All Automation articles
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ArticleNew paintshop sealing process for the Taycan
Porsche, in collaboration with Tesa SE has developed a new production process to seal the holes in the car body that are required to ensure the complete application of the anti-corrosion coatings
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Article
Global suppliers need modularity and flexibility in the EV age
Electric vehicles bring with them high development costs and large expenses for retooling plants. To get around that, OEMs and tier suppliers must work together to develop flexible, modular production systems, according to panellists from ZF and ABB at last week’s AMS Livestream on electrification.
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Article
Watch: Automotive suppliers charging ahead – Electrifying Production Series (Pt.1)
In the first part of our Electrifying Production Livestream series, AMS explores how vehicle electrification is changing major tier-1 suppliers’ manufacturing engineering and design, plant equipment and manufacturing strategies. Featuring experts from automotive suppliers and production specialists including Gestamp and ZF, Henkel and ABB.
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Article
The challenges of a transition from ICE to EV production for automotive manufacturers and the implications for assembly plants
As automotive manufacturers make the transition to electric propulsion, the challenges they face from compressed development timescales, ever tightening regulatory limits and technology churn, mean they must adapt very quickly to change. Automotive Manufacturing Solutions spoke to Patrick Matthews, ABB Robotics head of powertrain for their OEM automotive division, on how ABB’s approach can help support OEMs through the transition process while retaining the ability to accommodate changes in production requirements
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Article
Building the battery pack
While cell manufacture is still largely in the realm of specialist producers, more OEMs are now assembling the battery pack inhouse, but this can be a complex task requiring specialist tooling. Nick Holt reports
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News
The time is now to start integrating robotics into plant and warehouse logistics
Robotics have enabled major productivity gains in manufacturing, but as the technology becomes more affordable and labour gets harder to find and more expensive, it could start to play a bigger role in the plant logistics and warehousing, too, helping workers do their jobs more safely and quickly.
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Article
In perfect condition
ABB explores how condition-based maintenance can keep car plant robots in good working order to increase productivity and minimise downtime
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Article
Powertrain to the people
As the automotive industry rapidly electrifies, powertrain suppliers have to adapt, but Illya Verpraet finds out that ZF is on board with the transition, enjoying more freedom in both engineering and manufacturing
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Article
Power is nothing without control
Chassis components keep the wheels from falling off the EV revolution. Illya Verpraet found out how Gestamp is managing the change with material and quality control innovation
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News
Skoda opens new centre to build test vehicles and prototypes
Test vehicles and prototypes will now be built under one roof in the new manufacturing technical development department at Mladá Boleslav
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Article
AI and automation in automotive production need people and quality data to succeed
Experts from BMW, Ford, Symbio Robotics and Cosmo Tech discussed how artificial intelligence (AI) and automation in automotive production need fast ramp-up times and adoption by employees to succeed. High-quality data and use of simulation are also key.
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Article
AMS Winter 2020 – Supporting production through automation and AI
The latest AMS edition is out with a special focus on automation opportunities, including for artificial intelligence and cobots. The issue features in-depth insight on robotics and new processes, with interviews featuring BMW, Fraunhofer, Drishti and many more.
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Voice
Smart customisation
AWL has developed a platform of modules for welding, handling and jigs called M-Line. AMS finds out why this represents a completely new approach to creating flexible production cells
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Article
A collaborative approach to automation
Now in the guise of ‘cobots’, robots often work not just alongside, but with their operations integrated with those of co-located people
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Article
Integrating robotics and electric powertrains in BMW production
BMW is on an EV offensive and is taking the opportunity to revamp its plants with automation and digital twins. Mark Smyth spoke to the global boss of production, Milan Nedeljković, about the challenges and opportunities
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Article
The human side of artificial intelligence
The robots are coming, and we should all be welcoming them, according to BMW, which has a plan to introduce AI to its factories, starting from grassroots initiatives. Report by Illya Verpraet
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News
GM invests $4 billion to prepare Spring Hill and Detroit-Hamtramck plants for EV production
General Motors is moving forward with investments to equip its factories to produce electric vehicles (EVs). The Spring Hill, Tennessee plant gets a $2 billion upgrade to produce the Cadillac Lyriq and the and Detroit-Hamtramck plant will see $2.2 billion invested to produce the recently unveiled GMC Hummer EV.
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Article
AMS Autumn 2020 – At the cutting edge, the latest on 3D printing and aluminium welding
The latest issue Automotive Manufacturing Solutions features insight on 3D printing of parts and tooling with Porsche, Audi and Seat, digital solutions for aluminium welding and much more. With technology solutions from ABB, Rockwell Automation, Henkel and Castrol.
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Article
EV start-up Arrival to build microfactory in South Carolina
Arrival, the start-up that plans to build electric commercial vehicles in what it calls ‘microfactories’, has announced its first US production location in York County, South Carolina. It has also raised $118m from funds managed by BlackRock.
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News
2,200 new robots to improve automation at VW Chattanooga, Emden and Hannover plants
Volkswagen is investing in automation with robots from Fanuc and ABB at its Chattanooga, Emden and Hannover plants, in preparation for those factories to start producing electric vehicles based on the MEB platform. The robots are to be mainly used for body production and battery assembly.
