Automation – Page 191
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ArticleAir compressor deal for Wabco and Cummins
US – Under the new agreement, Wabco will be the exclusive supplier to Cummins in North America for air compressors in trucks, buses and industrial equipment. The deal builds on the joint venture, Wabco Compressor Manufacturing, which was established in 1998 in Charleston, South Carolina.“Alongside making further use of Wabco’s ...
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Article
- 沼气应用
很多OEM制造商加紧可持续性项目，有两个公司即将到达关键里程碑。AMS报道通用和宝马沼气项目在再生能源上的成功和经验。去年，宝马集团采用再生能源，基本满足集团所需能源。这是历史第一次，也是公司实现100%绿色能源道路上的重要一步。公司在这个道路上的速度非常快；到今年3月份，仅仅是新的措施开始12个月之后，新能源使用在整个能源消耗中的比率就从51%上升到58%。宝马集团可耻性发展与环保部长Ursula Mathar在去年的“可持续性机制报告”里说，“我们的目标很明确，对转型新能源也有具体的规划。但是她说，“经济可行性”和建立“适当的框架条件”将对宝马逐步实现规划非常关键：即要实现提高全球各地工厂的能源效率；安装可再生能源资源；向第三方采购绿色能源。2015年，宝马集团采用再生能源，基本满足集团所需能源，这是历史第一次。到2016年3月，可再生能源使用比率达到了58%在今年3月发布的最新“可持续性价值报告”中，宝马公司称，自2006年，集团的工厂已经节省能源36%。2015年，每辆车的耗能比前年已经降低了2.7%，只有2.19MWh。可再生能源设备包括太阳能电池板（比如英国的Mini Oxford工厂），德国莱比锡工厂的风力涡轮机，华盛顿SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers的水里发电，以及南卡罗莱纳Spartanburg和南非Rosslyn工厂的沼气。宝马公司在报告中称，集团的战略重点不是在任何特定的可再生能源上，而是在巩固各种技术上：“我们决定每个工厂适合什么理念的技术，才对地方最有利”。集团还特别说明了一个计划，就是在未来数年内会在德国工厂安装光伏系统。 The technical centre at Warren, Michigan, is one of 22 GM facilities worldwide with solar arrays通用一鸣惊人也是在3月份，另一个可再生能源巨头 — 通用公司获得了美国环保局（EPA）颁发的第五届“新能源”奖。2015年，通用在美国的工厂里，每辆车耗能下降了5.6%，只有1.9MWh。通用公司全球制造高级副总裁Jim DeLuca说，“我们不断追求新技术，降低驾车对环境的影响，并在汽车制造中减少碳排放。”2011年，当通用首次投入可再生能源时，就制定目标，要到2020年实现每年创造125MW绿色能源。2013年到2015年，公司向该项目投资3,600万美元，投资内容有：在22个工厂里安装天阳能电池，创造48MW的能量；在9个地方建设电动车充电站；3个垃圾沼气设备；1个垃圾焚烧发电设备。2016年，通用将完成突破发电125MW可再生能源的目标 — 比预计提前4年即将在墨西哥和美国开展的风能项目每年将为两国的通用公司提供34MW和30MW的能源；在德克萨斯Arlington装配厂，每年使用风能生产125,000辆SUV汽车。公司称，公司还在推进收购太阳能板，而不是依赖采购协议。公司最近投入到肯塔基Bowling Green公司1MW电能项目当中。沼气是一可再生能源战略中的支柱，从开始出现到现在，仍然是中流砥柱。有了俄亥俄、印第安纳和密歇根的项目，汽车制造商已经成为美国最大的行业沼气使用者。通用公司的工厂现在至少能获得105MW绿色能源。到今年3月为止，公司10年以来的新能源探索不仅帮助减少对环境的影响，而且还节省了8,000万美元。据通用公司全球可再生能源经理Rob Threlkeld说，有两个风能项目会在今年晚些时候上线，公司届时将突破125MW目标。动物粪便是BMW Rosslyn的能源材料2016年3月，宝马公司在南非Rosslyn启动一个可再生能源项目。公司投资60亿兰特（约合4.083亿美元）从3Series转型生产X3。在收购Bio2Watt之后，从2015年10月开始接受绿色能源。该公司在Bronkhorstspruit(位于首都东部50公里)的农场里经营一个沼气发电厂。这个农场接收牛和鸡的排泄物，还有附近Tshwane的垃圾，而且还有雨水收集堤坝。 BMW Rosslyn has found a good use for animal waste, in the generation of green power via a third-party plant有机废物被送到两个厌氧分解池里，生产沼气，然后进入内燃机发电。这些电进入电力网，售给宝马等公司。目前，有40,000吨牛粪和20,000吨昏黑废物已经转化成沼气，用于供热和供电。Bio2Watt工厂能发电440W。BMW ...
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ArticleHitting the gas
As OEMs step up their sustainability programmes, two leading players are arriving at key milestones. AMS reports on how biogas projects have contributed greatly to the renewable energy success of GM and BMWLast year, for the first time, the BMW Group met the majority of its electrical energy needs by ...
