Latest News & Features – Page 104
-
ArticleSkoda starts building new paintshop
Czech Republic – The facility at Mladá Boleslav is being developed at a cost of €214.5m ($253.8m) and will have capacity for 600 vehicle bodies per day, bringing the onsite total to 2,700 units including the existing paintshop. Operations are due to begin by mid-2019.In its announcement, Skoda said the ...
-
ArticleAudi to build electric SUVs at Ingolstadt
Germany – The model allocation was announced by CEO Rupert Stadler alongside confirmation of job security for all Audi AG employees until 2025. In total, the ‘Audi. Future’ agreement will see the OEM produce 20 electrified models by 2025, including more than ten pure electric vehicles (EVs).“Building up manufacturing capacity ...
-
ArticleGovernment doles out £120m for EV batteries
UK – The money from the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF), equivalent to $160.9m, marks the next phase of a £246m investment in battery technology through the Faraday Battery Challenge, which is intended to develop suitable batteries for the next generation of electric vehicles. Business and energy secretary Greg Clark ...
-
ArticleVW and JAC explore new JV
China – Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft (VW AG), VW Group China and Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Co. (JAC) have signed a memorandum of understanding to investigate potential joint venture models, focusing on multif-functional vehicles (MFVs). The new cooperation follows an agreement in June to establish a JV to make battery-electric cars.Jochem Heizmann, board ...
-
ArticleToyota announces executive changes
Tetsuo Ogawa - ToyotaJapan – The moves are part of a revision of the company’s organisational structure which will be implemented next year in a bid to strengthen cooperation between different business divisions and to boost innovation. Appointments at Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) and the Toyota Research Institute ...
-
ArticleBMW divests stake in carbon-fibre supplier
Germany – SGL Carbon SE will acquire the OEM’s 49% share in SGL ACF, comprising SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers (Germany) and SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers (US), according to an agreement signed in late November. BMW said the company would remain a key supplier, with procurement for the i3 and i8 ...
-
Article3D measurement and imaging
The new QuantumM measurement arm is certified to ISO 10360 -12:2016 and tests to the International Electrical Commission (IEC 60068-2) standards for shock, vibration and temperature stress relief, says Faro. The system includes the FAROBluTM laser line probe HD, that it’s claimed enables five times faster scanning than the previous ...
-
ArticleVolvo Ghent starts XC40 production
Belgium – The company’s first small premium SUV is based on the Compact Modular Architecture which will underpin all new cars in the 40 series. Volvo has already taken more than 13,000 orders and deliveries will begin early next year.“Our people have put in long days and many hours to ...
-
ArticleOut now: ATS 2018
For this, our second issue of the ATS supplement, we have spoken once again to key players in this crucial sector of the market, revealing their insight on the current state of automotive manufacturing.With the wider industry preparing itself for a connected, autonomous, electrified and lightweight future, it’s fascinating to ...
-
ArticleX-ray tech for catalytic converters
3Dx-ray claims its MDXi x-ray system enables manufacturers to check the quality of catalytic converter washcoats inside their metal casings. The company says its system offers a non-destructive way of viewing internal features and defects of the component, which can be fed back, in real-time, to control the manufacturing process ...
-
ArticleSeating plan
Adient CTO Detlef Juerss talks to AMS about the company’s sure and steady approach to new and complex challengesAmong all the exhibits at the IAA international motor show in Frankfurt, a seat that Adient produces for the BMW 7-Series ably exemplifies a modern automotive manufacturing challenge – to combine precision ...
-
ArticleBright work
Coatings specialist Hauzer has developed a viable physical vapour deposition process for automotive partsThe chrome electroplating process for vehicle parts is tried and tested; it’s durable and can be polished to a high shine but uses potentially harmful chemicals, notably chromium 6. A challenge to its use has arisen in ...
-
ArticleSmart rotation
SKF looks to digitalise its business model and manufacturing operations. AMS spoke to Luc Graux, director of manufacturing and process development, to find more about the impact of IoTWhat effect is the move to an I4.0 based operation having on SKF’s production?We are certainly trying to apply the same I4.0 ...
-
ArticleMobile bending robot
Its new mobile bending robot can be retrofitted to any Xpert 40 press brake in the field, says Bystronic. The company claims the automation module can be interfaced to the press brake in a plug-and-play arrangement and only takes a short time for users to set up the robotics and ...
-
ArticleParts of the process
Tenneco CTO Ben Patel talks to AMS about the company’s approach to perfecting process, sharing best practice and mastering materialsSpinning off from a multi-sector conglomerate enterprise in the 1990s, the Tenneco of today takes it manufacturing focus along two distinct component groups. The clean air line features exhaust systems, catalytic ...
-
ArticleAutomated welding processes
From special technology modules to box PC to control technology and drives for robotics, Baumüller claims it provides a wide range of solutions for material handling and robotics applications.One example of the company’s automation capabilities is a QIROX QRH-280 six-axis welding robot from Cloos. The robot is completely automated by ...
-
ArticleA winning formula?
Like all new strategic plans announced by vehicle companies from time to time, the new Opel PACE! plan leaves many questions unanswered. It’s not clear yet what will happen to the enlarged manufacturing network which PSA-Opel/Vauxhall now has; by common consent, the group has too many plants, but CEO Carlos ...
-
ArticleEuropean ramp up
Yanfeng is busily growing its operation within Europe as two new facilities come on stream, with a manufacturing plant in the Czech Republic and a new test centre in SlovakiaThough the company was only formally established in 2015 Yanfeng Automotive Interiors already registers as one of the biggest automotive suppliers ...
-
Article
A winning formula?
Like all new strategic plans announced by vehicle companies from time to time, the new Opel PACE! plan leaves many questions unanswered. It’s not clear yet what will happen to the enlarged manufacturing network which PSA-Opel/Vauxhall now has; by common consent, the group has too many plants, but CEO Carlos ...
-
ArticleInterview: Thomas Rennemann, MAN
The company's manager at its 1.1m sq.m Salzgitter parts plant discusses the €30m transformation that will double non-driven axle output to 900 per day; a new assembly line combines MAN and Scania productionGP: How did the idea for the project originate?TR: It started when we built up a new cooperation ...