Latest News & Features – Page 118

  • GKN, SDS
    Article

    SDS to become GKN eDrive hub

    2017-04-19T16:31:09Z

    China – Shanghai GKN HUAYU Driveline Systems (SDS) will start production of the parent company’s latest eDrive products in 2018, becoming a manufacturing hub for its electrified drivelines. GKN expects its joint venture to produce over 1m eDrive units per year by 2025.SDS will begin making the Multimode eTransmission for ...

  • NIO ES8
    Article

    NIO unveils ESB production vehicle

    2017-04-19T15:50:49Z

    China – The seven-seater electric SUV, intended for the Chinese market, will enter series production at the end of 2017. The ESB is one of 11 vehicles the company is displaying at the Shanghai motor show this month. NIO also announced that it will begin taking orders for its $1.48m ...

  • Mitsubishi ASX
    Article

    Mitsubishi to transfer RVR production

    2017-04-18T12:27:10Z

    Japan – The OEM announced that it will move the RVR (the ASX or Outlander Sport in some markets) from Okazaki Plant, Okayama, to Mizushima Plant in Aichi at the end of December. Mitsubishi said it is optimising its domestic production before launching the Eclipse Cross compact coupe SUV at ...

  • Petrol Ingenium, JLR EMC
    Article

    JLR’s EMC makes first petrol Ingenium

    2017-04-18T10:45:51Z

    UK – The engine, which will debut in vehicles this summer, marks the completion of the first phase of the Engine Manufacturing Centre (EMC). The $1 billion plant in Wolverhampton, West Midlands, was opened in 2014 to supply the OEM’s three vehicle factories in the country.The manufacture of this first ...

  • Jens Ludmann
    Article

    McLaren finally fills COO position

    2017-04-18T10:20:09Z

    UK – Jens Ludmann has been appointed as chief operating officer (COO), the role last occupied by Mike Flewitt, who is now CEO. It had been latent since July 2013, when Flewitt stepped up to his current position.McLaren is in the second year of its Track22 business plan to improve ...

  • GOM ATOS Capsule
    Article

    Industrial 3D metrology

    2017-04-18T09:00:33Z

    GOM will be presenting a number of its metrology systems at Control 2017. These will include the complete ATOS ScanBox series, including series 7 and 8 for the inspection of large sheet metal parts and complete car bodies.Also being exhibited: the ATOS Capsule system, which the company says is designed ...

  • TPSi CMT robotics
    Article

    Welding robotics power source

    2017-04-17T09:00:08Z

    Fronius says it has expanded the range of functions of its TPS/i Robotics power source. The company says this system can now be equipped with the Cold Metal Transfer (CMT) welding process using an additional package.The modular system consists of interconnected, synchronised components and is designed to meet the demands ...

  • Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 314 CDI
    Article

    Cable carriers for sliding doors

    2017-04-14T09:00:31Z

    Sliding doors on delivery vehicles require a permanent power supply to allow electronic components to function even when the door is open. Kabeltrax says it offers suitable flexible cable carrier systems for this and that these are currently used on the Mercedes-Benz V-Class and Vito.The company says its system consists ...

  • Trumpf's I-PFO is suited to the laser welding of doors, seats, sun roofs and other large body parts 2
    Article

    Under the spotlight

    2017-04-13T14:55:55Z

    With current demand for lightweighting so voracious, there are many applications in which OEMs are looking to spot weld mixed-material assemblies Trumpf's I-PFO is suited to the laser welding of doors, seats, sun roofs and other large body partsWith high thermal and electrical conductivity plus the very high electrical resistance ...

  • Sideblades, Audi R8
    Article

    Scratching the surface

    2017-04-13T14:37:28Z

    As Audi hails a new matting technique for its R8 vehicles as a finishing innovation, AMS digs up the detailsAll customers want a flawless paint finish to their new car – a uniform, generally glossy appearance without any hint of inconsistency. The main choice that needs to be made is ...

