Editor's Pick – Page 189
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Article
- 铸造学习者
对铸造技术的学术研究正在帮助OEM制造商和供应商获得相关知识在过去，几乎汽车制造中使用的每一片金属都要经过铸造加工过程 — 不管是塑型称砂模铸造还是简单的气缸体，都要经过挤压这样的工序。所有的金属都要这样，比如所有的钢铁、铝合金、铜和镁。此外，所有的金属的下游性能条件都要由铸造工序决定，比如强度、表面质量。在任何制造类型中唯一例外的可能就是使用特殊材料，比如通过粉末冶金形式加工的钨。伦敦布鲁内尔大学先进凝固技术布鲁内尔中心（BCAST）副主任Dr Ian Stone简单总结了主要技术在金属制造工序的重要性。BCAST在金属加工技术方面已经有15年的历史的，该中心刚刚宣布了毅力写新规划，主要是为了推动铸造技术的发展，适应21世纪制造业的需求，尤其是汽车业。其中最为突出的就是先进金属铸造中心（AMCC），企业市值达1,700万英镑（约合2,500万美元），得到很多汽车制造商的支持，比如JLR公司，以及铝供应商Consetellium公司的还吃。Dr Stone解释说，尽管铸造技术对汽车业的发展避无可避，但是在很多方面都不利于汽车制造商和材料供应商的研究活动。汽车制造商通常“不具有”铸造厂。与此同时，拥有技术的材料供应商通常不愿意破坏日复一日的大规模制造工艺，而去生产相对数量较少的试验材料。填补空白相反，学术研究机构能够有效填补技术空白。Dr Stone称，机构能够生产适当批量的材料，用于研究，模拟行业条件下的真实使用过程。他说，“我们能铸造200公斤的材料，但不是行业价格”。她继续说，因此AMCC的经营模式非常特别。他说，“我们不能说这是全球唯一，但是这确实在欧洲与众不同。” Aluminium supplier Constellium is partnering JLR and Brunel University to form the Advanced Metal Casting Centre ventureAMCC的工作重点是铝和镁。这里的许多设备都是为了在真是工业环境下进行复制用的。其中包括： 一个1,600吨闭合压力的铸模盒，用于铝镁合金铸造 一个240公吨闭合力的低压铸模盒 一个1,600万吨的顺挤压力，带有锥形二次加热 一个试点规模热顶直接冷却铸工，适用于2米长的钢坯和204厘米直径的钢坯 一个双滚筒铸件，融合了布鲁奈尔自己的熔接条件技术 高分辨率实时X光检测技术重要的是，前三个被称为具有“商业”规模。尽管如此，Dr Stone称，有些设备经过改造具备了很高的灵活度，满足研究相关的要求。高压铸模盒能够在工作中与铝镁合金迅速换换 — 这在专门长期生产环境中并不要求如此。开发潜力或许与传统生产技术最大的不同就是AMCC的双滚筒熔接条件铸件。正如Dr Stone所说，这个技术在行业中使用，但只是用于“有限的低强度合金”。相反，布鲁内尔正在开发其潜力，想要用于制造薄的镁合金产品。他认为，这个材料很难滚动。布鲁内尔开发的另一个技术是Castparicular，这是铝材料“高剪切融化调节技术”。Dr Stone称，这来源于对大多数护腰零部件的铸造工艺处于“颗粒成核形成早期”的认识。他解释说，通过控制成核技术，就能控制“凝固期间的颗粒大小”以及“合金元素的散步”。重要的是，它能够生产薄壁铸件，并且极大降低了瑕疵比率。Dr Stone称，尽管行业已经试验了这种技术，但是在实际生产中并没有采用。但是，这个技术，正如Dr Stone所解释的那样，潜力远超出目前还非常超群的工艺。比如能够将铝合金碎片用于制造零部件的初期材料，满足汽车业的标准。就目前而言，“这还不可能”。这样的碎片的使用目前还是“不受青睐”，也就是说，循环使用的呼声并不高。但这很可能成为低生产使用材料 — 比如在钢铁制造业中的脱氧剂，以低廉的价格出口到不发达的经济体中，甚至直接送到垃圾场。不管是什么情况，最终的结果就是有可能失去利用这些金属进行再利用，创造高价值制造材料的机会。正如Dr Stone所说的：“如果我们能够合理再利用，这能成为价值来源。” The Constellium University Technology Centre supports the work of engineers, ...
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ArticleCast learners
Academic research into casting is helping vehicle-makers and their suppliers to bridge a knowledge gap Almost every piece of metal used in the manufacture of a vehicle will have gone through a casting process at some point previously, whether shaping via a technique such as sand-casting or simply as a ...
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ArticleCompact industrial cleaner
With its EcoCCompact, Dürr Ecoclean says it has optimised the successful model from the previous Compact 80C/P series. Operating under a full vacuum and equipped with two flood tanks as standard (a third flood tank can be retrofitted), the company claims this machine can clean and conserve parts with modified ...
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ArticleHonda PMC makes first new Acura NSX
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 ...
