Latest News & Features – Page 201
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ArticleNext generation robotic cartridge bell paint system
ABB Robotics says its Compact CBS II, robotic cartridge bell paint system is the only fully-integrated robotic solution for internal charge waterborne painting and can reduce colour change time by up to 50%. Improvements to the system include the addition of servo motor drive units for vertical and horizontal cartridge ...
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ArticleRenault starts Malaysian production of Fluence
Malaysia – Renault has signed an agreement that will enable it to build its presence across South-East Asia. Malaysia is the third biggest regional economy after Thailand and Indonesia, with growth running at over 5% on average over the past thirty years. The launch of Fluence is the first stage ...
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ArticleKia improves domestic sustainability
Korea – Despite a rise in global sales of 1.4% in 2013 to nearly 3m units, the OEM has achieved a smaller environmental footprint at its Guangju, Hwasung and Sohari plants, which made 1.31m cars and 1.26m engines while reducing their CO2 emissions, water consumption and waste.The OEM’s three major ...
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ArticleRolls gains Knight in shining armour to boost sales
UK – Replacing Jolyon Nash, who will leave the carmaker at the end of June in order to pursue other interests, Fintan Knight has been named director of sales and marketing.Beginning his career in the automotive industry with BMW Australia, Knight has spent two decades working for premium and luxury ...
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ArticleTurbo-powering PSA Douvrin
Peugeot starts making its new 1.2-litre, three-cylinder direct-injection engine at Française de MécaniqueThe Française de Mécanique engine factory in Douvrin, north-west France, has built more than 48m power units for PSA Peugeot Citroën, Renault and Volvo since its inception in 1969, but arguably none has been more significant than the ...
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Article10 years of sustainable manufacturing at Dearborn truck plant
USA – Ford’s Dearborn plant has produced more than 2.6 million F-150 trucks since it opened in May 2004. Upholding the company’s blueprint for sustainability through its living roof and recycling programs, the facility has recycled more than 20 million pounds of cardboard, paper, plastic and wood since its opening. ...
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ArticleChrysler launches nine-speed production in Tipton
US – Tipton will become one of the company’s global hubs for nine-speed production. When it reaches full capacity, it will produce 800,000 transmissions, delivering to Toledo, Ohio, for use in the Jeep Cherokee and Sterling Heights, Michigan, for the Chrysler 200 as well as to FIAT plants in Melfi, ...
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ArticleSpecial production of lightweight E-Type
UK – Jaguar is to build six reproductions of the original, lightweight E-type that was created in 1963. The original objective of the company’s lightweight E-Type project was to build 18 special GT cars, but only 12 were eventually made. These new cars are the ‘missing’ six vehicles from the ...
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ArticleBentley to boost engineering strength with new recruits
UK – The carmaker’s workforce at its headquarters in Crew will grow by 140 personnel, not only 90 engineers but 51 apprentices – the biggest apprentice intake in ten years. The increase follows record sales in 2013, with 10,120 units delivered; the company aims to reach 15,000 by 2018.Bentley is ...
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ArticleMazda completes Kulim assembly plant
Malaysia – Located within the grounds of a plant owned by vehicle manufacturer and assembler Inokom, the facility is exclusive to Mazda vehicles; mass production of the Mazda CX-5 for the domestic market, and Thailand, has now commenced.Together with a similarly dedicated bodyshop which opened in March last year, Mazda ...
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ArticleRenault makes 2 millionth Brazilian vehicle
Brazil – The milestone unit, a New Logan, has rolled off the production line 15 years after the OEM established its Ayrton Senna complex in Curitiba, which consists of one passenger car and one light commercial vehicle (LCV) plant.Renault says Brazil is now its second largest market after its native ...
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ArticleMercedes-Benz begins African production of new C-Class
South Africa – The OEM’s East London plant has become the second manufacturing location for the model three months after the launch at Bremen, Germany.Arno van der Merwe, CEO and vice-president Manufacturing, Mercedes-Benz South Africa, said the company has made “significant investments” for the qualification of personnel, referring to the ...
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ArticleChrysler Brampton wins government ‘green’ award
Canada – The assembly plant in Ontario has been recognised for its sustainability achievements by the Canadian Industry Program for Energy Conservation (CIPEC). The Leadership Award was presented at the Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) Energy Summit 2014, which took place this month at Niagara Falls.Brampton Assembly Plant (BAP) was the ...
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ArticleBrownstown to produce battery for Spark EV
US – General Motors will bring all its electric vehicle battery building capabilities in-house with production of battery systems for the 2015 Chevrolet Spark EV at its battery assembly plant in Brownstown, Michigan. “Using our in-house engineering and manufacturing expertise enabled us to deliver a battery system that is more ...
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ArticleHonda: Growing beyond Japan
Honda’s global production footprint is changing as the OEM establishes new plants in Mexico and AsiaIn the last couple of years, Honda has expanded its operations outside Japan, especially in NAFTA, South-East Asia and Brazil. The company reported record production volumes outside Japan for the year to March 2014, with ...
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ArticleNissan opens plant in Purwakarta
Indonesia – The 60,000 sq.m facility has been established at a cost of 33 billion yen ($324m) and is the OEM’s second production site in the country. The facility includes body assembly, paint, trim and chassis operations and will boost Nissan’s annual capacity in Indonesia from 100,000 to 250,000 units ...
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ArticleEnergy consumption monitoring
NK Technologies says its APT series power transducers measure three phases of current and voltage and produces an industry standard analog signal proportional to the watts used. The monitor uses current transformers to measure the amperes, and the line voltage connects directly to the transducer, up to 600 VAC.The power ...
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ArticleNew CAD/CAM programming & nesting software
This latest version of ESAB’s Columbus® III version 1.2 CAD/CAM programming and nesting software, offers new features and updates to make programming easier, improve material utilisation, productivity and streamline workflow, claims the company.The new software enables parts to be imported from an existing assembly without the need for customized import ...
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ArticleHigh-pressure water activation of the cylinder bore surfaces
The EcoCBooster, integrated into Dürr Ecoclean's PulseBoreCenter, generates a pulsating water jet of much higher kinetic energy. The company claims this permits the use of no more than 600 bar pressure when using water jetting to activate the cylinder bore surfaces of engine blocks prior to thermal coating. Also the ...
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ArticleJackson and Bonnefont to lead PSA brands
France – The current managing director of Citroen in the UK and Ireland, Linda Jackson, will replace Frédéric Banzet as CEO; Banzet is taking up a senior role at FFP. Jackson has over 35 years of automotive industry experience, having occupied a variety of financial and commercial roles.Yves Bonnefont has ...