Latest News & Features – Page 83
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ArticleSelf-clinching flush-head studs
PennEngineering says its PEM FHX self-clinching flush-head studs feature an X-Press thread profile that it’s claimed enables quick mating with plastic fasteners in thin metal assemblies. The company says the studs can be installed permanently in metal sheets as thin as 1mm. They press into place using any standard press ...
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ArticleBenchtop dispensing robot
The Fisnar F4500N dispensing robot offers an expanded format of 500x500mm says Intertronics. Integrated with dispensing equipment from the company’s range, the robot can dispense beads, dots, arcs and infills in three dimensions, with a claimed positioning resolution of 0.001mm/axis.The company says that by adding the appropriate dispensing setup to ...
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ArticleBMW leverages computer tomography
Germany - The OEM is now using computer tomography (CT) scans during the vehicle prototyping, production and analysis phases at its Research & Innovation Centre (FIZ) in Munich. This follows on from a two year development project, in which BMW and the Fraunhofer Development Centre for X-Ray Technology (EZRT) developed ...
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ArticleSEAT starts assembling Arona and Leon
Algeria - The Spanish OEM has started building the two models in the city of Relizane, Algeria, at a plant owned by the Volkswagen Group and Sovac. It already assembles the Ibiza here, but as SEAT vice president for marketing and sales Wayne Griffiths explained, localising Arona and Leon assembly ...
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ArticleSkoda updates three factories
Czech Republic - The OEM has used the summer shutdown period to carry out several updates and maintenance works at three of its plants. It has also taken steps to improve infrastructure in order to relieve congestion around one of the sites.Specifically, the company fitted a new painting line and ...
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ArticleCummins produces 2m engines
US - The two millionth engine recently rolled out of the Cummins plant in Jamestown, New York. The facility is home to production of the company's IX15, ISX12, X12 and ISM11 diesel engines as well as the ISX12N natural gas engine."Jamestown Engine Plant (JEP) plays an important role in our ...
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ArticleThe problem with plastic
With automotive manufacturers looking at ever increasing levels of plastic-based materials content, Steed Webzell examines the challenges for machine shops Recent research suggests that by 2020 the average car will incorporate 350kg of plastic-based materials. As a result, the need for efficient and economic machining methods for plastics has ...
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ArticleMotoring on
Mike Farish reports on the development and manufacture of an innovative electric motorThe rise of electric vehicles and the need for new, efficient powertrain technologies has provided smaller companies with the opportunity to establish themselves as major players – particularly as component or sub-system suppliers – if they can offer ...
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ArticleSteel makes a strong case
With the push for powertrain electrification gaining strength producers of high-strength steel are preparing themselves to capitalise reports James Bakewell In 2017, global sales of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) reached 1.3m units, according to Frédéric Painchault, head of Global Automotive Marketing at steelmaker ...
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ArticleVW's Wolfsburg plant wins award
Germany - The facility has won the Automotive Lean Production Award for the first time. The award was presented by Automobil Produktion and Agamus Consult, and according to Volkswagen, it represents the significant changes that have been implemented at Wolfsburg over the past few years."The team has genuinely earned this ...
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ArticleAudi starts motor production
Hungary - The German OEM has started series production of electric motors at its facility in Győr. An expansion to the existing plant was made to house motor production, covering a space of 8,500 sq.m."Audi Hungaria has been involved in writing the growth story of the Four Rings for 25 ...
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ArticleUniversal tap
The Garant MasterTap is a new universal tap from Hoffman. The company says this tool is suitable for use with a wide range of materials including steel, stainless steel, aluminium, brass and cast iron.The company claims the tap features a new geometry as well as optimised flutes, which it’s said ...
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ArticleThermal management for EV batteries
Henkel claims its thermal interface materials (TIMs) provide effective management of heat generated during charging and operation of the battery system. The company says that its Bergquist Gap Pad 1450 offers a solution to move heat away from Li-I cells and is suitable for fragile applications.According to Henkel its Bergquist ...
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ArticleMaterials handling transfer point solutions
Flexco says it offers a number of splicing and transfer point solutions to optimise belt conveyor performance. These include segmented transfer plates, which the company says are designed to accommodate both large and small gaps between transfers. It’s claimed the plates prevent product and foreign object debris from jamming in ...
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ArticleControlling charge pressure
Pierburg says its newly engineered wastegate actuator allows direct activation of the wastegate valve by being mounted on the hot turbine housing. It’s claimed thermal insulation from the housing, combined with efficient temperature control of the coolant prevents the actuator overheating under all operating conditions.The company says the high level ...
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ArticleFoam system simulation tool
The Ultrasim simulation tool has been developed so that it can now predict the foaming and curing of the flexible integral foam system Elastofoam I for car steering wheels, says BASF. It’s claimed to offer detailed simulation that allows chemical reactions as well as the flow behaviour of the polyurethane ...
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ArticleNew versions for machining centre range
Its SwissDeco machines are now available for different bar diameters says Tornos. The SwissDeco 26 has been designed for a maximum bar diameter of 25.4mm while the 36 model has a maximum bar capacity of 36mm. The company says that while both machines have the same machine base, each spindle ...
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ArticleEV transmission
BorgWarner says its eGearDrive transmission has been designed for the emerging high-volume electric vehicle market and is featured in First Automotive Works (FAW) Group’s Besturn B30EV and Junpai A70E.The company says this transmission features an efficient helical gear train that offers quiet performance and it’s claimed can handle high input ...
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ArticleMass-spectroscopy instrument
Versaperm claims it has developed a new multi-chamber mass-spectroscopy based instrument that allows OEMs to identify and correct problems by measuring permeability for water vapour, air and hydrocarbons, and any other gas as well. The company says this system works on both complex components and assemblies as well as on ...
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ArticlePSA and Nissan exploring new ground
An interesting news report caught my eye recently; the article suggested that PSA – whose Chinese plants are operating well below capacity – will lease one of its factories in China to Nissan later this summer. The report suggested that the factory and its workforce will move to Nissan in ...