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ArticleMagna’s new aluminium casting facility
UK – The company says it will establish a “world-class” operation in Telford to support Jaguar Land Rover, starting construction this autumn. The facility is expected to cover around 225,000 sq.ft, employ 295 people at full capacity and begin production in 2018.“We are excited to work closely with Jaguar Land ...
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ArticleToyota Indiana’s 20 years of production
US – The plant in Princeton has built 4.45m vehicles since its establishment, expanding its line-up from the Tundra to include the Sienna minivan, Sequoia full-size SUV, Highlander and Highlander Hybrid midsize SUV. Toyota has invested a total of $4.3 billion in the operation.Toyota Indiana has undergone three expansions and ...
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ArticleGKN rolls out new eAWD technology
UK – The latest axle drive product, eAxle, will enable the addition of plug-in electric all-wheel drive (AWD) on a range of new C-Segment vehicles, the first application being the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer PHEV. Production is now underway at the company’s eDrive plant in Bruneck, Italy.“GKN’s eAxle technology ...
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ArticlePSA grows petrol, hybrid/electric line-up
France – The vehicle-maker will diversify its offering with plug-in hybrid petrol engines and next-generation electric powertrains, in particular for the electric Common Modular Platform (e-CMP) being developed with Dongfeng Motors. PSA said the move is part of its “energy transition process” and will involve the modernisation of its plants.Gilles ...
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Webinar
Siemens Webinar: The automotive industry on its way to the Digital Enterprise
The automotive industry continues to face dramatic changes. Its customers want highly individualised cars and the vehicle manufacturers must be able to respond quickly to the changing market demands.For OEMs and suppliers, highly flexible and efficient production has become a necessity. Their most crucial response is to connect previously separated ...
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ArticleStorm halts Toyota production in Texas
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas (TMMTX) had to suspend operations after sustaining damage to the roof and other parts of the plant in San Antonio. Production was halted on May 18 until at least May 20.No-one was injured but there have been power outages because of water leaks, and damage checks ...
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ArticleIAI appoints Aasheim as chairperson
China – The executive vice-president of Hydro’s primary metal business was selected to lead the International Aluminium Institute (IAI) at the 89th meeting of its board of directors in Shanghai. Hilde Aasheim takes over from Abdulla Kalban, CEO of Emirates Global Aluminium, following his two-year tenure.Aasheim commented that the aluminium ...
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WebinarTRUMPF Webinar: Remote Laser Processing - The technology for future automotive applications
The reduction of CO2 emissions remains a key target for all OEMs. Meanwhile, an exceptionally competitive environment has led carmakers to offer a diversified portfolio based on cost-efficient design and production.In this webinar, we look at how the integration of Remote Laser Processing (RLP) into the production process is helping ...
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Article
Anéis em torno do mundo
Tal como os seus concorrentes a marca premium, a Audi está agora criando uma rede de fabricação global A expansão geográfica da produção de veículos da Volkswagen para além da Alemanha, para o México, China, Espanha, Índia, Brasil e África do Sul, está agora bem estabelecida. Enquanto isso, a expansão ...
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Article
Feito na Índia
O país emergiu como grande mercado para empresas de automóveis do mundo e um centro de exportação crescenteVárias empresas de automóveis estão expandindo sua capacidade de produção indiana. O maior, Maruti Suzuki, está no meio de um investimento de US$1 bilhão em sua estratégia "Vision 2.0". Esta estratégia visa atingir ...
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ArticleFord's CO2-based foams and plastics
US – Claiming the development as an industry first, Ford says it has successfully formulated and tested foam and plastic components using CO2 as feedstock. The company plans to use the new biomaterials in production vehicles in the next five years, reducing petroleum consumption by millions of pounds per year.Ford’s ...
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ArticleLectra liberates capacity at Freedman
US – The integrated technology provider sent a team to Freedman Seating’s premises in Chicago, where it makes seats and related products for commercial vehicles and buses, as well as speciality vehicles, trains and boats. Lectra’s personnel assessed the existing production processes, working methods and customer requirements before recommending the ...
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ArticleNissan makes senior appointments
Japan – The OEM made the changes to strengthen its operations in Japan, China and Mexico, in the process appointing the first female country head in the history of the company. Mayra Gonzalez will lead Nissan in Mexico.Airton Cousseau will move from his current role as president, Nissan Mexicana, to ...
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ArticleNew Ford GT offers carbon-fibre wheels
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 ...
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Article
La expansión global de Audi
Al igual que sus competidores en el segmento de marcas premium, Audi está estableciendo una red global de fabricación La expansión geográfica más allá de Alemania de la producción de vehículos de Volkswagen a México, China, España, India, Brasil y Sudáfrica ya es una realidad. La expansión paralela de Audi ...
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Article
Fabricado en la India
El país se ha convertido en uno de los principales mercados para los fabricantes de automóviles del mundo y en un creciente centro de exportacionesVarios fabricantes de automóviles están ampliando su capacidad de producción en la India. La mayor de ellas, Maruti Suzuki, está invirtiendo 1.000 millones de dólares en ...
