Editor's Pick
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ArticleElectrification and digitalisation go hand in hand at Ford and VW
As the automotive industry electrifies, manufacturing is changing dramatically and OEMs are using big data to keep pace with that change. Increasingly moving into the world of tech, old quality control processes may no longer suffice since a lot of EV components cannot be reworked like traditional equivalents. Manufacturing has to be ultra-precise like never before.
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VW and Ford invest in flexible production for an uncertain future
The speed of change in the technology of cars and rapid electrification requires new manufacturing equipment and is making expensive old machines redundant, but exactly where the industry is going next is hard to predict. More flexible manufacturing is the answer.
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Cellular manufacturing adds flexibility in Mercedes-Benz bodyshop
For the production of the new C-class, Mercedes has taken the opportunity to add flexibility by way of cellular manufacturing in the body shop and with so-called ‘TecLines’ for assembly.
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VW to have 240 GWh of battery plants in Europe by 2030
Volkswagen Group plans to significantly increase battery cell production capacity and reshape the EV battery supply chain in Europe, with plans to have six ‘gigafactories’ by the end of the decade – including an expansion of its partnership with Sweden’s Northvolt.
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Playing catch-up in plastics recycling for automotive production
A closed loop for plastics in the automotive industry has so far been a distant dream, as an unmanageable variety of mixed materials makes recycling them into new high-quality materials unviable. Fortunately, there are some promising new approaches on the horizon.
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News
Ford Europe invests $1 billion in Cologne for EV production
After JLR, Ford has also announced that all its vehicles for sale in Europe will be pure-electric by 2030. It is investing $1 billion in its Cologne (Köln) plant to make that a reality. This move will be supported by the sharing of the VW Group’s MEB electric vehicle platform.
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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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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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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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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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Renault assembly network future under review as management announce cost-saving programme
Renault has launched a business transformation plan which includes a 18% cut in production capacity
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VIDEO: Views from the assembly line at the home of the Range Rover
Assembly workers give their reaction as Jaguar Land Rover’s Solihull plant reopens under new social distancing measures
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Assembly lines begin to resume but start-stop production is the new normal
Carmakers are potentially hostage to a halting series of restarts as the automotive industry tries to gradually restart production
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Bentley aims for 11 May restart at its UK factory
A comprehensive list of health protection measures will be in force as workers return to Bentley’s production line next month. The Crewe factory employs over 4,000 people working under Bentley’s strong, hand-built ethos.
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VIDEO: FCA’s return to production in Europe begins as the Sevel LCV plant reopens
After weeks under lockdown, Italy’s automotive manufacturing sector takes its first steps to recovery
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Dziczek: After the pandemic, restoring component supply and customer demand will form the next hurdles
In the second of Ultima Media’s new Livestream webinars, editor-in-chief Christopher Ludwig was joined by Kristin Dziczek, vice-president of the US Center for Automotive Research (CAR), to talk about a range of issues facing the global automotive manufacturing and supply chain, and what it means for the US market…
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Audi mobile maintenance app keeps Ingolstadt in the know
Maintenance teams at the Ingolstadt factory have a new app on test, developed an inhouse to provide live updates from across the assembly process direct to their smartphones
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Mitsubishi masterplan – spearheading Alliance activity in South-East Asia
In its new regional strategies for 2020, the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance announced that it wants Mitsubishi to spearhead activities in South-East Asia
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Italy’s OEMs and suppliers stay resolute through national coronavirus measures
FCA, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Maserati, Alfa Romeo Brembo and Pirelli – the famous names of the Italian automotive industry are battling on through the Covid-19 crisis
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Simulate to fabricate: vehicle plants keep VR and AR in their sights
Carmakers are exploring how virtual reality and augmented reality can be used to improve manufacturing and inspection operations
