Latest News & Features – Page 189
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ArticleFiat Brazil: Quest for growth
Alfredo Leggero, manufacturing director for Fiat Chrysler Latin America, discusses the continued growth of the carmaker’s largest plant worldwide, Betim in Minas Gerais – plus its new hub in Goiana, PernambucoJoanne Perry (JP): How important is South America to Fiat as a production location?Alfredo Leggero (AL): South America is very ...
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Rushforth to push forth Nissan’s sales
Japan – As corporate vice-president for Global Sales, Allan Rushforth will be based at the OEM’s Yokohama headquarters and will report to Philippe Klein, Nissan chief planning officer. Rushforth joins Nissan from Hyundai, where he was chief operating officer and senior vice-president for Europe, based in Frankfurt, Germany.Rushforth started his ...
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ArticleVW and FAW commit to 25 more years
Germany/China – The extension of the two companies’ existing partnership until 2041, witnessed in Berlin by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, is intended to “significantly expand” R&D activities in the country and enable a move into new business areas including alternative drivetrain technologies.“Together with its strong ...
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ArticleBMW assembles first car at Araquari
Brazil – The company says that more than €200m will be invested at the plant in Santa Catarina State over the next few years, resulting in a production capacity of over 30,000 vehicles per annum. The first car to roll off the assembly line was a 328i ActiveFlex. This car ...
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ArticleHayles takes sustainable fuel role at Hyundai
UK – In the newly created position, Robin Hayles will develop and deliver Hyundai Motor UK’s fuel cell and sustainable fuels strategy. Hayles has worked for the OEM since 2004.In his most recent role as product manager for ix35, Santa Fe, i800 and iLoad, Hayles was responsible for managing the ...
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ArticleHarlow to lead Chrysler NAFTA Manufacturing
USA – Chrysler Group has appointed Brian Harlow vice-president – head of NAFTA Manufacturing as the successor to Mauro Pino, who will lead Manufacturing for LATAM. Harlow is now responsible for all assembly, stamping and powertrain manufacturing operations in the US, Canada and Mexico, as well as the implementation of ...
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ArticleFushimi to lead Yokohama’s American business
US – Leaving his role as head of OE Tire Sales and Marketing at The Yokohama Rubber Co. (YRC) in Tokyo, Japan, Takaharu Fushimi will move to California as CEO of Yokohama Corporation North America (YCNA). It will be his second assignment in America.Fushimi will be responsible for strategic operations ...
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ArticleVolvo Gent to cut CO2 emissions by 40%
Belgium – Volvo Car Group and Stora Enso, the global paper products group, have joined forces to reduce carbon emissions at Volvo's plant at Gent by over 40%. Stora Enso will install an underground hot water pipeline, from its biomass fuelled paper mill, to transport compressed water at a temperature ...
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ArticleFord Oakville to add 1,000 workers
Canada – Following the OEM’s selection of the facility to make its Edge utility vehicle, a C$700m ($621m) upgrade is underway to expand manufacturing capability. The cars made at Oakville will be exported to more than 100 countries.By adding more than 1,000 hourly jobs, Ford will have increased the total ...
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ArticleLusting after Latin America
Brazil especially is attracting big investments from global vehicle-makers despite economic uncertainties In this article:Short-term economicsLong-term prospectsBMWCheryDaimlerFiat ChryslerFordGeneral MotorsHondaJAC MotorsJaguar Land RoverRenault-NissanVolkswagenFor almost 15 years, Brazil and Argentina have operated a trade agreement which manages automotive imports and exports between the two countries. While a new deal is being negotiated, ...
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ArticleVW reaches 200m production total
Germany – The milestone vehicle was an XL Sport, made 15 years after the OEM celebrated the 100m mark with an anniversary New Beetle. VW’s global production footprint now encompasses 106 plants in 27 countries.“We are proud to have produced 200m vehicles. This impressive figure also bears witness to our ...
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ArticleEcoDiesel rises to 20% of Ram 1500 production
US – Working with VM Motori of the Fiat Group, Chrysler will increase the EcoDiesel mix to double previous expectations by the end of November, at the Warren and Saltillo assembly plants in Michigan and Mexico respectively. The move has been made to meet demand from North American consumers.The EcoDiesel ...
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ArticleNew robot welding sensor
Meta Vision Systems claims its new SLS ARC laser sensor is optimised for robotic arc welding applications and is suitable for seam finding and real-time weld seam tracking in the usual welding processes, including high current GMAW and FCAW. It offers fully automatic image quality optimisation, combined with new sensor ...
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ArticleCompact portable CMM for on-the-move measurement
The ROMER Absolute Arm Compact offers a high-accuracy shop-floor solution for small to medium parts claims Hexagon Metrology. The company says the system offers high-tolerance 3D measurement in a 1.2 metre volume for use even in confined spaces. A counterweight system enables use without mountings and Hexagon says the absolute ...
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ArticleWeld destruct testing
To effectively deal with tougher materials now being used in vehicle structures, Honsa says it has created a new class of weld destruct tools. The company claims these new impact hammers and chisels utilise improved tool valve designs with a superior barrel assembly material to cut through boron steel and ...
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ArticleParts transfer for press hardening applications
Strothmann says its transfer solution for hot forming applications features three linear axes with dynamic drives. The company says the TransferFEEDER SRT 3/040 performs programmed motion sequences and can achieve parts transfer times of under two seconds, while the press does not need to be opened as wide as in ...
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ArticleBumping up Brazil's parts quality
Faurecia’s automated NewTech process can deliver better, greener results for exteriors productionIn the small laboratory at Faurecia Automotive Exteriors, São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil, it takes a long time to find a part showing the flaws that can occur during bumper painting; one of the team members escorting AMS around ...
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ArticleFaurecia Interiors: Staying in shape
While vehicle production volumes are on an upward trajectory in South America, interiors remain relatively simple, says Francisco Maciel, regional vice-president for Faurecia Interior Systems Joanne Perry (JP): How important is South America as a production location for Faurecia Interior Systems?Francisco Maciel (FM): South America represents 6% of our turnover. ...
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ArticleChrysler Warren redesigns assembly line for Ram rise
US – A requirement for increased capacity at the 76-year-old plant led to the revamp of 353 workstations, enabling five more trucks to roll off the assembly line every hour, or 100 more per day. With sales of the Ram 1500 on a 52-month streak, the Michigan facility will turn ...
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ArticleEngstler is Bentley’s regional director, Europe
UK – Succeeding Bart Gerris, who is moving to another role within Volkswagen Group, Robert Engstler will take up his new position on October 1, 2014. He will report directly to Kevin Rose, member of the board for Sales, Marketing and Aftersales at Bentley.Engstler was most recently managing director of ...