Composites – Page 4

  • BMW 1 Series, BMW Plant Regensburg
    Article

    Keeping finishes up to scratch

    2016-07-13T09:17:04Z

    As vehicle-makers add more innovative materials in body construction and change their production processes to meet new environmental regulations, paint suppliers are striving to match their requirementsThe majority of consumers take them for granted, but exterior coatings have to cover a lot of ground. Ray Schappert, global director of product ...

  • Honda PMC
    Article

    Achieving Acura-cy

    2016-06-29T10:37:11Z

    As production of the 2017 Acura NSX ramps up at the dedicated Performance Manufacturing Center in Ohio, AMS investigates what technologies and processes are required to generate a finish fit for a supercarA Japanese supercar is being manufactured in rural America. The first-generation Honda NSX, which is sold under the ...

  • Klemens Bartmann
    Article

    Interview: Klemens Bartmann, Axalta

    2016-06-29T09:44:25Z

    As the coatings company turns 150 years old, its global technology director reflects on the sector’s trends, challenges and opportunities – including new materials, environmental concerns and multi-functionality Klemens Bartmann, Axalta Coating SystemsJoanne Perry (JP): Can you briefly outline the differences in requirements between coatings for light vehicles and those ...

  • PaintExpo 2016
    Article

    Mixing together at PaintExpo

    2016-06-14T14:35:09Z

    At the latest coatings show, held in Karlsruhe, Germany, in April, companies from a range of industries converged to share ideas and innovations. AMS went to see what might be of interest to automotive playersOther shows have come and gone, but PaintExpo continues to develop as a forum for companies ...

  • VAMA-PDK 09 lr
    Article

    Steel’s in motion

    2016-06-05T14:30:19Z

    By producing stronger and more versatile materials, steel-makers are helping OEMs to do more with lessThe steel industry is innovating at a furious pace – and it needs to. Its long-standing dominance in the automotive industry is coming under threat from a variety of lightweight alternatives. In response to increasingly ...

  • 2017 Acura NSX
    Article

    Honda PMC makes first new Acura NSX

    2016-05-25T10:43:11Z

    US – The initial series production vehicle rolled off the line at the recently opened Performance Manufacturing Center (PMC) at Marysville, Ohio, which is the exclusive location for the model. VIN 001 featured interwoven wheels, carbon-ceramic brake rotors, leather and Alcantera interior trim, plus carbon-fibre upgrades such as the engine ...

  • Carbon-fibre wheel, Ford GT
    Article

    New Ford GT offers carbon-fibre wheels

    2016-05-17T10:42:41Z

    US – The GT is the second Ford Performance vehicle with carbon-fibre wheels, after the 2015 Shelby GT350R Mustang. Ford says the lightweight wheels further improve the drive and handling of the new supercar, which also has a carbon-fibre body.“Ford was the innovator as the first to offer mass-produced carbon-fibre ...

  • ELG Carbon Fibre Carbiso CT
    Article

    Recycled carbon fibre

    2016-05-16T08:00:30Z

    ELG Carbon Fibre claims it has developed a recycling solution that converts manufacturing waste into products that can be incorporated into vehicle design. The company says it is currently working with a number of automotive OEM’s on a range of projects from the development of end-of-use recycling solutions for carbon ...

  • Chassis, Lotus Elise
    Article

    Lotus loses weight

    2016-04-28T10:48:50Z

    UK – The vehicle-maker says it has cut 207kg from its model range over the past 12 months, after following a holistic approach to weight loss. The chassis for the Elise and Exige now weigh just 68kg each, and the company’s heaviest car is only 1,395kg.“We’re not concerned with following ...

  • Audi R8 Spyder
    Article

    The case for carbon fibre

    2016-03-15T14:57:00Z

    The composites industry’s flagship event, JEC World, was bigger than ever this year. The number of exhibitors showing off their automotive expertise at this month’s show and conference in Paris was particularly striking. The use of glass-fibre-reinforced composites is established for the production of non-structural internal and external parts for ...

