Latest News & Features – Page 200
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ArticleThe aluminium boom
As OEMs seek to reduce the fuel consumption and emissions of their vehicles, the lightweight material is becoming an increasingly important solution“In the next five years, you'll see more high-volume, mass-market cars with all-aluminium bodies”. This prediction was made in 2012 by Randall Scheps, marketing director of automotive sheet at ...
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ArticleSMIL and Magneti in shock absorber partnership
India – The 50:50 joint venture has been formed after Samvardhana Motherson International (SMIL) acquired half the share capital of Magneti Marelli Shock Absorbers India. The partnership will make use of the existing Magneti Marelli manufacturing facility for shock absorbers which is located in Chakan, Pune, and is claimed to ...
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ArticleAllied to aluminium
The growing use of this lightweight material presents its manufacturers with significant technical challengesTo the casual observer, there is nothing extraordinary about Ford’s announcement that it will be using aluminium instead of steel to produce the body of its 2015 F-150 pick-up truck.After all, the lightweight metal has been used ...
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ArticleHandheld laser measurement device
Third Dimension has launched the GapGun Pro, its flagship handheld laser measurement device. The company says GapGun Pro offers improved speed, ease of use, portability and ruggedness. New and improved functionality includes: ultra fast processing capability and a new VChange sensor system. The company says the GapGun Pro includes its ...
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ArticleNew start/stop technology for hydraulic presses
AP&T is introducing a new energy-saving technology in its hydraulic presses called ‘Frequency Drive System’. The company says it has been testing the new system in both simulated testing environments and under actual operating conditions with customers. The system controls the speed of the electrical engines, which then control the ...
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ArticleLaser scanners replace tactile probing for BIW inspection
Turkish automotive manufacturer FIAT-Tofaş is implementing new inspection methodologies for diagnostic measurement of sheet metal components and BIW assemblies. This involves the installation of Nikon Metrology XC65Dx-LS cross scanners and CAMIO multi-sensor metrology software.Incorporating three lasers in a cross pattern, the XC65Dx-LS captures full 3D details of features and surfaces ...
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ArticleTRW opens largest technical centre
China – The 66,000 sq.m facility in Anting incorporates more than 20 testing laboratories which will support the company’s main business areas, including braking, steering and suspension, occupant safety and safety electronics. The centre has a workforce of 1,200 engineering, research and technical personnel.John Plant, president and CEO of TRW ...
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ArticleEllesmere Port celebrates 50 years of production
UK – Vauxhall has celebrated 50 years of production at its Ellesmere Port facility. The first new car to be produced at the plant was the Viva HA, a model name that would run in a number of variants until 1978 when it was replaced by the Chevette. The first ...
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ArticleMike Flewitt, McLaren Automotive
The supercar manufacturer’s CEO discusses the new 650S and how the company plans to build 3,500 cars a year by 2016Glenn Brooks (GB): It’s been a busy 12 months for McLaren. Mike Flewitt (MF): Yes, it has. If you look back to Geneva 2013 where we showed the first production ...
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ArticleMagna supplies AWD for Mercedes-Benz GLA
US – The company’s Powertrain operating unit is providing an all-wheel-drive (AWD) system for the new compact SUV, as well as the A45 AMG and the CLA. The product was jointly developed by Magna and Daimler, with the former focusing on the rear axle drive and AWD coupling, and the ...
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Fiat rewards Magna chassis facility
Brazil – The Fiat Qualitas Award for achievements in quality, innovation, competitiveness and service was handed out to Magna’s Cosma International manufacturing division located in Ibirité. Cosma was recognised in the Metal Materials and Powertrain category.The plant in Ibirité has a 150-strong workforce that manufactures chassis structure assemblies for Fiat. ...
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ArticleMaking the new Macan
Porsche has invested €500m to build a dedicated bodyshop and paintshop for the SUV‘Made in Germany’ has so long been regarded as a hallmark of quality in automotive manufacturing that the use of this tag has sometimes stretched credibility, relying more on final badging than anything else. But ‘Made in ...
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ArticleAston Martin expands at Gaydon
UK – As part of a £20m programme, the premium carmaker is expanding its facility in Warwickshire by 10,000 sq.m and growing its workforce by 250 personnel across engineering, manufacturing and commercial functions.The expansion includes the construction of a new chassis and pilot build facility, an extension of the parts ...
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MSSL to buy Stoneridge’s wiring harness business
US/Mexico – India-based Motherson Sumi Systems (MSSL) has signed an agreement to acquire six manufacturing facilities in Portland, Indiana, and Chihuahua, Saltillo, and Monclava in Mexico; the company will also gain an engineering and administrative centre in Warren, Ohio. The $65.7m deal is subject to regulatory approvals but expected to ...
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ArticleTravel blog: Betting on Brazil
Does Brazil really need more cars? Just the reason I ask is that there seem to be plenty in the tailback I’m sitting in here in São Paulo. The city clearly deserves its notoriety as a traffic hotspot and right now I have to say that a ban on all ...
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ArticleMachining: A turn for the better
The drive for machining process improvements at automotive shops has led to several developments in tooling for steel part turning While much has been documented about hard turning techniques in recent years, turning non-hardened steel has passed largely under the radar. However, as a number of interesting tooling developments highlight, ...
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ArticleWater-based media parts cleaning machine
Key features of the EcoCWave include universal application capability, allowing coarse to fine cleaning, plus minimised space requirements. Dürr Ecoclean claims the new machine is equipped to optimise cleaning quality while cutting per-unit costs. Developing the EcoCWave system, the company says its engineers focused on specific requirements: high operating flexibility ...
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ArticleHeat-shrink assembly process for powertrain components
EMAG Automation says its heat-shrink technology provides an assembly process for the manufacture of precision components – in particular composite camshafts. The company says the process is characterised by its reaction force-free processing sequence. The component is brought up to the necessary temperature with great precision, using an inductive or ...