Automation – Page 164
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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 ...
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ArticleFull speed ahead
Solutions such as 3D smart snapshot sensors are offering faster, more data-rich automotive quality controlThe main challenge in automotive quality control today is acquiring sufficient data and processing it to measure complicated geometries in the shortest cycle time. Established laser line solutions do not offer enough data to fully determine ...
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ArticleMetal futures
Press hardenable steels enable automotive designers to find light and strong solutions. Now, the second generation of PHS will allow OEMs even greater scopeHot forming has become very important to the automotive industry as a way of meeting specific crash-performance criteria and ensuring low overall weight at an affordable cost. ...
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ArticleHonda hits 100m-unit milestone
Japan – The company reached this cumulative total after starting automotive production in 1963 with the T360 mini-truck and the S500 sports car. Honda built its first dedicated plant one year later and now has 34 such facilities on five continents.Honda’s original automotive factory, at Sayama City in Saitama Prefecture, ...
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Article
Toyota announces reshuffle in America
US – Effective from January 3, 2017, the appointments are part of a move toward regional autonomy and self-reliance, incorporating the ‘One Toyota’ strategy. The location of business affiliates and senior personnel at a single site is aimed at improving decision-making, sharing best practices and maximising human resources.New presidents with ...
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ArticleVW unveils CKD plant near Nairobi
Kenya – The first vehicle off the production line was a Polo Vivo, a bestseller in Sub-Saharan Africa. The factory at Thika, which is a joint project with DT Dobie, will be able to produce up to 1,000 cars per year in its initial phase. Its annual capacity may be ...
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ArticleGKN to expand in North Carolina
US – The driveline supplier announced an expenditure of $179m over the next five years to grow its manufacturing facilities in Alamance, Catawba, Lee and Person. The investment will support increasing demand for its all-wheel-drive (AWD) and eDrive products among North American vehicle-makers.Phil Swash, CEO of GKN Driveline, described the ...
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Article
Flannery to lead Hyundai in America
US – As interim president and CEO, W. Gerald Flannery will take over the responsibilities of Dave Zuchowski, who will be leaving the company. Hyundai Motor America said the appointment continued a reorganisation that began late this year.Flannery joined Hyundai in 1987, having previously worked as senior attorney at Ford, ...
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WebinarKUKA podcasts: A robotic future
Over the course of three podcasts Kuka’s Corporate Innovation manager, Dominik Boesl discusses the precedents, current trends and future innovations that have and will continue to shape the future of robotics. Dominik explains why today we are seen as a generation of “robotic-immigrants” ...
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ArticleCarlos Ghosn – hungry for even more power?
As the end of the year approaches, news from Japan has emerged about what Nissan – or more specifically, Carlos Ghosn – intends to do with Mitsubishi. Japanese corporate law allowed Nissan to take control of its troubled compatriot by acquiring just 34% of the company for 237 billion yen ...
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Article
Mazda Hofu starts making CX-3
Japan – Plant No.1 in Yamaguchi began manufacturing the subcompact crossover yesterday, becoming the third plant to do so after Ujina Plant No.1 in Hiroshima and AutoAlliance (Thailand). Mazda said the move would strengthen its supply system for the growing SUV segment.The OEM is transferring some production from Ujina, which ...
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Webinar
KUKA podcast: A robotic future, episode 2
Over the course of three podcasts Kuka’s Corporate Innovation manager, Dominik Boesl discusses the precedents, current trends and future innovations that have and will continue to shape the future of robotics.Dominik explains why today we are seen as a generation of “robotic-immigrants” but how our grandchildren will grow up as ...
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Article
Terras de oportunidade
O forte crescimento da produção verificada na Polônia, Hungria, República Checa, Romênia e Eslováquia mostra que o leste europeu ainda é uma grande atração para OEMsNo final de 1990 e início de 2000, a Europa Oriental até a fronteira russa recebeu um investimento substancial de empresas de veículos europeias, japonesas ...
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Article
Força de trabalho do futuro
Brian Fortney, líder de negócios global, força de trabalho e serviços de treinamento na Rockwell Automation conta para a AMS como as empresas automotivas podem se preparar para uma era digital conectada - e para a chegada da geração do milênio. Joanne Perry (JP): Pode explicar o que OEMs normalmente ...
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ArticleBrose to install paintshop at Coventry
UK – A £10m ($13.5m) investment will enable the establishment of a new facility which can e-coat up to 3.5 seats per year. The paintshop is due to come online in August 2017.The facility will allow Brose to bring the seat coating process in-house, which the company says will improve ...