  • SP:01, Detroit Electric
    Article

    Detroit Electric now making SP:01

    2016-02-25T16:01:40Z

    UK – The first production sports car rolled off the line at the company’s main assembly plant at Leamington Spa and was handed over to Jowett Motors (Asia), which will be shipping it to China. Detroit Electric is expanding in the region and will soon additionally announce a distributor for ...

  • McLaren Woking
    Article

    Premium but not perfect

    2016-02-02T12:02:27Z

    As McLaren and Aston Martin both build up their production, AMS takes a magnifying glass inside their spotless factories at Woking and Gaydon respectively to see the latest in high-end carmaking in BritainMcLaren Automotive and Aston Martin are both gearing up to double their production as the two luxury companies ...

  • Article

    BMW using Hexcel carbon fibre for 7 Series

    2016-01-14T10:26:54Z

    Germany – The composites company is supplying BMW with preforms made of unidirectional carbon prepreg set in various orientations and combined with adhesive. The carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) technology is used to reinforce the metal shell of the B pillar, while saving weight.In order to meet demand from the automotive ...

  • OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
    Article

    Cost-effective composites

    2016-01-07T18:12:53Z

    As OEMs explore reinforced plastics, the composites industry is preparing to capitalise on this trendUS materials supplier Cytec Industries has done well out of the aerospace industry's switch from metal to carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP)-intensive aircraft, and the company sees the automotive industry as key to its future growth. In ...

  • 06_CMYK-ARENA-2036-stills_kleinWEB
    Article

    Tomorrow's automotive world

    2016-01-04T14:24:41Z

    What will vehicle manufacturing look like in a few decades' time, and how will production be controlled?An initiative called ARENA2036, which is being carried out by the Fraunhofer IPA in Stuttgart, Germany, aims to explore and shape three areas in the design and manufacture of automobiles as they develop over ...

  • Article

    BMW heading for record production

    2015-12-17T14:05:52Z

    Germany – The company said its international manufacturing network “has shown an excellent capacity utilisation” in 2015 due to high customer demand and the launch of multiple new models such as the BMW 7 Series. This level of production was enabled by the flexible manufacturing processes implemented at its facilities.“The ...

  • Norman.M20C-Right-Side_2.5x1.5x300ppi
    Article

    Polymers with power

    2015-12-11T11:12:22Z

    Composites are now being explored as alternative materials for engine-cylinder housings and may soon become mainstream – enabling the production of lighter-weight powertrains and more fuel-efficient vehiclesIn as little as three years, automotive engine housings made of polymer materials will start to enter the market as volume production items. That ...

  • Greenautoo Bus
    Article

    A bus to the future

    2015-11-20T12:47:00Z

    Chinese entrepreneurial bus company, Greenautoo, is preparing to launch of a series of smart, safe and green vehicles that could be the solution to big city traffic congestion, write Jan Hökerberg and Crystal Yan. Bus travel is often a nightmare for China’s many millions of commuters, especially in rush ...

  • Trumpf
    Article

    Shine the laser light

    2015-11-20T12:19:33Z

    Fibre-reinforced composites are popular, but tough to machine. So production engineers are turning to laser light as a choice of tool, writes Trumpf’s Marc KirchhoffCarbon fibre-reinforced plastics (CFRPs) are all the rage, especially in the automotive, aviation and wind power sectors. They represent a key part of the solution to ...

  • 3D-printed parts, BMW
    Article

    BMW celebrates 25 years of 3D printing

    2015-11-18T16:24:20Z

    Germany – In 1990, the OEM’s Rapid Technologies Center in Munich commissioned the development of its first additive manufacturing facilities, and that year prototype parts were made on a stereolithography machine. Early examples featured on concept cars; BMW later developed further procedures and applications in line with component specifications.Today, the ...