Latest News & Features – Page 162
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ArticleAn innovative EMS approach
Flexibility and cost savings are just two advantages of the latest Siemens monorail technology, writes Thorsten Riemer, EMS product manager at SiemensThe Chinese automotive market has the highest volume of any single country and continues to grow at a steady rate. Since 2009, more vehicles have been produced in China ...
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ArticleInterview: Chuck Padden, FCA US Toledo
The OEM's plant manager at its largest factory in North America explains why the home of the Jeep is a top performer – ranked first for WCM in the US and with the second-biggest output of any OEM in the regionAMS: How important is Toledo within FCA’s North American production ...
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ArticleFCA's Jeep juggernaut
As the Toledo plant strives to top North America's output table, after taking second place last year, AMS tours its new bodyshop, metrology centre, and upgraded paint and assembly areas for the Jeep CherokeeIn this article:A butterfly bodyshopProgress in the paintshopAdaptations in assemblyFacts about FCA US Toledo“How do you unlock ...
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ArticleToyota begins Georgetown build
US – Located in Kentucky, at the OEM’s largest vehicle manufacturing operation in North America, the 250,000 sq.ft production engineering facility will include a state-of-the-art test laboratory and accommodate 700 personnel. The $80m expansion is Toyota’s third major groundbreaking in North America this year.“Bringing Toyota’s production engineering team under one ...
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ArticleSkoda plants restart after shutdown
Czech Republic – Mladá Boleslav, Kvasiny and Vrchlabí are again running at full capacity after a two- to three-week break for optimisation and expansion. Amid a range of adaptations, the main focus was the planned production conversion at Kvasiny.In order to accommodate a production increase at Kvasiny to 280,000 units ...
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ArticleNext-gen Acura NSX being made at new PMC
US – Trial production is underway before series production begins in spring 2016. Honda says that its dedicated Performance Manufacturing Centre (PMC) in Marysville, Ohio, is using “groundbreaking techniques in weld, body construction, body painting, final assembly and quality confirmation”.The OEM claims “the world’s first use of all-robotic MIG welding” ...
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ArticleGM Lansing makes 2millionth vehicle
US – A 2016 Buick Enclave was the milestone vehicle which rolled off the production line at the OEM’s newest plant in North America. GM now has a cumulative total of 500m units worldwide, more than any other manufacturer.Commenting on the milestone, Lansing regional plant manager Mike Trevorrow said: “This ...
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ArticleMcLaren’s 570S Coupe enters pre-production
UK – The final stage of development comes before this autumn’s global roll-out of what the OEM describes as its “most attainable McLaren road-car project yet”. The 570S Coupe is the first model to be launched in the McLaren Sports Series, which will also include the 540C Coupe.The McLaren Production ...
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ArticleAudi to develop battery for all-electric SUV
Germany – The new technology, based on cell modules from LG Chem and Samsung SDI, will give the vehicle a range of more than 500km, according to the OEM. Audi’s two partners will make investments to supply the Ingolstadt-based vehicle manufacturer from their European plants.“Together with our South Korean development ...
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ArticleF-650/F-750 production begins in Ohio
US – The medium-duty trucks are being made in the country for the first time, after Ford transferred production from Mexico. The move required investment of $168m and secured more than 1,000 hourly jobs at Ohio Assembly Plant.Announced in 2014, the investment involved the addition of new bodyshop equipment and ...
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ArticleJLR’s next plant to be built at Nitra
Slovakia – The OEM has signed a letter of intent with the government for the development of its production facility in the west of the country. The move is part of Jaguar Land Rover’s (JLR) strategy to become a more competitive global business by expanding to new international locations.A joint ...
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ArticleContiTech's new production process
Germany – The low-solvent method of V-ribbed belt manufacture is more environmentally friendly but also improves throughout times, according to the Continental subsidiary. The process has been introduced at several ContiTech sites in Germany, Romania and Mexico, with China to follow suit later this year.In the new method, the textile ...
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ArticleAudi to hold Mexican supplier event
Mexico – The vehicle-maker has invited more than 200 people from across North America to attend its first Supplier Day at its new plant in San José Chiapa. The event on August 20 will enable businesses wishing to work with Audi at this location to demonstrate their expertise.Here are the ...
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ArticleArtel to build new plant at Alcester
UK – The manufacturer of tubing, hose and fittings has announced the purchase of land at Springfield Business Park, where it is constructing an 18,000 sq.ft facility that will be almost double the size of its existing plant. The work is due to be completed by the end of this ...
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ArticleMazda launches first transmission plant outside Japan
Thailand – Located in Chonburi province, Mazda Powertrain Manufacturing Thailand (MPMT) has been producing SkyActiv-Drive automatic transmissions – also made at Hofu in Japan – since January this year. The official opening ceremony occurred on August 7.The plant has the capacity to make 400,000 units per year to supply Mazda’s ...
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ArticleTwo-wheeler troubles
Restrictions in urban areas and a lack of brand clarity are threatening China’s two-wheeler dominanceThe once-mighty Chinese motorcycle industry is close to losing its title of the world’s biggest, as restrictions on sales bite at home and it fails to create memorable brands with which to expand abroad. The industry ...
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ArticleOn the count of three
GM is rolling out its innovative three-wet process to more of its paintshops – including those in ChinaIt is now four years since General Motors introduced a three-wet painting process to its portfolio of vehicle production technologies. The location in question was the Orion Assembly plant in Michigan and the ...
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ArticleSetting the standard
As Ford expands its powertrain production in China to meet rising local demand, Indy Singh, director of Powertrain, Ford AP manufacturing team, explains how the company is applying its global standards thereAMS: How has the One Ford programme been applied to powertrain manufacturing in China and is it now operating ...
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ArticleSKA using Schuler’s fine levelling machine
Germany – The equipment was installed at the company’s premises in Attendorn in June last year, upstream of a 400-ton press also supplied by Schuler, and has generated increased output and part quality while decreasing energy consumption.“Until the end of the ‘90s, we used levellers with nine rollers as we ...
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ArticleStamp of approval
Chang Tiejun, body area manager at Changan Mazda's Nanjing facility, discusses the challenges of keeping pace with demand, handling changing materials and vehicle architectures, and planning for the futureAMS: Do you have both blanking and stamping operations here at Nanjing?Chang Tiejun (CT): We only have stamping operations at this location; ...