Systems
Inside AMTE’s new partnership with Sprint Power and Eltrium to expand next-generation battery development
AMTE Power has partnered with Sprint Power and Eltrium to advance the development of next-generation battery technologies with integrated battery pack and module strategies to meet rising demand for electric vehicle production.
AMS exclusive: Industry insiders discuss moving from ‘business as usual’ and establishing robust ecosystems in EV battery production
Increasing lithium-ion battery cell and pack production has become a priority for automotive manufacturers as the need for further electric vehicle output increases.
Automation and managing crisis: How Scania is revolutionising its factory floor
Scania gave AMS an exclusive insight into its endeavours in digitalisation, automation, and software development on the factory floor.
European automotive manufacturing in an age of disruption
European automotive production is in a state of flux and continued disruption. The accumulative impact of continuing coronavirus-related problems, the prominence of Asian productivity, and now war threatens to cause further damage to automotive manufacturing, Jason Dunn reports.
VW commits $7.1 billion investment to expand EV manufacturing footprint in North America
Volkswagen has committed a $7.1 billion investment to boost its product line-up, R&D capabilities and manufacturing capacity in North America across the next five years.
Where the Catena-X automotive cloud stands
The vehicle cloud Catena-X intended to provide a more integrated network for automakers and suppliers. In reality, standalone solutions have prevailed so far and made the task of networking the entire auto industry even more strenuous.
Strategies for a European battery supply chain
Battery manufacturing experts from ACC, Dräxlmeier and Rockwell Automation discuss the changes underway in the European battery supply chain, and what is needed to be done to secure production and supply for the automotive industry.
The leaders of the pack
Producing battery enclosures and packs is an important part of EV assembly, and manufacturers are focused on better standardising and inspecting parts to improve automation and quality. Jason Dunn reports from the AMS Evolution Summit held online in December
India’s manufacturing evolution: competitive, agile and frugal
The country has been hit hard by the pandemic and disruption, but automotive manufacturing is roaring again and leaders from Mahindra, Switch Mobility and the Indian automotive supplier association, ACMA, explain what the industry needs to do to stay competitive
From assembly to modular production lines
Automotive manufacturers need to manage more part variety and complexity than ever, which is why more are implementing autonomous logistics, cobots and other technology to support more flexible, modular concepts. Experts from ABB, Conductix-Wampler and Panasonic discuss the technology roadmap.
VW testing 5G network for ‘smart factories’ as carmakers push for more flexibility in EV production
The pilot project will initially cover the main production development centre and the pilot hall, assessing if 5G technology effectively meets the intricate requirements of vehicle production. A dedicated 5G radio frequency will be used to secure data transmissions. VW’s Transparent Factory in Dresden has also put a so-called “5G island” into operation.
Watch: 3D Vision Solutions for Automotive Challenges
Automotive inspection systems use 3D machine vision solutions to meet specific requirements and improve manufacturing quality.
Watch: Factory of the future Livestream – The software-defined assembly line
As automotive OEMs digitalise and connect factories, hear how the Audi Production Lab, ABB and Cosmotech are using real-time data, smart software and advanced automation to reshape vehicle production processes.
How the European automotive industry aims to build back semiconductor and chip supply
OEMs, suppliers and EU officials are considering how best to develop Europe’s semiconductor manufacturing to mitigate current and future shortages, but the broad gaps at many levels – including for older, larger chips – mean there will be no magic bullet
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.
Watch: Robotic Sanding Made Easy with ATI’s AOV-10 and 3M Abrasives
The Compliant Orbital Sander is the ideal solution for robotic surface treatment.
Securing semiconductor supply
A shortage of semiconductors is hampering global automotive production around the world. Bettina Weiss, chief of staff and global smart mobility lead at electronics association SEMI, tells Marcus Williams why this is happening and why OEMs need to forge more direct links with the chip manufacturers
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.
Enterprise Digital Twins: Tackling Manufacturing Challenges with Simulation
How simulation can cut 30% of your costs
Watch: ATI’s AOV-10 Robotic Sander and 3M Abrasives can reshape material removal processes
The AOV-10 Axially-Compliant Random Orbital Sander from ATI Industrial Automation is the ideal robotic solution for surface preparation and finishing. The compact and lightweight design suits a variety of robot sizes and types, including collaborative robots. The AOV-10 also features built-in compliance which overcomes process variation due to part misalignment, part geometry inconsistency, or robot path deviations. This streamlines the programming process and improves overall process quality of sanding and finishing operations.