Latest News & Features – Page 206
-
ArticleOpel pours €245m into Ruesselsheim
Germany – The investment, equivalent to $337m, will be used to build another model in addition to the four Insignia variants and the Zafira Tourer which will be produced at the plant from January 2015. Details of the vehicle will be announced toward the end of this year.Ruesselheim has also ...
-
Article
VW, SAIC and FAW to develop ‘green’ models
Germany/China – Volkswagen announced that it will work more closely with its joint venture partners on “forward-looking technologies”. The further development of eco-friendly models and a joint research project has been agreed with Shanghai Volkswagen (SVW), while the development and production of a new, ‘greener’ model in China will be ...
-
ArticleFord invests $500m in Ohio engine plant
US – The vehicle-maker is upgrading its facility in Lima to support production of the new 2.7-litre EcoBoost engine for the 2015 F-150; the workforce will also be increased by 300 from the current 900.The new investment follows the previous announcement this month that early next year Ford will shift ...
-
ArticleChrysler’s Windsor plant achieves WCM first
Canada – The vehicle-maker’s assembly site in Ontario has been awarded silver status after implementing the World Class Manufacturing (WCM) strategy which is designed to increase productivity, reduce waste and improve quality and safety. Chrysler says this is the highest ranking of any of its North American manufacturing facilities.WCM was ...
-
ArticleBMW expands in South Carolina
US – The OEM will spend $1billion up to 2016 in order to double the annual production capacity at its Spartanburg plant to 450,000 vehicles. According to Norbert Reithofer, chairman of the board of management of BMW, the expansion is intended to meet “strong global demand” for the X models.Spartanburg ...
-
ArticleSeat confirms it will produce its first ever SUV
Spain – Seat says it has been working on the design and development of the compact SUV model at its Martorell facility for almost two years. The new model is planned to come to market in 2016. Seat chairman Jürgen Stackmann commented. “The SUV is an important pillar in the ...
-
Article
VW reshuffles production management
Germany – Frank Fischer, currently head of the company’s plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, will take over as manager at Emden after Jens Herrman was named plant manager and head of production at Wolfsburg. Herrman replaces Siegfried Fiebig, who becomes management spokesperson at Sachsen. Christian Koch will lead Chattanooga, after serving ...
-
ArticleRenault-Nissan to merge key business units
The Netherlands – In its 15th anniversary year, the Alliance is to embark on what it says is a “significant wave of integration”. The two companies will merge Engineering, Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management, Purchasing and HR from April. A new management committee will oversee the implementation, while an Alliance ...
-
ArticleMazda’s overseas production increases
Japan – Last month, the OEM recorded a 6.2% rise in production year-on-year, with Mazda6 output amounting to 5,539 units (+28.3%). Mazda3 output increased by 25.1% to 3,966 vehicles. Also overseas, the company produced 4,114 units of its CX-5 model.Meanwhile, domestic production decreased by 1.5% due to lower output of ...
-
ArticleBorgWarner to expand powertrain centre
US – The 46,000 sq. ft addition to the company’s Auburn Hills facility in Michigan, which was originally opened in 2002, will support programmes in North America plus a global network of technical centres. The Powertrain Technical Center will accommodate 200 engineering personnel, programme managers and sales staff once it ...
-
ArticleNelson opens Monterrey plant for CV parts
Mexico – The new manufacturing and distribution facility will begin full production in 45 days, turning out precision-formed tubing and sheet-metal structural fabrications plus exhaust tubing, mufflers and emissions systems components for commercial, off-road and recreational vehicle-makers.The 180,000 sq. ft facility will be equipped with the latest tube and flatbed ...
-
ArticleTravel blog: The future looks like Leipzig
OK, so it’s not Google – there are no beanbags, for one thing – but does the tech giant’s famously quirky HQ have blue-lit bodies-in-white passing majestically overhead? I think not. BMW’s über-cool Leipzig complex, however, showcases advanced technology of a very physical kind. Leaving the manufacturing floor aside, the ...
-
Article
GAZ leaps into new GAZelle production
Russia – The GAZelle NEXT is the third model in the NEXT light commercial vehicle (LCV) range which began production in April 2013 as a drop-side, standard platform, together with enlarged versions. Manufacture of the NEXT crew cabin vehicle started earlier this month Preparation for NEXT bus production involved the ...
-
Article
Suzuki to make Celerio in Rayong
Thailand – Following a production launch in India, the Thai facility will become the second manufacturing location for the new compact car. From May 2014, the Celerio will be made for the domestic market; at a later date, it will be joined by models with European specifications.Takayuki Sugiyama, president of ...
-
ArticleIs outsourcing now "in"?
The boundary between outsourced supply chain and in-house manufacturing is moving all the time. Jonathan Ward asks where carmakers should draw the lineProviders such as Ryder carry out in-plant handling and logistics services for a number of OEMsOnce, perhaps, it was easy to see where logistics management and labour stopped ...
-
ArticleCVG to close Oregon plant
US – The production and warehouse facility in Tigard, with a workforce of 80 personnel, currently produces interior trim components such as instrument panels and storage cabinets for large commercial vehicles (CVs). The majority of this work will be transferred to other Commercial Vehicle Group (CVG) locations in North America ...
-
ArticleBancon takes VP product role at Infiniti
Hong Kong – From the beginning of April, Francois Bancon will have overall responsibility for the Infiniti product portfolio, which the company plans to increase by 60% over the next five years, more than doubling its powertrain offering. Bancon is currently division general manager for Nissan, overseeing product strategy and ...
-
Article
Tactile feedback robots for assembly & machining applications
ABB Robotics has introduced Integrated Force Control, a consolidation of software features that were available separately in either the machining or assembly Force Control offerings into a single base module. The company says robots with Integrated Force Control react to their surroundings and deviate from their programmed path or speed ...
-
ArticleJLR invests £45m in new press line
UK – Installation of the new 7,900 tonne servo press line has been completed at the company’s Halewood plant. The new press will increase the speed and volume of pressed part production. Richard Else, operations director at Halewood, said: “This colossal new press line reinforces Jaguar Land Rover’s long term ...
-
ArticleRenault opens international school of Lean Manufacturing
France – Created jointly with Renault Consulting the new school has been established to provide training in Lean Manufacturing for the group’s senior executives and plant mangers. The school will also be open to Renault Consulting clients outside of the group. Part of the company’s Global Training Centre at the ...