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ArticleTaylor takes charge of GM’s compliance
US – The vehicle-maker has appointed Jeffrey Taylor as deputy general counsel and chief compliance officer, with immediate effect. He will report to Craig Glidden, executive vice-president and general counsel.Taylor will have overall responsibility for the ethics and compliance programme. The vehicle-maker says he will “support GM’s business operations and ...
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ArticleNikolai takes Gigante role at Waupaca
US – Currently COO and president, Mike Nikolai will replace Gary Gigante as CEO of the Hitachi Metals subsidiary from July 1. Gigante will retire, as will Kris Pfaehler, whose responsibilities will be assumed by current executive vice-president John Wiesbrock.Nikolai started at Waupaca Foundry in 1993 as a metallurgist at ...
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ArticleFaustmann leads Pre-Series Center, Audi
Germany – As head of the facility since April, Thomas Faustmann now oversees the building of concept cars, prototypes and pre-series vehicles. He has served the Volkswagen Group since 1991.Faustmann first worked in Germany, starting as a production planner at VW Salzgitter before moving to Wolfsburg the following year to ...
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ArticleBMW makes senior appointments
US – Chris Koenders will leave his role as executive vice-president, Operations, to become head of Project Retail Channel Performance Europe. He will be replaced by Petter Witt, moving from his role as regional vice-president, Western Region. The changes will take effect on May 1.Koenders joined the vehicle-maker in 1993 ...
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ArticleFCA to invest $74.7m at Trenton
US – The vehicle-maker will retool North Plant at Trenton Engine Complex, Michigan, to produce next-generation, four-cylinder engines from the third quarter of 2017. Assembly will take place on the flexible production line which was installed in 2012.“This investment in our flexible production line at Trenton North will allow us ...
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ArticleFord spends $1.6bn at Livonia and Ohio
US – The investment is divided into $1.4 billion for Livonia Transmission, Michigan, and $200m for Ohio Assembly Plant. The former will build a new, ten-speed transmission which will be introduced first in the new F-150 Raptor and certain other F-150 models. The investment at the latter will support production ...
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ArticleVolvo makes American leadership changes
US – Jim Raggi will become regional vice-president, Southern Region; Gregor Hembrough will be vice-president, Northeast Region; and Michael Cottone will be promoted to regional vice-president, Western Region. The reshuffle is part of Volvo’s ongoing transformation in the US.Raggi was previously responsible for the Northeast Region, and Volvo says he ...
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ArticleLaser radar for large-scale metrology
Nikon Metrology says the Laser Radar MV331 and MV351 units will perform high-speed vision scans enabling faster measurement of complex features, sections and surfaces. New usability features such as an integrated robot mount and removable air filters makes the system suited to robotic inspection on the shop floor.The company says ...
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ArticleMazda MX-5 reaches 1m units
Japan – The milestone was reached on April 22, after 27 years of mass production at Ujina Plant No.1 in Hiroshima. Mazda is currently making the fourth generation of the model, known as the Roadster in Japan.The original MX-5 debuted at the Chicago Auto Show in 1989. A generation later, ...
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ArticleLow cutting force modular drill
Kyocera has launched its new Magic Drill DRA, featuring a replaceable drill bit, which the company claims offers a high level of drilling accuracy at a low cutting force.The design of drill bit and chip flute has been optimised for stability and effective chip removal and features Kyocera’s Megacoat ...
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ArticleFord recycles F-150 aluminium
US – The vehicle-maker says it is recycling as much as 20m pounds of scrap per month using the closed-loop system at Dearborn Truck Plant, Michigan. This equates to more than 30,000 F-150 bodies in the latest configuration, a SuperCrew body including doors, bonnet, tailgate and 6.5ft cargo box.According to ...
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ArticleAudi Neckarsulm starts A8 production
Germany – The carmaker invested in additional body construction and assembly facilities for the new model, strengthening the ability of the plant to make large sedans. Completion of the upgrade took 17 months from groundbreaking.According to Audi, the new bodyshop was a particular planning challenge. A roof was built over ...
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ArticleTravel blog: Painting the town red in Karlsruhe
It’s that time of year when industrial coatings companies of various hues briefly coagulate to show off shiny new ideas, mix with others of their kind and enjoy the general swirl of an international trade show. PaintExpo this week has drawn 501 exhibitors, including 158 from 26 countries outside Germany, ...
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Article3D imager array for in-process measurement
The new Faro Cobalt 3D imager is equipped with dedicated on-board processors and a smart sensor that allows multi-imager array configurations enabling manufacturers to improve productivity, claims the company.Faro says the system allows an unlimited number of 3D imagers to be placed in array configurations almost anywhere in a manufacturing ...
