Latest News & Features – Page 117
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ArticleGrowth and innovation
Reduced costs, recyclability and new joining technologies are driving the use of aluminium in automotive structuresFord's switch from steel to aluminium for the body of its F-Series trucks was called its ‘billion-dollar gamble’. But the carmaker felt that the opportunity to shed some 300kg of weight from the vehicle was ...
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ArticleTracey takes Alfa Romeo and Jeep role
UK – With immediate effect, Andrew Tracey will step into the role of brand country manager for the two marques, replacing Damien Dally. The latter has moved to a new role with the parent company, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, in Turin, Italy.Tracey has 15 years of experience in the automotive industry, ...
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ArticleBeaming with benefits
Clean, flexible and able to provide quality assurance data, laser technology is now proving effective in welding plasticsA recent report released by Credence Research suggests that the US welding equipment industry for plastics is undergoing a period of explosive growth. The industry was valued at $595.3m in 2015, and the ...
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ArticleRed-hot robots
AMS takes a look at the latest installations and innovations in the world of robot arms and automation used for welding applicationsAccording to the International Federation of Robotics, 50% of the world’s robots are used for welding. Moreover, a recent report from BCC Research reveals that the global automated/robotic welding ...
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ArticleHonda celebrates Energy Star awards
US – Two of the OEM’s plants in Ohio and one in Indiana have received the certification this year, signifying that they are performing in the top 25% of similar facilities in terms of energy usage. The Marysville and East Liberty factories in Ohio won the award for the 11th ...
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ArticleNew generation production control system
The new Industry 4.0-focused iTAC.IoT.Suite is a combination of the production-related Manufacturing Execution System (MES) EcoEMOS and the software solutions from iTAC Software AG, which was acquired by Dürr at the end of 2015.Dürr says this system is based on a modern software architecture which can be adapted to different ...
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ArticleMachining tool inserts
The Hoffman Group says its new Garant HB 7010-1 indexable insert features a multi-layer coating system and a gradient carbide substrate. The company claims this CVD coating protects the carbide substrate at high cutting speeds and process temperatures.The coating’s resistance is due to straightened crystal structures and a smooth surface ...
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ArticleSkoda's new press at Mladá Boleslav
Czech Republic – The servo-mechanical line, installed in a new, 11,600 sq.m hall at a total cost of 86.4m ($94.8m), began full production in March after successfully completing a trial period in February. PXL II can make up to 23,000 parts per day for multiple models, and Skoda says this ...
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ArticleTravel blog: Pressing business in Skodaville
I got lost in Mladá Boleslav. Actually, there are worse places to wander than this northern Czech city; the crumbling old buildings are characterful, the Bohemian castle is picturesque and the mountain air is, well, a breath of fresh air to a visitor from London still trailing noxious fumes. But ...
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ArticleA tale of two paintshops
A major new double paintshop project is under way at Bowling Green which GM say will achieve unprecedented levels of first time quality and throughputBy any standards $439m represents a significant investment. Even more so when the money goes towards the construction of an automotive painting installation covering a little ...
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ArticleKMMG makes one-millionth Sorento
US – The white CUV was manufactured at Kia's West Point facility in Georgia seven-and-a-half years after a production launch for the model costing $1.1 billion. It will be on display at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in the next few weeks.The Sorento was the first model made at Kia Motors Manufacturing ...
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ArticleMazda motors on
Recent expansion and changes to manufacturing arrangements have seen one of Japan's smaller OEMs make gains in production and salesWith a 2016 production volume of just under 1.6m vehicles worldwide, of which nearly 977,400 were made in Japan and just over 608,600 were made overseas, Mazda is one of the ...
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ArticleConstellium supplying BMW for 5 Series
Germany – The company’s aluminium automotive body sheets and crash management systems are being used for the new vehicle, including hybrid and touring versions. The use of lightweight materials has cut 62kg from the weight of the new 5 Series compared with the previous model.Constellium, a longtime partner of BMW, ...
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ArticleKia announces first Indian factory
India – The OEM has signed a memorandum of understanding with the state government of Andhra Pradesh to build a new plant in Anantapur District, with construction beginning in Q4, 2017 and production in H2, 2019. The $1.1 billion factory will have the capacity to make up to 300,000 vehicles ...
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ArticleMazda output: April 2016–March 2017
Japan – The OEM’s domestic production, incorporating both passenger cars and commercial vehicles, dropped by 2.5% year-on-year while the overseas output rose by 7.8% due to greater demand for cars. In March, domestic production grew by 7.3%, with higher numbers of cars made, while overseas output rose by 21.8% due ...
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Article
Nissan output: April 2016–March 2017
Japan – The OEM said its global production rose to record levels during the year, driven by demand for crossovers such as the Rogue and Qashqai as well as vehicles with autonomous drive and connected car technologies. Worldwide production increased by 9% to 5,642,381 units.Globally, passenger car production was up ...
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ArticleAll hail the new taxi
Combining ingenuity, a bold export plan and a government grant, Geely has launched an all-new LTC electric taxi manufactured at a purpose-built factoryHow do you build a niche, low-volume car like the London black cab and make it profitable? That was the conundrum facing the Zhejiang Geely Holding Group when ...
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ArticleSkoda turns out one-millionth Superb
Czech Republic – The milestone vehicle, made at Kvasiny, was a top-of-the-range saloon with a Laurent and Klement badge. It was also the 250,000 third-generation Superb produced since the market launch in March 2015.Michael Oeljeklaus, the OEM’s board member for Production and Logistics, described the milestone as “an impressive demonstration ...
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ArticleHonda announces new production records
Japan – The figures released for fiscal year ending March, 2017, show a 6.9% increase in global output over the year before, with 5,059,847 units produced. In Japan, the increase was 6.5%, representing 810,377 units, while overseas output was up 7.0%, with 4,249,470 units made.Annual output increased in Japan for ...
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ArticleVolvo Torslanda makes first new XC60
Sweden – The first vehicle, painted white, rolled off the line this morning. The new XC60 replaces the original version after nine years of production and nearly 1m deliveries.“We have worked hard in recent weeks and months to prepare Torslanda for this latest new Volvo model, and now we are ...