Automation – Page 398
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ArticleEditor's Note: Size matters
It is a fortunate coincidence that since the dawn of commercial air travel, there has been a period of reduced volcanic activity. Fortunate in the fact that many of us have now had first-hand experience of the disruption that a volcanic eruption can cause. In my own case, I was ...
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ArticleChoosing the perfect plot
Country experience makes the differenceAttracting new interestNew manufacturing modelsVehicle manufacturers must consider a wide variety of factors when choosing new sites. MAN and Ford reveal the criteria each company considered before starting construction, with a wholly-new production modelBy the middle of this year, truck and bus manufacturer MAN will likely ...
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ArticleYear of the factory for ZF
Developing cost savingsFrom development to productionMaking the gradeWith 123 plants in 27 countries, a global workforce of about 60,000 and total 2009 revenues of €9.4 billion, ZF is one of the largest automotive supply companies, developing, producing and servicing driveline and chassis technologies around the world. In 1984, ZF took ...
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ArticleInside track
Motorsport technology reduces vehicle weightEVs: Back to the futureConsultant roleWorking with carmakersThe motorsport industry believes that materials and powertrains developed on the track lead to better, more advanced production cars. AMS visits one of the world’s most famous motorsport technology companies to see if such claims are trueProdrive, perhaps most ...
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ArticleEdging success
New solutionsGetting it doneMachine lifeDV Automation is both an equipment supplier and contract manufacturer serving various OEMsDVA is, together with Thompson Friction Welding, a subsidiary of Kuka AG. While the company also carries out contract manufacturing, for example delivering axles to Land Rover and piston cylinders to JCB, DVA’s core ...
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Article
Gomes joins PSA Peugeot Citroen as head of Latin American operations
Porto Real, Brazil – Carlos Gomes, former head of Fiat’s French and Spanish operations, has joined PSA Peugeot Citroen as head of Latin American operations. He succeeds Vincent Rambaud, who was named Peugeot CEO earlier this year.www.psa-peugeot-citroen.com
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Article
Laser welding primer
Fit for purposeDecision processJoining techniquesAMS taks to Trumpf Laser and System Technology on the underlying power of lasers used for body-in-white production, the benefits of these systems – and potential drawbacksThere are four basic techniques that can be used to achieve a weld in the automotive body-in-white (BIW) process; spot, ...
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ArticlePressing the advantage
Pressing matters in ChinaPress hardeningThe press shop marks the beginning of the automotive production process. Here, as chassis parts are shaped from precisely cut metal blanks, while corresponding tool sets create body parts such as side frames, doors, bonnets and roofs from sheet metal of various thicknesses.Material details vary between ...
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Article
Ford makes changes to its executive team
Shanghai, China – Joe Hinrichs, Ford Group Vice- President and President Asia Pacific and Africa region has announced changes to the group’s executive team.Randy Krieger has been appointed President of Ford Group Philippines, replacing Rick Baker. Krieger, formerly president of Ford Japan, has been replaced by Tim Tucker, formerly vice-president ...
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Article
Wagh is the head of passenger car manufacturing and product development at Tata
Mumbai, India – Girish Wagh, head of the Tata Motors’ small car project, has been appointed head of passenger car manufacturing and product development. This follows the announcement that Rajiv Dube has resigned from the position. Dube, who joined the company in 1983, played a pivotal role in Tata’s entry ...
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ArticleJoining options in BIW
Focus on adhesive bondingLaser makes gains in BIWWeapon of choiceAdvanced laser techniquesA wide range of recently-launched vehicles claim to have set new standards in joining innovation and efficiency, the improvements largely gained by using a combination of resistance spot welding and adhesive bonding techniques. While few manufacturers are prepared to ...
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Article
Ghosn re-elected as Renault’s chairman and chief executive
Paris, France – Carlos Ghosn has been re-elected as Renault’s chairman and chief executive officer for a four-year period. Senior boardmembers were also appointed for fouryear terms.In a speech following the announcement, Ghosn said that he expects Renault to return to profit in 2011, and anticipates the company repaying its ...
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ArticleReality meets potential
GM production set-upModulesGoing globalRapid responseImplementing efficienciesEngine and chassis productionBrazilian manufacturing chiefs from GM, PSA and Daimler reveal the key factors supporting record production figures - and whether those numbers are sustainableThe retail prices of new cars in Brazil have, like a lot of other products, been on the increase. But ...
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ArticleToxic haste
Suzuki tackles boron and fluorine leakageBMW implements water management strategiesLife after vehicle manufacturingDecontaminating waste water with sunlightThe clean-up of old – and even bomb-damaged – vehicle plants is a challenge for OEMs. The former Zastava car production facility, now located in Serbia, has only recently been cleaned in arguably the ...
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ArticleGreen materials from start to finish
Lightweighting by JSPEnvironmental swings and roundaboutsMaterial reuse at FordRecycling carbon fibreThe bigger pictureFlexible polymerThe quest for higher quality at the same price point or retained quality at a lower cost has driven the automotive industry forward for a century. Yet in recent times, the game has dramatically changed. Through a ...
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ArticleAutomated fluid management
High-pressure situationsThe daily grindWith virtually all machine shops scrutinising costs, ways to make coolants and cutting fluids go further have taken a much higher priority. One such method is automated filtration and recycling.The inherent nature of cutting metal using machine tools leads to the ingress of contaminants such as chips, ...
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ArticleEditor's Note: History lessons
Although collectively they have been more tragedy than success, tie-ups, alliances and cross-investment strategies are again gaining favour in the automotive sector. In a rudimentary way, such deals make sense; spreading the cost of technology development, platform sharing and joint vehicle production can save on investment while increasing turnover.The TPCA ...
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ArticleFive-axis volumetric error compensation from MAG
MAG has launched what the company claims to be the industry’s fastest volumetric error compensation (VEC) system, capable of simultaneously analyzing and correcting positioning errors in all machine-tool axes. The MAG VEC technology reduces the time required to determine error compensations from days to hours, integrating both linear and rotary ...
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ArticleMotoman MH-series robots
Motoman describes its new range of high-speed MH-series robots as having an extremely fl exible design, allowing them to be used in a variety of applications. These include coating, dispensing, material cutting, handling and welding. The long reach of the MH50 model (and the extended reach of the MH50-35 and ...
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ArticleLineside matting solution from Plastex
To help alleviate the dual problems of standing fatigue and slipping, Plastex offers its Vynagrip matting. The fl oor covering is suitable for use where workers are standing at specifi c production areas or workstations.Modules of Vynagrip matting, available in a range of sizes, are fi tted with PVC nosing ...