All Maintenance articles – Page 13
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ArticleReducing costs in welding aluminium
In an industry where everyone is looking for a more efficient vehicle, OEMs have started shifting their focus to aluminium as their material of choice, writes Lincoln Electric’s Mikael D. CarriereThe use of aluminium has continuously grown in the automotive industry in the last 40 years and it has recently ...
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ArticlePredictive maintenance for robots
Mitsubishi Electric says it has developed a cloud-based predictive maintenance solution for robots that utilises the AI platform within IBM Watson. The platform uses predictive maintenance models, digital simulation and extrapolation of trends to provide maintenance information based on actual usage and wear characteristics.Communications between the robot and the user ...
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ArticleHexagonal designed mandrel
Maxxos is a mandrel designed with a hexagonal pyramid shape instead of a round taper, says Hainbuch. The company suggests that with this hexagonal pyramid clamp maximum torque transmission can be achieved, offering up to a claimed 155% more transmissible torque and 57% higher bending stiffness compared to the Mando ...
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ArticleDegrees of separation
Sogefi’s plant in Tredegar, Wales, produces complex fuel and air filtration systems and boasts an impressive array of manufacturing technologiesOn the edge of the Welsh valleys, a few miles north of Cardiff, is the quiet location for a hive of automotive manufacturing activity. According to Chris Jones, plant director at ...
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ArticlePSA expands Hordain LCV team
PSA LVC operations at Hordain, northern FranceFrance – Groupe PSA will introduce a fourth production team to its LVC operations at Hordain. The OEM says its decision has been prompted by strong demand for the Peugeot Expert and Citroën Jumpy (known as Dispatch in some markets), as well as ...
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ArticleCounting on the data
The implementation of digital tools is transforming the quality control processes in manufacturing operationsPhysical jigs are now being rendered as digital models and Audi says it is well on the way to representing a concept that resides in the digital, ‘virtual’ world. The company is now exploiting the concept of ...
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ArticleSpain’s rising star
Renault’s Valladolid plant is piloting some of the latest digital manufacturing technologiesThe Spanish plant has become a star in Renault’s production network for making one of the brand’s most successful new-segment launches: the Captur small SUV. Since start of production in 2013, the car has passed the ‘1m built’ milestone ...
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ArticleAGVs set in motion
As Industry 4.0 kicks into even higher gear, AGV technology is helping to make it a smoother and more responsive upshiftEarlier this year, we discussed how automated guided vehicles, AGVs, are becoming fixtures of the automotive industry and how enterprise approaches and deployments were beginning to gain traction. A year ...
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ArticleThe Koki connection
With customers demanding just-in-time delivery, transmission specialist Koki depends on reliability and uptime from its fleet of 60 robotsThe German company Koki, founded in 2003, makes precision gear shifters and boxes for some of the world’s leading automakers. The firm has a strong commitment to continuous improvement and innovation, as ...
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ArticleThere’s a Plan B but not Planet B
For the full picture on CO2 emissions, we need to assess the vehicle lifecycle. SSAB’s Jonas Adolfsson explains how tier suppliers can help to make significant reductions at the manufacturing stage Jonas Adolfsson, working with business development at SSAB Carbon dioxide is a ...
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ArticleSmart rotation
SKF looks to digitalise its business model and manufacturing operations. AMS spoke to Luc Graux, director of manufacturing and process development, to find more about the impact of IoTWhat effect is the move to an I4.0 based operation having on SKF’s production?We are certainly trying to apply the same I4.0 ...
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ArticleAsset management
The Simatic PDM Maintenance Station V2.0, enables the monitoring of intelligent field device status independently of the automation and control system used, claims Siemens. Integration is based on DD (Device Description)/EDD (Electronic Device Description) technology and the collected data can be transferred using an export function for further processing, says ...
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ArticleMotor reflex
Brose’s Bernd Kaufer tells AMS how engineering instincts helps him to run the company’s Würzburg plantAt 7:00am each working morning, Bernd Kaufer begins his day by consulting his smartphone. As general manager of Brose’s Würzburg plant, his first task is to check on the status of operations there. Thanks to ...
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ArticleInterview: William Brunat, PPG
AMS visits Ingersheim to speak to the company's technical director, EMEA, about the challenges facing coatings specialists in light of new body materials and the rise of electric and autonomous vehiclesNick Holt (NH): How much of a challenge will multi-material vehicles present in the future?William Brunat (WB): There are ...
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ArticleSitting pretty
Brose UK has now insourced the painting of seat structures, bringing efficiency and evironmental savings"This is a massive show of faith and confirms the Group’s intention of giving us the technology and capability we need to take on and successfully deliver higher volumes for our local customers,” said Juergen Zahl, ...
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ArticleIoT disruption in the driving seat
Digitalised manufacturing will play a critical role helping automotive interiors suppliers achieve the flexibility needed to remain competitive and relevant in today’s fast-moving digital economyWith consumers’ growing appetite for high value-added yet competitively priced vehicles, automotive suppliers face increasing pressure to keep up with changing tastes and requirements while remaining ...
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ArticleDigital maintenance assistant
Dürr says its newly developed EcoScreen Maintenance Assistant software will determine the maintenance status of a painting or sealing robot based on actual use, using variables such as the number of valve switching cycles or from the servo motor load profiles. The system is part of the digital@Dürr concept for ...
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ArticleMaster piecers
AMS reports on the techniques used in the typically bespoke but ever larger-scale production of blanksIn itself, the term ‘blanking’ denotes something fairly straightforward and unexceptional – creating flat shapes out of sheet metal that may then be subjected to some further process such as bending. But companies wanting to ...
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ArticleAugmenting automotive
Vehicle-makers are starting to realise the potential of using AR to improve productivity and quality, but how does the technology work in practice? AMS takes a look at some of the pioneering products now availableMore companies around the world are developing augmented reality (AR) technology to help automotive manufacturers in ...
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ArticleDigital analysis for machining centres
Licon says its i³-technology allows the correction of working spindles independent from each other, also that its customers can use the newly developed LAVA analysis software for machine diagnostics and preventive maintenance.Based on the machine concept LIFLEX II 444 the company says it has developed three platforms with a maximum ...