Latest News & Features – Page 156
-
Article
Toyota starts new Innova production, Karawang
Indonesia – Plant 1 has become the first facility worldwide to make the model, after an investment of five trillion Indonesian rupiah ($361,000). Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia (TMMIN) has also taken steps to increase the number of its suppliers in the area, resulting in a local content level of 85%.“This ...
-
ArticleSteering the right course
AMS takes a look at the customisation of EPS systems to meet vehicle-makers' production requirements According to Paul Poirel, chief product engineer Europe at Nexteer, the technology that electronic power steering (EPS) systems feature has implications not just for their own manufacture but also for the assembly operations carried out ...
-
Article
Audi tests ‘medical’ gloves in assembly
Germany – The ‘production orthoses’, which are claimed to reduce pressure stress by more than 50%, are being trialled at Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm in Germany, Brussels in Belgium and Győr in Hungary. Audi plans to introduce the gloves to series production later this year.Audi says its car-door assembly workers install ...
-
Article
Skoda Mladá Boleslav celebrates 12m milestone
Czech Republic – The cumulative production total at the OEM’s main plant, which has been operating since 1905, was reached this month. Mladá Boleslav is currently undergoing a modernisation and expansion programme which will see its capacity increase still further.The factory currently makes six Skoda models: the Octavia, the Octavia ...
-
Article
JLR’s new EMC to double in size
UK – A £450m ($678m) investment will increase the footprint of its Engine Manufacturing Centre (EMC) in Wolverhampton, which opened last year, to 200,000sq.m. The OEM said the greater capacity will support its “product offensive”.The EMC was established to make Ingenium engines and is Jaguar Land Rover’s first in-house engine ...
-
ArticleFiat Melfi: The billion-euro factory
FCA has revived its plant in southern Italy with a massive investment to create state-of-the-art facilitiesThe workforce at Fiat Melfi in Italy gave a huge cheer when, back in 2012, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) head Sergio Marchionne announced that the ailing plant was to receive a €1billion ($1.1 billion) investment ...
-
ArticleThe billion euro plant
FCA has invested heavily in its plant at Melfi to create a state-of-the-art production facilityThe workforce at Fiat’s Melfi factory gave a huge cheer when, back in 2012, FCA head Sergio Marchionne announced that the ailing plant was to receive a €1 billion (£700 million) investment to make two new ...
-
ArticleVW Wolfsburg now using smart eyewear
Germany – Following a three-month pilot phase, the plant is rolling out 3D glasses to logistics personnel for use during order picking. Volkswagen says the aim is to improve process security in production.The smart eyewear enables personnel to keep both hands free while working, displaying information such as part numbers ...
-
ArticleBrexit: The automotive angle
Last week I travelled to Birmingham for Aston University’s Centre for Europe debate on the UK's upcoming EU referendum and its implications for the automotive industry. No firm conclusions were reached, although the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) chief executive, Mike Hawes, strongly reiterated the pro-EU membership line ...
-
ArticleChina steamrolls on
Demand for cars is growing despite the economic slowdown – and domestic OEM are getting competitiveOvercapacity problem worsensPremium makers struggleHeavy-truck makers sufferOpportunities open up for EVsMotorcycle-makers challenged by IndiaDemand for cars in China is still growing despite a wider economic slowdown in the country, but the near-term prospects of global ...
-
ArticleChinese dragon rolls on
Demand for cars is growing despite the economic slowdown – and domestic OEM are getting competitiveOvercapacity problem worsensPremium makers struggleHeavy-truck makers sufferOpportunities open up for EVsMotorcycle-makers challenged by IndiaDemand for cars in China is still growing despite a wider economic slowdown in the country, but the near-term prospects of global ...
-
ArticleFord hails 3D printing in production
US – In celebrating the 25-year anniversary of the technology, the OEM said it has “played a key role” in the development of three well-known models: the GT, the Mondeo Vignale and the Focus RS. Also used on other Ford vehicles, 3D printing speeds up part prototyping, enabling designers and ...
-
Article
Hofmann and Järvklo join VW board
Germany – Replacing Berthold Huber and Hartmut Meine, who recently resigned, Jörg Hofmann and Johan Järvklo took up their mandates on November 20 and 22 respectively. Hofmann is first chairman of IG Metall, while Järvklo represents the Swedish Metal Workers’ Union at Scania.Hans Pötsch, chairman of the supervisory board, thanked ...
-
ArticleNissan Canton starts making new Titan XD
US – The 2016 Nissan Titan XD full-size pick-up truck, powered by Cummins technology, will go on sale in late 2015. Job one at the Mississippi plant was a Forged Copper Platinum Reserve model.“It has been a long, hard journey getting to today,” said José Muñoz, executive vice-president, Nissan Motor ...
-
ArticleDahl takes FCA compliance role
US – Replacing Scott Kunselman, whose retirement was previously announced, Michael Dahl will become head of Vehicle Safety and Regulatory Compliance on December 1. He moves from his position as director, Gasoline/Diesel Engine Programmes and Global Powertrain Coordination.Dahl joined the company in 1985 as part of the Chrysler Institute of ...
-
ArticleKia builds first Mexican plant
Mexico – The factory in Pesquería, Nuevo León, has been completed in 13 months, the fastest construction of any manufacturing facility in the OEM’s history. An initial investment of $3 billion has been made by Kia and its suppliers, which is expected to generate 14,000 direct and 56,000 indirect jobs.Kia ...
-
Article
Mercedes-AMG to build 12-cylinder engines in Mannheim
Germany – Assembly of the V12 bi-turbo engines will take place at a new location within Daimler’s manufacturing complex from February 2016. The employees in Affalterbach who currently assemble these products will switch to the eight-cylinder lines.Tobias Moers, chairman of the board of management at Mercedes-AMG, explained the decision by ...
-
ArticlePart of the family
As Renault Palencia in Spain introduces CMF vehicles, AMS goes to see the plant-wide preparations There are a couple of words which crop up frequently when talking to Renault executives about the company’s Palencia plant in northern Spain: one is quality, the other is competitiveness. Palencia has long been the ...
-
ArticleRenault Palencia: Part of the family
As the OEM's Spanish factory introduces CMF vehicles, AMS goes to see the plant-wide preparations There are a couple of words which crop up frequently when talking to Renault executives about the company’s Palencia plant in northern Spain: one is quality, the other is competitiveness. Palencia has long been the ...
-
ArticleBMW celebrates 25 years of 3D printing
Germany – In 1990, the OEM’s Rapid Technologies Center in Munich commissioned the development of its first additive manufacturing facilities, and that year prototype parts were made on a stereolithography machine. Early examples featured on concept cars; BMW later developed further procedures and applications in line with component specifications.Today, the ...