Latest News & Features – Page 88
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ArticleBMW Brilliance boosts battery output
China - Just months after opening the facility, the BMW Brilliance Automotive (BBA) joint venture has announced an expansion to its battery plant in Shenyang. New batteries for the BMW iX3, which is set for launch in 2020, will be made here."Today, we break ground for the next stage of ...
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ArticleA global future
Now Chinese-owned Volvo enters its tenth decade looking stronger than ever. Ian Henry reportsFord had owned Swedish carmaker since 1999, but had never been able to integrate it into the rest of its operations. Nonetheless, when Geely bought Volvo it found a company full of new ideas and plans which ...
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ArticleVolvo Cars increases XC40 capacity
Sweden - Around 80,000 orders have been made for the XC40 since it was launched in late 2017. As a result, the OEM has announced it will expand production of the model, which is the first to be based on its compact modular architecture (CMA), at its Ghent manufacturing plant ...
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ArticleRaising the volume
Turkey is on Europe’s geographic fringes, but central to its automotive manufacturing network. Ian Henry reportsAccording to the Turkish automotive trade association, OSD, at the end of 2017, Turkey’s automotive manufacturers had a total production capacity of close to 2m vehicles a year, divided c1.4m cars, c400,000 vans and around ...
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ArticleToyota to build fuel cell facilities
Japan - The OEM has revealed plans to construct a new building next to its Honsha Plant in Toyota City for the production of fuel cell stacks. Work on the exterior has already been completed, with the facility covering an area of 70,000 sq.m, and work on the interior is ...
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ArticleIntelligent weld
Michigan-based Trantek Automation turned to Magswitch for help in finding a simpler way to error proof an automotive seat frame process Automation cells rely on a wide variety of equipment working together harmoniously to provide instantaneous and accurate feedback when producing a high-quality component. It is not ...
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ArticleGroupe PSA creates Digital Factory
France - The OEM has turned an area covering 3,000 sq.m at its Poissy plant into a digitalised centre. It hopes that the centre will allow it to bring resources and skills together in one place to support various departments, from manufacturing to customer experience."The 3,000 sq.m renovation was completed ...
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ArticleBMW starts Leipzig extension
Germany - The OEM revealed its intension to expand the plant back in July 2017. It originally said the cost would total around €200m (US$234.82m), but has revised that figure to €300m.Construction work has started to extend and update both the bodyshop and paintshop. 500 new robots are being ...
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ArticleOptimising compressed air quality
The Drypoint M eco control system allows for the precise control of the degree of compressed air drying across a defined range, says Beko. The company says this system allows operators to optimise the compressed air quality to suit specific applications, even under changing operating conditions.The purge air demand is ...
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ArticleInfrared thermometer for steelworks
The Endurance series pyrometers are suitable for primary and secondary metal production applications, claims Fluke Process Instruments. The infrared thermometers take non-contact measurements and can be used to control process stability, product quality and fuel efficiency, says the company. The units offer a 1µm, 1.6µm, or 2.4µm spectral response and ...
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ArticleTool management service
Mapal says it now offers its Tool Management services based on the c-Com platform. It’s claimed this system offers accurate inventory and tracking usage data and reduces downtime due to issues such as missing tools, data trawls, restarts and tool selection. The company says this system is features a modular ...
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ArticleFord invests in Craiova plant
Romania - The OEM has confirmed it is spending €200m (US$236.17m) to ready its Craiova plant for the production of a second vehicle, the name of which will be confirmed closer to launch. It will be built alongside the EcoSport small SUV and the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine."This new investment will ...
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Ford to add 1,500 new jobs in Craoiva
Romania - Ford's Craiova assembly plant is to receive a €200m investment and 1,500 new jobs as part of the OEM's plans to add an as yet unnamed second vehicle the factory.The plant currently assembles Ford's EcoSport small SUV as well as its 1.0‑litre EcoBoost engine. Details of the second ...
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ArticleHigh-speed measuring
A combination of precision mechanics, optoelectronic sensor systems, image processing and measurement software, allows the Inspector FQ to perform measurements on the shop floor with short cycle times, claims Werth. The company says the system’s drive concept is based on linear motors and provides very high measuring speeds enabling the ...
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ArticleSilicone free tyre production
Rhein Chemie says its new Rhenodiv BP-166 and Rhenodiv BP-9500 products are 100% silicone-free and claims they are easier to wash off due to a new, water-soluble release agent. The company claims the permanently coated Rhenoshape bladders enable tyre manufacturers to vulcanise tyres using no additional release agents, eliminating the ...
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ArticleAll-wheel drive coupling
BorgWarner says it is supplying two versions of its electro-hydraulically actuated, all-wheel drive (AWD) coupling for the new Volkswagen Crafter. One with a differential lock control at the rear axle, the other without this feature. The unit distributes torque between the front and rear axle and the company claims this ...
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ArticleForeign policy friction
Tariffs on steel imports, NAFTA renegotiation and the return to sanctions on Iran have been at the centre of recent policy actions by the US president; the implications for the auto industry are potentially severe but how things will develop are far from clear.The decision to impose tariffs on steel ...
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ArticleConstellium expands aluminium plant
Czech Republic - The supplier has announced that it is building an extension to its facility in Decin, which houses the production of customised aluminium extrusions primarily used in automotive and industrial applications. Construction is expected to finish in October 2019."As the auto industry increasingly turns to lightweight, high-strength aluminium, ...
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ArticleMercedes prepares plant for electric EQ
France - Mercedes-Benz has announced that its Hambach plant will produce a new compact electric car under the EQ brand - it's electric vehicle (EV) family. In order to ready the facility, a total of €500m (US$588.14m) will be spent on a new body shop and surface treatment system, while ...