Latest News & Features – Page 121
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ArticleAround the block
The mix of in-house and external sourcing that OEMs regularly deploy in vehicle engine production make its supply chain quite distinct from that of all other components along the assembly lineEngines, whether diesel or petrol, have a supply chain that is quite distinct from that which provides components to vehicle ...
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ArticleSchuler press for Borgward Beijing-Miyun
China – The German car brand will be able to increase capacity when the five-station servo press line goes into operation from August 2018. The equipment will produce body panels for the BX7, BX5 and BX6 models.The new press line will have a force of 67,000kN and be able to ...
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ArticleEdging out inefficiencies
Tooling innovations matched with supplier partnerships are proving critical to competitive gain at automotive machine shops the world overFord’s Bridgend engine plant in the UK, which produces over 750,000 petrol engines a year, has engaged in a cutting-tool partnership with Mapal to help the factory to hit its SPC targets ...
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ArticleHigh volume machining centre
The W-200 is the latest in the Multiplex series and has been designed for high volume applications, says Yamazaki Mazak. The W-200Y + GL-100 offers a combination of two spindles, two turrets and what the company claims is a super-fast gantry loader, said to offer a 20% reduction in load/unload ...
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ArticleNew cylinder pressure sensors
The Type 6124A uncooled cylinder pressure sensor has a measuring range of 0 to 300 bar at up to 350°C, and is suitable for both laboratory and on-road applications claims Kistler. Featuring the company’s PiezoStar, it’s claimed the sensor offers good thermal sensitivity and linearity characteristics (thermal sensitivity shift ≤±1 ...
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ArticleIt's time to get personal
The advent of 3D printing has set the industry’s imagination racing with regard to how far this innovative technology could actually push technological boundaries, particularly concerning personalisation. We all love choosing the colour scheme, upholstery, wheels and trims for our new cars, so how great would it be if your ...
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Article
Mazda boosts engineering team
Japan – The OEM released its graduate recruitment plan for fiscal year ending (FYE) March 2019, showing that it will offer 220 engineering positions on home territory, plus 45 administrative roles. This is an increase on the number of new employees estimated for FYE March 2019 (205 and 40 respectively).“We ...
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ArticleMacro ergonomics
By assessing hundreds of assembly tasks through virtual simulation, ergonomists at Ford have helped to drastically reduce worker-injury ratesIndustrial athletes, that’s how Ford affectionately regards its assembly line employees. The phrase is an acknowledgement of the physicality required to work on an automotive production line. However, the OEM also recognises ...
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Article
Mazda Hofu to make new CX-5
Japan – The plant in Yamaguchi prefecture will start producing the vehicle in November, joining the Ujina factory in Hiroshima where it is already manufactured. Mazda says the production launch is in response to growing worldwide demand for SUVs.“As with the CX-3, starting production of the CX-5 at Hofu Plant ...
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ArticleVW and Tata initiate strategic alliance
Germany/India – The two companies have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) which will form the basis of long-term cooperation in specific areas, with the overall objective of jointly developing components and potentially also vehicle concepts. The project will be led by the VW Group’s Skoda brand.“Our aim with the ...
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ArticleVojvodich joins Ford board
US – Taking up the role on April 1, Lynn Vojvodich will sit on the Nominating and Governance, Sustainability and Innovation and Audit Committees. Last month, Vojvodich completed her tenure with software company Salesforce, where she had served as executive vice-president and chief marketing officer since 2013.“Lynn is a proven ...
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ArticleDetroit Electric enters Far East JV
UK – The deal with Far East Smarter Energy Group of China has helped to secure investment of $1.8 billion for the development and manufacture of electric vehicles (EVs) over three years. Detroit Electric’s European operations will receive $370m during the next four years, enabling it to complete the homologation ...
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ArticleUnder contract
Valmet Automotive is experiencing rapid growth with a new Daimler contract to build its GLC SUV, partnership with a leading Chinese battery supplier and engineering acquisitions in EuropeIt might have been a chilly -12°C outside the Uusikaupunki plant on the day of our visit, but things are certainly heating up ...
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ArticleGM and Honda pick Fuel Cell team
US – Suheb Haq of GM will become the first president of the newly created Fuel Cell System Manufacturing (FCSM) while Tomomi Kosaka of Honda will serve as its vice-president. The board of directors will comprise three executives from each company and will include a rotating chairperson.Together, Haq and Kosaka ...
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ArticleFord trials large-scale 3D printing
US – The OEM is exploring how substantial, one-piece components such as spoilers could be printed for the prototyping and future production of vehicles, with resultant decreases in weight and fuel consumption. Ford is using a Stratasys Infinite Build 3D printer at its research centre in Dearborn, Michigan.“With Infinite Build ...
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ArticlePSA acquires Opel/Vauxhall
France – In a €2.2 billion ($2.3 billion) deal, the French vehicle-maker will take control of GM’s two European brands plus its regional financial division. The transaction will make PSA the second-largest automotive company in Europe after the Volkswagen Group, with a market share of 17%.“We are proud to join ...
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ArticleHonda’s $150m for ten-speed transmissions
US – The investment will be spread across two plants in Georgia and Ohio, enabling Honda to produce the automatic transmissions for front-wheel-drive vehicles. Production started today at Honda Precision Parts of Georgia (HPPG) in Tallapoosa.At HPPG, the OEM is spending $100m for a new assembly line and production modifications, ...
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ArticleHonda to double UK apprentices
UK – The vehicle-maker said it would expand its apprenticeship training for this year after receiving the highest number of applications since the scheme launched in 1999. Honda Swindon, which has become the production hub for the new Civic, is midway through recruiting September’s intake of apprentices.At present, the successful ...
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ArticleHarnessed dress-packs for welding robots
igus says it now offers fully assembled dress-packs for rapid replacement of energy chain systems on welding robots. The company explains that these can be custom designed, drop-in replacements, that can be connected quickly and minimise downtime.These packs consist of a multi-axis triflex R energy chain, filled with chainflex cables ...
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ArticleSmall-boring tools
New versions of the 105 Supermini are now available for boring, internal grooving, chamfering, threading, broaching, facing and parting-off exotic alloys and steels, says Horn.The company says these tools feature a new coating, substrate and microgeometry; the carbide inserts are designed to machine bores in highly alloyed materials from 0.2mm ...