Latest News & Features – Page 120
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Article5-axis, 30-taper, mill-turn centre
Brother has introduced an uprated version of its Speedio M140X1 5-axis, 30-taper mill-turn centre. Called Speedio M140X2, the company says improvements include an integrated, high output, direct drive motor in the C-axis to replace the previous roller drive powering the 2,000rpm turning table. The A-axis trunnion rotates through a 50% ...
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ArticleFineblanking machine
The reinforced model of the XFT 2500speed press offers an effective solution for the special challenges in fineblanking production claims Feintool. The company says this model is equipped with stronger knuckle joints, which increases the press force at the tip to 3000kN (time-limited).It’s claimed that this additional reinforcement makes this ...
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ArticleNew London Taxi plant inaugurated
UK – The £300m ($377.1m) factory at Antsy, Coventry, will be able to produce up to 20,000 range-extended electric vehicles (EVs) per year for global markets. The investment by parent company Geely, the Chinese carmaker, has created over 1,000 jobs, including 200 engineers and 30 apprentices.“The opening of our new ...
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ArticleDaimler now using Schuler laser tech
Germany – The OEM has commissioned two laser blanking lines at its Kuppenheim plant, in place of conventional lines with dies. The equipment will initially be used for the serial production of compact cars but can be quickly reprogrammed for other models in future.In the Schuler system, three laser heads ...
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Article
Valmet to make next-gen Mercedes
Finland – The manufacturing contract is described as being comparable in duration and extent to existing deals for the Mercedes-Benz A-Class and GLC SUV. The manufacturing engineering project for compact cars will begin immediately.“The new manufacturing contract takes the cooperation of Valmet Automotive and Daimler to a new level, and ...
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Valmet expands recruitment campaign
Finland – The contract manufacturer is adding 800 roles to 1,000 that were announced in November 2016, as a result of high demand and the finalisation of shift arrangements. The company's largest-ever recruitment campaign will boost the number of employees at Uusikaupunki Plant to almost 3,700 by late 2017.The hiring ...
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ArticleLTC announces van for new factory
UK – Following the official launch of its new facility at Antsy, Coventry, London Taxi Company (LTC) said that a range-extended light commercial vehicle would be the second vehicle to roll off the line after an electric taxi. An additional £25m ($31.5m) from parent company Geely brings the total investment ...
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ArticleNew Bobber a triumph for Avon
UK – The tyre manufacturer has increased volumes of its Cobra product at its Melksham, Wiltshire, factory to match demand for the recently launched Triumph Bonneville Bobber. Each motorcycle of this type leaves the assembly line with bespoke Cobra tyres for the front and rear wheels.Doug Ross, head of Global ...
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ArticleBattery box castings
Rheinmetall Automotive says it is supplying components for battery boxes of electric vehicles using its expertise in the manufacture of complex vehicle components in die-cast aluminium.Weighing 9kg, these components serve to hold the rechargeable battery cells installed in an SUV and a high-power sports limousine from a leading German OEM. ...
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ArticleNew modular hybrid transmission kit
ZF says its new 8-speed dual clutch transmission (8DT) is available for front-longitudinal configuration in four different variants (standard, all-wheel drive, hybrid, all-wheel hybrid) in three torque classes, to a maximum of 1,000Nm.To make the 8DT basic transmission as small and compact as possible, a new gear set concept with ...
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ArticleNissan changes North America team
US – The appointments, effective from April 1, range across production and engineering; R&D; customer satisfaction; marketing and sales; communications; and legal matters. Most of the roles relate to Nissan’s Franklin site, Tennessee.José Muñoz, chief performance officer and chairman, management committee – North America, Nissan Motor Company, said that the ...
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ArticleLight tunnel for paint surface quality
The EcoReflect light tunnel offers an ergonomic environment design and permits continuous detection of irregularities in paint with maximum accuracy, claims Dürr.The company says this system generates vertical contrast lines, enabling the operators to follow the progression of the car bodies when checking them. In contrast to conventional systems with ...
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ArticleUltralight door module
Magna International, in cooperation with the US Department of Energy (DOE) and partners FCA US and Grupo Antolin, has developed a new, ultralight door architecture that it’s claimed achieves over 42% mass savings compared to an average current production door.The company says a key innovation includes integration of its SmartLatch ...
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ArticleSilent chains for hybrid motors
BorgWarner says it has produces silent chains for Suzuki’s Solio hybrid vehicle. When driving under electric power, two chains transfer power from the electric motor to the transmission to propel the vehicle. During braking or deceleration, the chains transmit power back to the motor to recharge the battery.The company says ...
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ArticleAutomotive glass inspection technology
Based on patented stereo deflectometry, Isra says it has developed a method that is suitable for assessing the reflection optics of windshields and rear and side windows. The company claims this new Screenscan Reflected Distortion product allows measurement accuracy in the millidiopter range.The company says that instead of the height ...
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ArticleMercedes-Benz Vans pioneers Dürr technology
US – The Ecopaint RoDip equipment is being installed in a new paintshop for Mercedes-Benz Vans in North Charleston, South Carolina, and will enable vehicle bodies up to eight metres long to rotate through an immersion bath. According to Dürr, it will be the first time the process is used ...
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ArticleToyota invests £240m at Burnaston
UK – Work will begin this year to upgrade the Derbyshire plant with new equipment, technology and systems to produce vehicles based on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform. The overall investment, equivalent to $296.7m, will be supported by £21.3m from the UK Government for training, R&D, and improvements ...
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ArticleProgrammable linear Hall-effect sensor
The new A1377 programmable linear Hall-effect sensor IC is designed for applications that require high accuracy and resolution without compromising bandwidth, claims Allegro MicroSystems.The company says this new device uses segmented, linearly interpolated temperature compensation technology, which it’s claimed reduces the total error of the device across the whole temperature ...
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ArticleMeasurement software release
Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence has launched the latest edition (PC-DMIS 2017 R1) of its measurement software. The company says this version features a ‘What’s New’ pop-up animation when first starting the application to highlight new features and enhancements of the software.Application performance has been optimised for speeding up everyday tasks like ...
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ArticleTailor-made
With a total throughput capacity of 750,000 tonnes of metal per year, it is no surprise to discover the automotive industry is a major customer of the Tata SteelparkThe Tata Steelpark near Wolverhampton, UK, is one of the major steel processing sites in Europe. Inbound, coiled steel from the company’s ...