Latest News & Features – Page 178
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ArticleThe rise of robotics
Robots now play a key role in boosting quality, reliability and efficiency at automotive plants worldwideRobot sales to the automotive sector have increased from 19,300 in 2009 to 69,400 in 2013, with China, Germany, the US and Japan the main takers. Indeed, a recent report by independent business information provider, ...
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ArticleFord apprenticeships backed by British Government
UK – The apprentice programme will be available to A-level school leavers seeking an alternative to a traditional university education. To be developed by Ford and other technology employers along with leading universities, the scheme will include theoretical and practical training in digital skills.Over the past two years, Ford has ...
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ArticleSkoda produces 17 millionth vehicle
Czech Republic – The milestone car, a Skoda Rapid Spaceback, came off the production line at the company’s headquarters in Mladá Boleslav. Production of the 17 millionth vehicle highlights the success of the carmaker’s growth strategy; in 2014, Skoda manufactured and sold more than 1m cars for the first time ...
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ArticlePSA: Back in the running?
After recent strife, the OEM is attempting a turnaround by repositioning its brands and production footprint In October 2014, new PSA CEO Carlos Tavares announced his strategy for the company under the strapline ‘Back in the Race’ – an apposite line indeed, because for many years PSA has been floundering ...
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ArticleConveying automation benefits
Higher productivity starts with efficient materials handling; AMS investigates the latest innovationsWhat are the main factors under consideration when looking to transport parts along an automotive assembly line or move materials around a production plant? Speed, safety, reliability, flexibility, space and energy savings? Most probably, all of these and more ...
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ArticleJLR recreates 1948 production line
UK – The Defender Celebration Line at the Solihull plant, West Midlands, replicates the manufacturing set-up which produced the first Series I Land Rover shortly after the Second World War. Jaguar Land Rover is marking the final year of Defender production in the UK.Located by the Defender production line which ...
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ArticleFirst 2016 Acura ILX made at Marysville
US – The sports sedan was completed on the 20th anniversary of the start of Acura production in the country, which launched with the Acura CL at the East Liberty plant in Ohio. North American sales of locally made vehicles have now reached 2m, with a record of 158,043 last ...
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ArticleNew solution for seal gap measurement
Third Dimension claims it has developed a new solution to solve the challenges of measuring automotive seal gaps. The company says it has been tested with a leading automotive manufacturer, accurately measuring gaps from 0mm to 50mm controlling tolerance bands of +/-0.5mm (+/-0.02”). Having designed two patented fixtures; a door ...
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Plug-in safety light curtains
Expanding its range of safety products, SICK claims its deTec2 Core type 2 light curtain offers protective field heights in increments from 300mm to 2100mm and a choice of finger and hand (14mm) or hand and person (30mm) resolution providing protection against operator intervention in accordance with EN ISO 13855 ...
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ArticleApplication centre for advanced materials
Avure Technologies has established an application center to assist fabricators utilising advanced materials in the development of hot and cold isostatic pressing applications. The company says this new facility is equipped with two Hot Isostatic Presses (HIPs) and one Cold Isostatic Press (CIP). Currently hosting projects related to densification (defect ...
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Article£1.5m investment to help VTL supply JLR
UK – The maker of precision-engineered components has now received a total of £5.5m ($8.3m) from BGF since September 2013, alongside loan funding from HSBC. VTL is launching a capital investment programme ahead of an eight-year project to supply engine parts to Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), via Ryobi UK.The parts ...
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Watch Cadillac joining a CT6 body
GM has announced a new combination of joining technologies for the Cadillac CT6. The methods are in use at Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant, Michigan.
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ArticleWinkler to lead Bentley in the Americas
US – As president and CEO of Bentley Motors Inc, Michael Winkler will report directly to Kevin Rose, member of the board for Sales, Marketing and Aftersales. Taking up his new role on April 1, Winkler will succeed Christophe Georges, who was recently appointed director of Product and Marketing for ...
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ArticleLocal reinforcement of thermoplastic compression moulding compounds
Lanxess claims its Tepex performance composites improve the mechanical strength of components made of fibre-reinforced thermoplastic compression molding compounds. The company offers the example of a cover on the rear muffler of the BMW i8. This is fabricated in a direct long fiber thermoplastic (DLFT) process from a polypropylene compression ...
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ArticleCompact programmable safety controller
An expandable programmable safety controller featuring a small footprint and Boolean logic has been introduced by Banner Engineering. The new XS26-2 Controller monitors numerous input devices including e-stop buttons, rope pulls, enabling devices, protective safety stops, interlocked guards or gates, optical sensors, two-hand controls, and safety mats, says the company. ...
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ArticleBelt noise test stand
SAKOR Technologies has supplied a belt noise test stand to Ford, which the carmaker will use to meet new SAE specifications for belt noise in vehicle Front End Accessory Drive (FEAD) applications, as well as other noise testing requirements. The new belt noise test stand uses a high-speed AC dynamometer ...
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ThyssenKrupp expands Silao blanking operations
Mexico – A $20m investment will add nearly 55,000 sq.ft plus a new aluminium and carbon steel blanking line to the facility in Guanajuato, raising its annual capacity by 70% to 270,000 metric tons. ThyssenKrupp Materials de Mexico expects to complete the expansion and begin production in Q4 2015. The ...
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ArticleNew mixed-material joining for CT6
Watch the video hereUS – The special combination of techniques, described as “a first for any General Motors’ model”, will be deployed at Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly, Michigan, in a new, fully automated bodyshop that is dedicated to CT6 production. The 138,000 sq.ft facility is equipped with new tooling and 205 robots.The ...
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ArticleBenecke-Kaliko JV breaks ground at Changzhou
China – The joint venture between Benecke-Kaliko and its Chinese partner, Jiangsu Changshun Group, plans to manufacture Acella Eco trim material at the upcoming facility. Benecke-Changshun ECO Trim says it has been seeing high demand from the Chinese automotive industry for what it calls “eco-optimised surface solutions”, which can help ...
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ArticleJLR welcomes funding for automotive skills
UK – Business Secretary Vince Cable has earmarked £11.3m for an initiative by the Automotive Council, the government-industry association, which will introduce a range of programmes benefitting companies across the automotive supply chain.Manufacturers will work together to identify and meet skills needs, create an industry-standard jobs framework and attempt to ...