Latest News & Features – Page 202
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Barton adds SEMS thread rolling machine
UK – The maker of critical fastenings and special cold forgings has spent £250,000 on the new equipment, which will enable the company to offer additional SEMS products as well as supporting its existing thread rolling capabilities.The new machine will be built to Barton’s specifications and delivered in five months’ ...
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Magna to expand in Ramos Arizpe
Mexico – The company’s Powertrain operating unit (MPT) has now broken ground at the site in the state of Coahuila, where it will build a 16,000 sq.m facility by 2016. The total investment will be $75m.“MPT Ramos has become a global centre of excellence for Magna Powertrain's AWD and 4WD ...
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Chrysler completes WCM Academy expansion
US – The educational centre in Michigan has grown from 25,000 sq.ft to 40,000 sq.ft with the addition or redesign of six hands-on learning stations and two classrooms. A Comau Robot Cell has also been installed, featuring two robots of the kind found in many Chrysler bodyshops.“The WCM Academy has ...
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Editor's note: Taking a chance
Since the financial implosion in 2008 we have become used to reading about astronomical sums of money being spent and lost. So much so that I think we have become blasé about these figures. Millions of euros or dollars now seem like pocket change and it takes hundreds of millions ...
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Toyota to establish new North American HQ
US – Within the next three years, the OEM’s existing three headquarters for manufacturing, sales and marketing and corporate operations for the region will be combined in a state-of-the-art campus in Plano, Texas. Toyota’s North American finance division will also move its headquarters to the site.Construction of the new complex ...
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Interview: John Pacanovsky, Scigrip
As the use of composites increases in the automotive industry, the head of R&D at an adhesives supplier talks about the advantages of this type of bondingAMS: Scigrip does some work with Renault and Fiat trucks, is that correct?John Pacanovsky (JP): Whilst we can’t name specific models, Scigrip is a ...
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FORMAX installs multiaxial machine
UK – The new cut-and-lay Malitronic equipment from Karl Mayer is part of a €2.5m investment programme and is housed within the company’s new 5,000 sq.m automotive facility at its headquarters in Leicester.The 35m machine has a variable width of 127-160cm and will be dedicated to the production of tailored ...
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Safety relay for machine builders
Rockwell Automation says machine builders can now easily implement required safety functions while improving productivity with the Allen-Bradley Guardmaster 440C-CR30 safety relay.Users can program the safety relay through the free Connected Components Workbench software from the company. The Guardmaster 440C-CR30 safety relay meets PLe, SIL 3 per EN ISO 13849-1 ...
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Robot mounted laser scanner
Working in collaboration with Metrologic Group, Steinbichler Optotechnik’s STEINBICHLER T-SCAN CS hand-guided laser scanner that can now be mounted on a robot. The company says the laser offers advantages in scanning speed and surface cooperativeness - all components can be scanned and recorded in-line. Metrolog X4 i-Robot is suited for ...
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Gap and fold edge swiveling measurement device
The CALIPRI profile measurement device developed by NextSense uses three laser lines for the scanning of profiles. The company says this allows for the swiveling of the measurement device and enables measurements from different perspectives, and also, the fold edges of sheet-metal body parts that form gaps can be analysed.Whether ...
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UAW’s VP nominated for GM board
US – Joe Ashton, who has been put forward by the UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust (VEBA), will retire from his current position in June, according to the UAW constitutional convention. If elected, his term on the GM board would begin in August.“Joe brings a wealth of knowledge from his ...
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Nissan starts production in Lagos
Nigeria – The first Nissan Patrol rolled off the line at the assembly plant ahead of mass production later this year. Some manufacturing of the Almera and the NP300 will also begin next month, before all three models enter series production in August. The OEM said it has become the ...
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Volvo opens new bodyshop at Torslanda
Sweden – The manufacturing facility, inaugurated on the OEM’s 50th anniversary at the location, covers 24,000 sq. ft and will boost its annual capacity from 200,000 to 300,000 units. The move will bring Volvo closer to achieving its long-term goal of selling 800,000 cars per year.The bodyshop will be used ...
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Playing production roulette
With relatively low car ownership, Russia offers great potential for global OEMs – but its potential is threatened by economic and political volatility, a shaky supply base and logistical difficulties Russia’s car industry is back in the spotlight as automakers react to a financial wobble in the country which ...
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Interview with Oliver Blume, Porsche
The premium OEM’s global head of Production and Logistics talks about its recent expansion in Leipzig for the addition of the new Macan SUV.
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TRW to supply EPS for Great Wall’s new SUV
US/China – The belt drive Electric Power Steering (EPS) system will feature on the next-generation SUV which is to be launched by the Chinese OEM in 2015. Over the past two years, TRW Automotive Holdings has established a regional production base at Anting, with capacity for 800,000 units per year. ...
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Honda parts purchasing passes $330bn in America
Canada – At an awards ceremony for suppliers, the OEM announced the milestone figure for parts and materials, which was reached after 35 years of manufacturing in the region. Over 650 suppliers in North America support Honda’s 14 major manufacturing sites.The vehicle-maker achieved record production levels in 2013, when it ...
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Chrysler Belvidere receives $1.3bn energy rebate
US – The assembly plant received the cheque from its natural gas supplier, Nicor Gas, after three energy-saving projects resulted in a reduction of 2.5m therms per annum.Zachary Leroux, head of assembly operations at Chrysler, commented that Nicor’s Energy Efficiency Program “provides meaningful incentives for business to reduce gas consumption ...
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Four more GM plants meet energy targets
US – America’s Environmental Protection Agency acknowledged energy intensity reductions at Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Plant (-24%) and Flint (-18%) in Michigan, plus Dongyue Engine Plant (-45%) and Jinqiao North Assembly Plant (-43%) in China.The facilities hit targets for the ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry scheme for a second time; a total ...
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Morris and Kelzer to lead GM's new Engineering divisions
US – Ken Morris, currently executive director, Global Chassis Engineering, has been appointed vice-president of Global Product Integrity. The newly created role and organisation will cover vehicle, powertrain and electrical systems engineering as well as vehicle performance, industrial engineering and validation.Global Product Integrity is one of two divisions to emerge ...