Latest News & Features – Page 126
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ArticlePloys against noise
Following a joint project with Henkel, BMW is piloting a new generation of sustainable, lighter, liquid-applied sound deadening materials for series productionWind whistle and engine sounds work against the quiet enjoyment that OEMs seek to provide for drivers and passengers. Noise-Vibration-Harshness (NVH) materials placed onto the vehicle BIW structures help ...
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ArticleOperation and cooperation
The working relationship between design and manufacturing departments can optimise processes, reduce costs and make the most of the best ideasGenuine leather, synthetic leather, thermoplastic polyolefins and slush skins have become standard surface materials in cockpit production. These various surface concepts usually call for multiple-stage production processes, requiring specific tools. ...
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Article
Zero tolerance for error
If a single word can sum up the key challenge involved in the manufacture of injector valves for diesel engines it is very likely ‘tolerances’Summing up the high-precision machining operations at Delphi’s Storehouse plant, chief manufacturing engineer for commercial vehicle fuel injection systems Dave Jewell says: “We have got to ...
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ArticleBraking point
The last decade has seen the most dramatic and potentially disruptive burst of innovation in braking system developmentWith new vehicle power sources, increased viability of extensive ‘Driver Assist’ technologies, and a movement towards electronic control and actuation, the challenges facing suppliers and the opportunities offered to designers perhaps seem greater ...
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ArticleTransfer of power
GKN is supporting the growth in electric and hybrid vehicle production with the development of its eDrive powertrainsThe company has spent the past 15 years acquiring the production experience needed to transfer the technology from niche vehicles to high-volume mass-market applications,” says Peter Moelgg, All-Wheel & E-Drive CEO at GKN ...
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ArticleAssembly language
A flagship plant in Portugal provides Visteon with the platform to innovate and find best practices it can roll out worldwideFrom Palmela, its key European production base and centre of excellence based on the outskirts of Lisbon, Visteon supplies to almost every OEM in the market. Half of the Palmela ...
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ArticleKaizen in Karben
As one site in a huge global network, Continental’s plant near Frankfurt provides a fine example of how improvement by knowledge sharing comes in forms both old and newEvery morning at 9am, the managing director of Continental’s plant at Karben, Germany takes a gemba walk. Following a different route each ...
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ArticleSkoda Kvasiny reaches 2m vehicles
Czech Republic – The milestone car was a Kodiaq, the brand’s first large SUV. For the launch of this model, the factory recruited an extra 2,600 personnel by the end of 2016 and is still progressing with a modernisation and expansion programme.Skoda has invested 7 billion crowns ($269.4m) at Kvasiny ...
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ArticleHonda hits 100m-unit milestone
Japan – The company reached this cumulative total after starting automotive production in 1963 with the T360 mini-truck and the S500 sports car. Honda built its first dedicated plant one year later and now has 34 such facilities on five continents.Honda’s original automotive factory, at Sayama City in Saitama Prefecture, ...
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Article
Toyota announces reshuffle in America
US – Effective from January 3, 2017, the appointments are part of a move toward regional autonomy and self-reliance, incorporating the ‘One Toyota’ strategy. The location of business affiliates and senior personnel at a single site is aimed at improving decision-making, sharing best practices and maximising human resources.New presidents with ...
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ArticleVW unveils CKD plant near Nairobi
Kenya – The first vehicle off the production line was a Polo Vivo, a bestseller in Sub-Saharan Africa. The factory at Thika, which is a joint project with DT Dobie, will be able to produce up to 1,000 cars per year in its initial phase. Its annual capacity may be ...
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ArticleGKN to expand in North Carolina
US – The driveline supplier announced an expenditure of $179m over the next five years to grow its manufacturing facilities in Alamance, Catawba, Lee and Person. The investment will support increasing demand for its all-wheel-drive (AWD) and eDrive products among North American vehicle-makers.Phil Swash, CEO of GKN Driveline, described the ...
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Article
Flannery to lead Hyundai in America
US – As interim president and CEO, W. Gerald Flannery will take over the responsibilities of Dave Zuchowski, who will be leaving the company. Hyundai Motor America said the appointment continued a reorganisation that began late this year.Flannery joined Hyundai in 1987, having previously worked as senior attorney at Ford, ...
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ArticleCarlos Ghosn – hungry for even more power?
As the end of the year approaches, news from Japan has emerged about what Nissan – or more specifically, Carlos Ghosn – intends to do with Mitsubishi. Japanese corporate law allowed Nissan to take control of its troubled compatriot by acquiring just 34% of the company for 237 billion yen ...
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Mazda Hofu starts making CX-3
Japan – Plant No.1 in Yamaguchi began manufacturing the subcompact crossover yesterday, becoming the third plant to do so after Ujina Plant No.1 in Hiroshima and AutoAlliance (Thailand). Mazda said the move would strengthen its supply system for the growing SUV segment.The OEM is transferring some production from Ujina, which ...
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ArticleBrose to install paintshop at Coventry
UK – A £10m ($13.5m) investment will enable the establishment of a new facility which can e-coat up to 3.5 seats per year. The paintshop is due to come online in August 2017.The facility will allow Brose to bring the seat coating process in-house, which the company says will improve ...
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Article
Lands of opportunity
The strong growth in production seen in Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Romania and Slovakia means eastern Europe is still a big attraction for OEMsIn the late 1990s and early 2000s, Eastern Europe up to the Russian border received substantial investment from European, Japanese and Korean vehicle companies seeking low ...
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Article
Workforce of the future
Brian Fortney, global business lead, Workforce and Training Services, at Rockwell Automation tells AMS how automotive companies can prepare for a digitally connected era – and the arrival of the millennial generationJoanne Perry (JP): Can you explain what OEMs normally ask Rockwell to do as a training provider?Brian Fortney (BF): ...
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ArticleCutting tool inserts for cast iron machining
Made from new grades of CVD coated-carbide materials, Kyocera says its CA3 and chipbreaker K Series inserts offer improvements in machining cast iron components for automotive applications.The CA3 Series uses a newly developed CVD coating with a pink-gold finish over a carbide base metal and the company claims it has ...
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ArticleFabric-cutting solution
Lectra claims its new Vector iQ fabric-cutting system can increase productivity by up to 10% and features Eclipse continuous cutting, which provides automatic material advance to cut without interruption. The company says the entry-level Vector models come with its Power Premium service coverage, which includes predictive maintenance designed to reduce ...