Latest News & Features – Page 271
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ArticleNew central controller claims average energy savings of 10% in compressor rooms
A new central controller, which can be connected to up to 16 compressors, has been launched by Atlas Copco. The company says the ES 16 will provide compressed air users with one central point of control for an entire compressed air network. The controller will retrieve and process information coming ...
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Blume heads the production and logistics at Porsche
Germany – Porsche has appointed Dr Oliver Blume to its executive board as successor to Wolfgang Leimgruber. Blume will head the production and logistics section as of January 1, 2013.Blume, who began his career as a trainee at Audi 18 years ago, headed the body construction of the Audi A3 ...
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ArticleStimulating Brazil's production
Innovate AutoFiscal stimulusThe issue of importsInvestment in productionExcess capacityBrazil has adopted stimulus measures that should attract more automotive manufacturers to the country. In October this year, Guido Mantega and Fernando Pimentel, ministers of Finance, Development, Industry and Foreign Trade respectively, announced a set of measures that aimed to attract more ...
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Article
Wale retires, Bob Socia succeeds over the post at GM China
China – Kevin Wale, president, GM China, and chief country operations officer, China, India and ASEAN, has retired. Bob Socia, GM vice-president of global purchasing and supply chain, is his successor.Wale, 57, began his GM career at Holden in 1975 and in 2005 became president and managing director of the ...
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Volvo appointed Samuelsson as new president and CEO
Sweden – The board of directors of Volvo Car Group has appointed Håkan Samuelsson as new president and CEO. Stefan Jacoby will leave Volvo Car Group under an amicable agreement.Samuelsson was chairman and CEO of MAN SE between 2005 and 2009. Since 2010 he has been an independent member of ...
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ArticleBMW's original is still a front-runner
Impressive pressesClose technical supportAutomation and repairGreen paintshopTwo things make BMW Munich plant stand out. Firstly it’s the only one of the manufacturer’s plants to produce both vehicles and engines. Secondly, and perhaps more significantly, is its location. The plant, established in 1922 to produce aero engines, is now situated in ...
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Editor's Note: Sense of direction
Industry gatherings are always a good opportunity to get a sense of where things are heading, whether it’s markets or technology. Attending two separate events recently, one a conference with a large OEM presence and the other a major trade exhibition for Tier suppliers, I tried to gauge where the ...
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Dr Heinz-Jakob Neußer is head of powertrain development at the Volkswagen Group
Germany – Dr Heinz-Jakob Neußer has taken over as head of powertrain development at the Volkswagen Group.He succeeded Wolfgang Hatz, who is continuing as the member of the Porsche AG board of management in charge of research and development.Neußer joined Porsche’s engine development unit as a project manager in 1996 ...
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WebinarIndustrial robots: Achieve low costs, high efficiency and sustainable production
.auto-style1 {vertical-align: top;margin-left: 5px;margin-right: 5px;}.auto-style2 {text-align: center;}“Global Warming” and worldwide discussions about the carbon dioxide footprint, have brought production methods into sharp focus. Energy-efficient robot systems will not only reduce energy costs in a production plant, but also drastically reduce carbon-dioxide emission. In addition, they will also help to reduce ...
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WebinarABB Robotics paint concept for efficient paintshops
High efficiency is the focal point for new and retrofit robotic paint systems developed by ABB. The use of new, high performance products in innovative layouts results in high efficiency paint process methods. Innovative process concepts including, “No-Patch”, “Stay-On”, Cartridge Bell Systems (CBS), IRB 5500 robot, RB1000 atomizer and RobotStudio ...
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WebinarInnovative car body identification based on RFID technology
Total integration of product identification for automotive production processes is the dream of many industry leaders. With RFID-based identification of the car body, commonly referred to as "Body-ID", it is already possible to integrate and harmonise track & trace for the main line in car production.This webinar showed how integrated ...
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WebinarFast, accurate and remote measurements - the new FARO Laser Tracker Vantage
The goal of this complimentary webinar was to introduce you to the most flexible way to complete measurement jobs faster, in tough environments while maintaining high accuracy, and to move easily between job-sites. Whether your requirment is part inspection, assembly, alignment, robot calibration, machine fixture or quality control, Laser Tracker ...
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ArticleA lighter touch with aluminium
Joined-up thinkingCommitment to the right mixGoing all the wayPainting problemsThe mark of classLightweighting is a key factor in modern vehicle construction. The latest mainstream model to get the all-aluminium treatment is the new Range Rover, from Jaguar Land Rover. The third generation of the iconic SUV is bigger and has ...
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ArticleFrench finishing finesse for electrostatic bell technology
More and more metal to coverTechnology for saving paintSuccess of flexibilityAs long as people have owned and driven vehicles that are no longer literally powered by horses, they want their car to be protected and to look beautiful. Each layer sprayed on a carbody now has its function exactingly defined ...
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ArticleThe pursuit of paint perfection
E-coating and adaptabilityRobot and manual paintingBaked and polished to perfection – at a priceWaxing the body beautifulTime for expansionAMS visits Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ paintshop and talked to Chris Wilkes, Manager of Corporate and Site Services and Paint Planning, about finishing the world’s finest cars and the planned expansion to the ...
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Holding tight when the material gets harder
Failure issuesMaterial compatibilityHigher costsSome fastener manufacturers have indicated that the materials some body engineers describe as ‘hard’, they would call quite soft. The steels used are significantly stronger than mild or cold-rolled steel; the aim of using stronger steel is to make fastener products that are thinner and lighter, but ...
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ArticleThe rebirth of a pioneer as Optrel goes independent
Independence and growthA multi-regional brandThe entire rangeLeader in technologyExtending protection for weldersHaving spent several years under the wing of a specialist IPE group, the inventor of the opto-electronic welding mask, Optrel, regained its independence in November 2010. Over the course of several months the single-product Swiss company underwent a reorganisation ...
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ArticleVauxhall Luton UK van plant – a car finish on a commercial
Primer and basecoat – premium processEnergy saving and environmental concernsLearning in Luton – Vauxhall’s undergraduate schemeGaining with the groupMick Bewley’s manual spraying masterclassesThe Vauxhall Van Plant in Luton, some 50 kilometres north of London is home to production of the Vauxhall Vivaro, Nissan Primastar and Renault Trafic vans. The present ...
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ArticleTake control with servo-pneumatic, says Festo
4,000 spot weldsThree solutions on the marketControlled servopneumaticsServo-pneumatic systems for spot welding guns are becoming a more attractive alternative for auto body fabrication. Festo discusses the application of this technology.Increasing standardisation of production processes, along with the demand for improved quality and greater flexibility, has stimulated the market for controlled, ...
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ArticleExplosive growth of plastic parts drives new processes
Adding protection and beautyFaster finishes with fewer stepsUV technology joins a new clearcoatSolvent still a solutionAll that glitters is not chromePerfection in preparation Steam heatAs OEMs strive to develop cleaner and more efficient vehicles and increasingly turn to lightweight materials, the finishing industry is developing systems to keep the quality ...