Latest News & Features – Page 202
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ArticleMBUSI: Adding to Alabama
The German carmaker is introducing new models, including the C-Class sedan, to its Alabama plantIf you visit the Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, tourist board site, amongst the half-a-dozen local attractions listed is the Mercedes Benz Factory Tour at the German automaker’s Vance facility. When it was first opened in 1997 the ...
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ArticleHyundai rewards BASF for South American service
Brazil – The chemical company received the ‘Supplier of the Year 2013 – Excellence in General Purchasing’ award for providing its waterborne coatings for use on Hyundai’s HB20 model that is manufactured in Piracicaba.The award involves an assessment of criteria such as cost management, quality and delivery. In fact, BASF ...
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ArticleVolkswagen presents 2013 sustainability report
Germany – Claiming that it is making “significant progress” on its way to becoming “the world’s most environmentally compatible automaker”, the OEM released a 152-page report on its economic, environmental and social sustainability performance last year.In particular, the report shows that energy consumption per vehicle produced was 12.5% lower than ...
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ArticleLear opens wiring plant in Kenitra
Morocco – The company says its new 300,000 sq.ft facility is supplying “major European automakers”. The workforce already totals 1,000 personnel but will rise to 1,700 by the end of 2014, bringing Lear’s overall employment in the country to 7,200. While the new plant will make wire harnesses, Lear has ...
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ArticleNissan starts e-NV200 production
Spain – The Barcelona plant will be the global production site for the model, which is the OEM’s second all-electric vehicle after the LEAF. The e-NV200 will be available as a passenger vehicle, light commercial vehicle (LCV) and taxi. Exports to 20 international markets including Japan will begin in June, ...
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ArticleRolls-Royce celebrates 110th birthday
UK – The luxury carmaker commemorated the first meeting between founders Charles Rolls and Henry Royce on May 4, with celebrations taking place at the Goodwood Motor Circuit in West Sussex and at a hotel in Manchester.At Goodwood near the company’s head office and manufacturing facility, three contemporary models were ...
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ArticleChrysler to consolidate SRT with Dodge
US – The move will take place in conjunction with plans outlined for the recently formed Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), under the leadership of Tim Kuniskis in his role as president and CEO of Dodge and head of Fleet Operations.In addition, Ralph Gilles will continue as senior vice-president of Product ...
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ArticleSkoda reaches 3m 1.2 HTP engines
Czech Republic – The three-cylinder engine of the EA 111 series, used in Skoda, Seat and VW vehicles, has been made at the OEM’s main plant in Mladá Boleslav since 2001; the 3m milestone was reached at the same time as the 500,000th MQ/SQ 100 gearbox.In addition to the 1.2 ...
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ArticleGales to lead Lotus
Malaysia – Parent company PROTON said that the appointment of Jean-Marc Gales as CEO was effective from May 1. Gales joins the company after leading the European Association of Automotive Suppliers (CLEPA) since 2012. Prior to CLEPA, Gales was president of Automobiles Citroen and Automobiles Peugeot between 2009 and 2012. ...
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ArticleGM spends $50m on Cruze at Lordstown
US – The investment will result in a new flexible trim shop and upgrades to the press shop for the next generation of the compact sedan. Construction work has already begun, although a launch date for the new Cruze has yet to be announced.Bob Parcell, Lordstown plant manager, commented: “This ...
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ArticleFields is new Ford leader
US – When Alan Mulally retires on July 1, chief operating officer Mark Fields will step into the role of president and CEO and join the board of directors.Fields joined Ford in 1989, and prior to his existing role as COO he served as executive vice-president and president, The Americas; ...
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ArticleKansas starts making 2015 Transit
US – Following a $1 billion investment and the recuitment of 2,000 employees, the first unit of the new model has now rolled off the line at the Kansas City Assembly Plant.Ford’s investment has involved retooling and the addition of a 437,000 sq.ft stamping facility and a 78,000 sq.ft paintshop. ...
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ArticleBarton adds SEMS thread rolling machine
UK – The maker of critical fastenings and special cold forgings has spent £250,000 on the new equipment, which will enable the company to offer additional SEMS products as well as supporting its existing thread rolling capabilities.The new machine will be built to Barton’s specifications and delivered in five months’ ...
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ArticleMagna to expand in Ramos Arizpe
Mexico – The company’s Powertrain operating unit (MPT) has now broken ground at the site in the state of Coahuila, where it will build a 16,000 sq.m facility by 2016. The total investment will be $75m.“MPT Ramos has become a global centre of excellence for Magna Powertrain's AWD and 4WD ...
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ArticleChrysler completes WCM Academy expansion
US – The educational centre in Michigan has grown from 25,000 sq.ft to 40,000 sq.ft with the addition or redesign of six hands-on learning stations and two classrooms. A Comau Robot Cell has also been installed, featuring two robots of the kind found in many Chrysler bodyshops.“The WCM Academy has ...
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ArticleEditor's note: Taking a chance
Since the financial implosion in 2008 we have become used to reading about astronomical sums of money being spent and lost. So much so that I think we have become blasé about these figures. Millions of euros or dollars now seem like pocket change and it takes hundreds of millions ...
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Toyota to establish new North American HQ
US – Within the next three years, the OEM’s existing three headquarters for manufacturing, sales and marketing and corporate operations for the region will be combined in a state-of-the-art campus in Plano, Texas. Toyota’s North American finance division will also move its headquarters to the site.Construction of the new complex ...
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ArticleInterview: John Pacanovsky, Scigrip
As the use of composites increases in the automotive industry, the head of R&D at an adhesives supplier talks about the advantages of this type of bondingAMS: Scigrip does some work with Renault and Fiat trucks, is that correct?John Pacanovsky (JP): Whilst we can’t name specific models, Scigrip is a ...
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ArticleFORMAX installs multiaxial machine
UK – The new cut-and-lay Malitronic equipment from Karl Mayer is part of a €2.5m investment programme and is housed within the company’s new 5,000 sq.m automotive facility at its headquarters in Leicester.The 35m machine has a variable width of 127-160cm and will be dedicated to the production of tailored ...
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ArticleSafety relay for machine builders
Rockwell Automation says machine builders can now easily implement required safety functions while improving productivity with the Allen-Bradley Guardmaster 440C-CR30 safety relay.Users can program the safety relay through the free Connected Components Workbench software from the company. The Guardmaster 440C-CR30 safety relay meets PLe, SIL 3 per EN ISO 13849-1 ...