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Article
聚四氟乙烯轴承
现在的发展趋势有点不太关注聚四氟乙烯（PTFE）支座，但是在装配和性能上，小小的组件却能有大用途。在车门、阀盖和汽车车体阀盖上的折叶是所有汽车制造最直接的原件部分。但是通常来说，简单的外表会掩盖产品内部复杂的技术含量。这就是德国Willich(Norglide旗下)的Saint Gobain公司产品的特征。产品并不是传统的球形或滚子轴承，而是由两个同心环材料构成 — 里面的圆圈是PTEF（聚四氟乙烯）复合物，外面的圈是由钢、不锈钢或铝构成，中间层可能是由铝、铜或其他材质构成。Saint Gobain公司全球市场部经理Mirko Hundertmark已经证实这些细节。Saint Gobain公司是汽车内饰公司，位于Willich。他明确地表示，汽车业是公司产品最大的市场，产品主要售给以及供应商和二级供应商，而不是汽车制造商。他说，“我们是组件供应商”。他说，公司的研发活动分布在全球各地，主要是在欧洲、美国和亚洲。Hundertmark称，与客户合作开发产品是不变的目标。但是令人惊奇的是，他承认公司并不太愿意做到这个地步。 The metal-backed PTFE bearings made at Saint Gobain are produced under the Norglide brand他大胆地说，很多汽车相关公司只是“不喜欢”在项目初期与Saint Gobain合作。至于原因是什么不太清楚，但是很多人只是把轴承当做简单的商品，而没有对产品最终质量或性能关注很多。这已经成为装配厂合作中明显的因素。Hundertmark坚持认为，这样只会失去提高汽车性能和制造装配流程的机会。他说，“我们介入得越早，在这两方面就能获得更多。”“这是肯定的了”。在装配流程方面，Hundertmark说，甚至原件部分与封盖铰链一样简单明了，也在总效率上有很大影响。他举了一个例子，内在稳固性问题，车门先安装然后再一处，在装配过程中再岸上，以便进行喷漆、装上内饰机械原件和装饰品。而且，汽车喷漆流程与感知质量息息相关，购买者的决策也是一个基本原件，其影响力巨大。Hundertmark解释说，有一个严格要求，就是不能有异常电流通过汽车车体，才能保证稳定的上漆能力，但是这种零部件可能会造成电阻变化，影响效果。Hundertmark说，为了克服这个问题，Norglide轴承的导电性可能因为在PTFE圈添加不同的填充剂而发生变化。他说，“我们能将材料调节成非导电或导电的”，如果需要还可调整为“高度导电”。此外，如果需要在零部件添加凹槽，也可以增加导电性。但是，这种情况会变得更加复杂，因为在有些情况下，铰链需要一边导电，另一边不到点。他说，“轴心点的接触区域一定要非导电性”，并称在那些区域需要避免产生“升降台”，这个地方的铰链移除时就会断裂，从而影响喷漆抛光质量。他说，在这种情况下，公司需要使用非导电PTFE炉衬材料，成为LR。有趣的是，虽然产品并不是特别新，但是在采用是还会有“区域差异”。“我们介入得越早，在这两方面就能获得更多。” - Mirko Hundertmark, Saint Gobain还有一个新产品，就是使用一个刚外圈和铝衣外层的轴承系列。Hundertmark解释说，这个产品的目的就是解决潜在的腐蚀风险，这在纯钢圈用于铝质车身时经常发生 — 而铝车身越来越得到制造商们的青睐，是他们汽车轻量化发展努力的方向。这受到铝衣阴极的影响。他说，在这种情况下实现创新就是要在不损坏负荷的情况下否定清理，从而确定铰链的机械性能。公司对产品的抗腐蚀性能非常有信心。公司称，ISO认证测验已经证明产品具有高度抗腐蚀性，能抵抗高浓度盐分和潮湿环境。比如说，放在镀锌钢或铝和中欧，并暴露于盐雾中超过1,000个小时，轴承上完全没有红秀。Hundertmark强调，从生产视角来看，在装配过程中使用新产品不需要任何之前所使用过的产品。特别需要强调的是，他们不要求特殊运送技术，就能在装配操作中保留喷漆。他肯定地说，“这绝对客观”，所有系列产品都在装配中可适用人工、半自动和全自动流程。他说，选择的基本点是“出于以客户为基本的整体考虑”。事实上，产品是新出的 — 去年11月开始在一部分市场里出现。但Hundertmark证实，公司已经与很多潜在客户协商。没有涉及具体细节，他只是说可能会在未来一两年里普及。Hundertmark说，有很多因素都在影响产品的普及过程。 The bearings comprise an inner ring of PTFE with an outer ring made from steel, stainless steel or aluminium其中一个因素就是掌控零部件的集合结构，帮助客户避免任何二次镶边等修理情况。提高钢电环的厚度技能进行压装。他还说，调整铰链的集合结构就能创造更强的耐量范围，可适用于汽车零部件（当然要更大更昂贵）。Hundertmark说，这种铰链还可以在汽车内部使用 ...
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ArticleBearing in mind PTFE
Little attention is paid to the humble PTFE bearing, but this small part can affect assembly and performanceThe hinges on doors, bonnets and other car-body closures seem at first to be among the most straightforward elements of the componentry on any vehicle. But, as is often the case, the appearance ...
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ArticleEarthquakes disrupt Japan production
Japan – Vehicle-makers have been obliged to temporarily suspend production at a number of plants after earthquakes in the south of the country on April 14 and April 16.Honda initially announced a suspension of production until April 22 at its Kumamoto factory but has now extended this to April 28, ...