  • Inspection Technologies
    Article

    Inline inspection of castings and forgings

    2017-04-13T12:40:35Z

    Inspection Technologies says it has developed a mixed light inspection system that removes the need for low ambient lighting conditions when checking for surface defects in cast and forged parts using fluorescent dyes.The system comprises of a specialised camera, driver electronics and a self-contained UV light source. It’s claimed this ...

  • HyperWorks 2017
    Article

    New functionalities for software platform

    2017-04-13T12:20:06Z

    Altair says it has added a number of new functionalities to its HyperWorks 2017 release. These include: model-based development, electromagnetism, nonlinear structural analysis, modeling and meshing, multiphysics and multi-disciplinary analysis, lightweight design and optimisation.www.altair.com

  • Article

    Dongfeng and Nexteer enter JV

    2017-04-13T10:13:22Z

    US/China – The 50:50 joint venture will design and manufacture electric power steering (EPS) systems for passenger cars of the Dongfeng Group. Its production facility will be located near to Dongfeng's headquarters in Wuhan, China.Tao Liu, senior vice-president and global chief operating officer, Nexteer Automotive, said that both partners “will ...

  • Article

    Audi picks plants for new Q models

    2017-04-11T11:14:48Z

    Slovakia/Hungary – The vehicle-maker has announced that it will make the Q8 in Bratislava from 2018 and the Q4 in Győr from 2019. From next year, Audi Hungaria will also take responsibility for the Q3 compact SUV, which until then will be produced in Martorell, Spain.“We will integrate two completely ...

  • Engine line, TMMK
    Article

    TMMK receives $1.33bn for TNGA

    2017-04-10T11:55:40Z

    US – The factory in Kentucky will become the first in North America to produce vehicles on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA), beginning with the 2018 Camry. In addition to modifications relating to TNGA, Toyota says the plant will install new equipment and build a new paintshop to “modernise ...

  • PSA Vigo
    Article

    PSA to modernise European paint lines

    2017-04-10T11:37:03Z

    Spain – Paintshop supplier Sames Kremlin has announced that in March it won the contract to update lines one and two at PSA’s Vigo factory. Over the coming months, the company will install a total of 51 robots at PSA facilities in Trnava (Slovakia), Poissy and Rennes (France), plus the ...

  • St Athan, Aston Martin
    Article

    Aston Martin starts converting St Athan

    2017-04-06T11:47:45Z

    UK – The facility in Wales was officially handed over to the OEM by the Ministry of Defence so that it can begin Phase II of the redevelopment and remain on target for the production launch of its new SUV, the DBX, in 2019. The plant will become Aston Martin’s ...

  • Volkswagen Chattanooga
    Article

    VW's new workforce scheme, Chattanooga

    2017-04-06T10:34:35Z

    US – The Volkswagen Neighbourhood Talent Pipeline has been established in partnership with the Chattanooga 2.0 coalition to familiarise participants with the manufacturing process and prepare them for careers at VW Chattanooga. The programme lasts for five weeks and is free for qualified participants.The scheme will take place at the ...

  • Ford Mondeo Energi
    Article

    Ford Changan to make Mondeo Energi

    2017-04-06T09:37:07Z

    China – The joint venture will produce the plug-in hybrid from next year, alongside the Mondeo Hybrid which went on sale in November 2016. Ford added that it will introduce a new, fully electric small SUV as part of its “China electrification plan”, which will also see electrified powertrains produced ...

  • Mark Del Rosso
    Article

    Del Rosso to lead Bentley in the Americas

    2017-04-05T09:45:27Z

    US – Replacing Michael Winkler, who will return to Australia after a two-month transition period, Mark del Rosso will become president and CEO for the region on June 1, 2017. He will report to Andreas Offermann, Bentley’s member of the board for Sales, Marketing and Aftersales.Del Rosso started his career ...