Latest News & Features – Page 133
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ArticlePrimed for premium
As Audi prepares to become the first OEM to export high-end vehicles made in Mexico, AMS takes a look inside the new paintshop at the San José Chiapa plant, Puebla, before it comes on stream this SeptemberOn September 30 this year, Audi will officially open its new plant at San ...
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ArticleSkoda modernises plants in downtime
Czech Republic – The OEM is using a three-week break this month to service and optimise its production facilities at Mladá Boleslav, Kvasiny and Vrchlabí. Major projects include the installation of a new press line at Mladá Boleslav; preparations for the start of production of the Skoda Kodiaq at Kvasiny; ...
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ArticleTaking an interior view
Exterior finishes may catch the eye, but interior coatings must also fulfil aesthetic and functional needsAutomotive interior coatings have two main functions: to provide a quality decorative finish and to be warm to the touch, helping occupants to feel ‘at home’ in their vehicle. These coatings are mostly applied to ...
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ArticleKeeping finishes up to scratch
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 ...
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ArticleLightweight polymer A/C conveyance system
Eaton has developed new Polymer Air Conditioning Conveyance System (PACCS) lines, which it claims are a lighter-weight alternative to traditional aluminium tubing or rubber lines.The company says the PACCS lines are up to 50% lighter than traditional air conditioning lines, provide improved gas tightness, and are 90% recyclable at end ...
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ArticleWhat does Brexit mean for the auto industry?
The immediate answer to this question is: who knows? The UK’s vote to leave the EU is unprecedented, so analysts and commentators trying to work out what might happen next (forecasting seems an inappropriate word at the moment) will have their work cut out, to put it mildly. The political ...
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Article
Isuzu to make next-gen pick-ups for Mazda
Japan – The two companies have reached a basic agreement which will see Isuzu making pick-ups based on its own vehicles, on behalf of Mazda. The deal is aimed at increasing Isuzu’s product competitiveness and strengthening Mazda’s line-up while allowing it to maintain own-brand market coverage.Mazda and Isuzu have had ...
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Article3D metrology for casting process chains
GOM claims its systems can support and accelerate foundry processes using 3D metrology for all areas of sand, pressure and precision casting process: from the model and moulding tool, up to the sample test report and optimisation of CNC machining.The company says using its ATOS 3D scanners, including its most ...
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Article
A call for Quality
GM India plans to focus its production at Talegaon as they increase output and add new models This year the plant may become the company’s only production facility in India as it plans to closes the older Halol site in Gujarat. But this isn’t a reduction in operations, far from ...
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ArticleVW boosts sustainability by 25%
Germany – The OEM says that production at its global facilities for vehicles and components is now a quarter more environmentally friendly as a result of its ‘Think Blue. Factory’ programme. Volkswagen (VW) claims this target has been achieved three years earlier than planned.“Investments in environmental technologies protect precious resources ...
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ArticleCompact push-pull robot welding torch
The Robacta Drive TPS/I welding torch has received a number of improvements including increasing the dynamic of the drive unit to33m/s², which Fronius says is ten-times that of its predecessor. Available as either a gas- or water-cooled version, the welding torch can now be fitted to robots capable of supporting ...
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ArticleA call for Quality
GM India plans to focus its production at Talegaon as they increase output and add new models This year the plant may become the company’s only production facility in India as it plans to closes the older Halol site in Gujarat. But this isn’t a reduction in operations, far from ...
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ArticleHeavy-duty Daimler
Daimler adopts a people-centric approach to advance its commercial vehicle production operations in IndiaThe first thing Felix Homburg, vice-president, Operations and Manufacturing Engineering, Daimler Commercial Vehicles, pointed out at the start of our tour of the company's truck plant in Chennai, India, was a large noticeboard featuring various employee incentive ...
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ArticleUpgraded scanning sensor range
Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence says the new versions of its HP-S-X1 series of compact probes feature a new bearing system for better joint repeatability and will now accept longer horizontal styli for improved flexibility.Featuring small external dimensions and supporting stylus lengths of up to 225mm, HP-S-X1 probes enable coordinate measuring machines ...
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ArticleAutomated small part welding cell
The QIROX QR-CC-4.1 compact robot cell has a 2-station workpiece positioner with vertical change and vertical rotation, says system builder Cloos. It offers a clamping length of up to 1,250mm and a maximum load of 250kg per side, which the company says allows a wide range of components to be ...
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ArticleJLR opens technical centre for SVO
UK – The 20,000 sq.m facility near Coventry will house the HQ of the OEM’s Special Vehicle Operations as well as manufacturing, painting, technical, and customer commissioning and presentation areas. Jaguar Land Rover has invested £20m ($25.9m).“The SVO technical centre is a very modern facility, inspired by a Formula One ...
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ArticlePower to the machines
While human flexibility offers special advantages in the assembly hall, modern paintshops rely heavily on automation to tackle hostile conditions and a strong need for consistency. AMS reviews the recent trendsRobotic technologies have for decades been centre stage in automotive manufacturing. The industry is top of the league for robot ...
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ArticleSheet metal forming simulation software
ESI claims its Die Starter simulation software enables die face designers to reduce the number of iterations needed to establish a feasible tool design. The company says this system automatically designs the first complete die face including binder, addendum, bead centreline and blank contour, while taking into account minimal material ...
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ArticleMonitoring vital statistics
As OEMs look to reduce energy consumption in their paintshops, the latest software can improve efficiencyPaintshops account for the greatest energy use at any automotive manufacturing operation – around 70%, says Bill Sarver, senior consultant, Global Automotive at Rockwell Automation – and that makes efficiency in this area crucial to ...