vehicle-maker said it would expand its apprenticeship training for this year after receiving the highest number of applications since the scheme launched in 1999. Honda Swindon, which has become the production hub for the new Civic, is midway through recruiting September’s intake of apprentices.At present, the successful ...
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ArticleHarnessed dress-packs for welding robots
igus says it now offers fully assembled dress-packs for rapid replacement of energy chain systems on welding robots. The company explains that these can be custom designed, drop-in replacements, that can be connected quickly and minimise downtime.These packs consist of a multi-axis triflex R energy chain, filled with chainflex cables ...
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ArticleSmall-boring tools
New versions of the 105 Supermini are now available for boring, internal grooving, chamfering, threading, broaching, facing and parting-off exotic alloys and steels, says Horn.The company says these tools feature a new coating, substrate and microgeometry; the carbide inserts are designed to machine bores in highly alloyed materials from 0.2mm ...
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ArticleHuman-robot gap and flush measurement
Nextsense says its Calipri model series for the gap and flush measurement now includes a model variant (C12) suitable for the use in the human-robot collaboration (HRC) area.The company says the C12 variant has been applied to an HRC robot operating with a German premium segment car manufacturer. The HRC ...
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ArticleCompact structured light sensor
LMI Technologies says its Gocator 3210 stereo snapshot sensor is suitable for 3D inspection, quality control applications. Features include two 2-megapixel cameras for high-resolution 3D snapshot scans, a large FOV (120 x 85mm) for picking up multiple features at once, and onboard hardware acceleration to achieve 4Hz for full size ...
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An order for progress
After the dips in demand of recent years, car makers in Brazil and Argentina anticipate an upturn in market fortunes and a boost in vehicle productionEmbattled vehicle makers operating in Brazil are predicting a return to growth in 2017 after the market sunk last year to nearly half its 2012 ...