Latest News & Features – Page 206
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ArticleTravel blog: The future looks like Leipzig
OK, so it’s not Google – there are no beanbags, for one thing – but does the tech giant’s famously quirky HQ have blue-lit bodies-in-white passing majestically overhead? I think not. BMW’s über-cool Leipzig complex, however, showcases advanced technology of a very physical kind. Leaving the manufacturing floor aside, the ...
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GAZ leaps into new GAZelle production
Russia – The GAZelle NEXT is the third model in the NEXT light commercial vehicle (LCV) range which began production in April 2013 as a drop-side, standard platform, together with enlarged versions. Manufacture of the NEXT crew cabin vehicle started earlier this month Preparation for NEXT bus production involved the ...
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Suzuki to make Celerio in Rayong
Thailand – Following a production launch in India, the Thai facility will become the second manufacturing location for the new compact car. From May 2014, the Celerio will be made for the domestic market; at a later date, it will be joined by models with European specifications.Takayuki Sugiyama, president of ...
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ArticleIs outsourcing now "in"?
The boundary between outsourced supply chain and in-house manufacturing is moving all the time. Jonathan Ward asks where carmakers should draw the lineProviders such as Ryder carry out in-plant handling and logistics services for a number of OEMsOnce, perhaps, it was easy to see where logistics management and labour stopped ...
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ArticleCVG to close Oregon plant
US – The production and warehouse facility in Tigard, with a workforce of 80 personnel, currently produces interior trim components such as instrument panels and storage cabinets for large commercial vehicles (CVs). The majority of this work will be transferred to other Commercial Vehicle Group (CVG) locations in North America ...
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ArticleBancon takes VP product role at Infiniti
Hong Kong – From the beginning of April, Francois Bancon will have overall responsibility for the Infiniti product portfolio, which the company plans to increase by 60% over the next five years, more than doubling its powertrain offering. Bancon is currently division general manager for Nissan, overseeing product strategy and ...
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Tactile feedback robots for assembly & machining applications
ABB Robotics has introduced Integrated Force Control, a consolidation of software features that were available separately in either the machining or assembly Force Control offerings into a single base module. The company says robots with Integrated Force Control react to their surroundings and deviate from their programmed path or speed ...
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ArticleJLR invests £45m in new press line
UK – Installation of the new 7,900 tonne servo press line has been completed at the company’s Halewood plant. The new press will increase the speed and volume of pressed part production. Richard Else, operations director at Halewood, said: “This colossal new press line reinforces Jaguar Land Rover’s long term ...
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ArticleRenault opens international school of Lean Manufacturing
France – Created jointly with Renault Consulting the new school has been established to provide training in Lean Manufacturing for the group’s senior executives and plant mangers. The school will also be open to Renault Consulting clients outside of the group. Part of the company’s Global Training Centre at the ...
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ArticleZF building new plant in Pune
India – The site will unite the company’s Car Powertrain and Commercial Vehicle Technology business units, as well as ZF Services, at a single location. The plant will also be the headquarters of the engineering and administration of ZF India.At a cost of Rs 150 crore ($27m), construction of the ...
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ArticleSkoda reaches 11m units at Mladá Boleslav
Czech Republic – The company’s main facility has been extensively modernised and expanded over the past three years, with the addition of a new bodyshop, a fully automated paintshop and a press line. The capacity of production Line 1 has increased from 800 to 1,200 vehicles per day; the 11millionth ...
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ArticleHonda hits 20m mark for American production
US – The cumulative total for the OEM’s four plants in the region came with the 10 millionth vehicle produced at Marysville, Ohio, which was the company’s first automotive plant in the US, starting production of the Honda Accord in 1982.Honda produced a record 1,309,917 vehicles in 2013, representing an ...
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ArticleMercedes-Benz adds third shift at Kecskemét
Hungary – The OEM will introduce the extra shift in May, increasing production capacity for its compact cars. The move follows a similar development at Rastatt, Germany, towards the end of 2012. Last year, both plants worked numerous extra Saturday shifts in order to keep up with demand. “Most recently, ...
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ArticleChrysler's new leading light for Powertrain
US – With immediate effect, Jeffrey Lux will take responsibility for the design, development and release of all transmission and driveline systems for the OEM, as well as supporting efforts to co-ordinate Powertrain activities on a global basis.Lux joins Chrysler from GM, where he has held a series of engineering ...
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ArticleBoyer to care for safety at GM
US – Following a spate of recalls, General Motors CEO Mary Barra has created the new position of vice-president, Global Vehicle Safety. Jeff Boyer will bear responsibility for the safety development of GM vehicle safety systems, confirmation and validation of safety performance and post-sale activities including recalls.Boyer will report to ...
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Tech Mahindra to provide Volvo’s IT
Sweden – The provider of connected solutions will supply end-to-end IT infrastructure support and services for the carmaker not only in its domestic market but in China and Belgium, covering factories, R&D facilities, offices, dealerships and a global data centre. This will include 4,000 factory devices, 2,800 servers and 30,000 ...
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ArticlePPG expands in San Juan del Rio
Mexico – The coatings supplier is investing $27m to expand its manufacturing facility with four new buildings amounting to 100,000 sq. ft of production and laboratory space. The additional capacity will enable PPG to meet increased demand from automotive OEMs as well as other industrial customers in the country.Groundbreaking has ...
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VW reorganises international production
Germany – The Group will build a new plant at Września in Poland to make the Volkswagen Crafter from 2016; the Volkswagen Tiguan will be assembled at Hanover in addition to Wolfsburg from 2016; and the next generation of the Porsche Panamera will be produced entirely at Leipzig, rather than ...
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ArticleNew process & technology centre for customers
Heru and Schuler have installed a servo press line in Lennestadt to provide tryout processes for forming dies. The new process and technology centre, ProTec, opened by the press and die manufacturers, is intended to enable clients to optimise their production processes in advance of final installation of equipment and ...
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ArticleAlcoa expands aluminium wheels plant
Hungary – The manufacturer is investing $13m at its site in Székesfehérvár to double the output of its Dura-Bright EVO surface-treated product, while the Hungarian Government will contribute 1 billion forints ($4.5m) through its regional economic development initiative. Construction work began in January this year and completion is expected in ...