All Maintenance articles – Page 24
-
Article
Cloud computing for manufacturers
Supplier of manufacturing software, RealVision is offering several of its products through the software-as-a-service cloud model.Its tool and gauge management program, ToolManager; preventative maintenance program, RPM; and document control system, DocManager are now all offered through the cloud.The company says these programs integrate well with each other and with RealVision’s ...
-
Article
Virtual support engineer service for OEMs
Rockwell Automation says it can now offer OEMs secure, remote monitoring and troubleshooting of their production operations through its Virtual Support Engineer service.The company claims this service enables OEMs to identify and resolve technical issues, perform scheduled and preventive maintenance, and monitor their installed base of machinery.Virtual Support Engineer service ...
-
ArticleSPS-IPC DRIVES - Nuremburg 2012
Addressing practical problemsWide range of specialist exhibitorsAccessibility and sophisticationManaging workflow in the automated environmentSophisticated industrial communication systemsQuality of experience organisers key objectiveThis year’s exhibition, being held between 27-29 November, is according to the organisers stronger than ever, despite the difficult economic climate. The diverse nature of the automation market, and ...
-
ArticleInstalling a flexible future at Kassel
Basic process control and workstations of assembly lines are decoupledSufficient reservesIn the assembly of axle drives for commercial vehicles, all relevant machine and operating data is acquired by a new RFID solution. In order to optimally synchronise the flow of materials and data, the transport controllers and workstations must be ...
-
ArticleJoined-up thinking at Fronius conference
Industry expertsComplex casingsLow volume approachGlobal production processesDelta spot weldingQuality controlFronius recently held its annual international conference, and this year’s topic was 'Demands of joining technology for modern vehicle makers'. The Austrian company’s close working relationship with major OEMs was apparent from the number and quality of speakers present. All those ...
-
ArticleAutomatic support from Voith on India
Cost increases vs efficiencyAttracting expertiseWith huge investment in vehicle manufacturing facilities being made in a rapidly developing market such as India, OEMs cannot afford any downtime in any production process. “Prevention is better than cure,” commented Marcus Glaser-Gallion, board Member of the Voith Industrial Services, on a recent visit to ...
-
ArticleBMW's original is still a front-runner
Impressive pressesClose technical supportAutomation and repairGreen paintshopTwo things make BMW Munich plant stand out. Firstly it’s the only one of the manufacturer’s plants to produce both vehicles and engines. Secondly, and perhaps more significantly, is its location. The plant, established in 1922 to produce aero engines, is now situated in ...
-
ArticleTake control with servo-pneumatic, says Festo
4,000 spot weldsThree solutions on the marketControlled servopneumaticsServo-pneumatic systems for spot welding guns are becoming a more attractive alternative for auto body fabrication. Festo discusses the application of this technology.Increasing standardisation of production processes, along with the demand for improved quality and greater flexibility, has stimulated the market for controlled, ...
-
ArticleBody-in-white: Hot spots and high cost
In a spinScanning for solutionsFused with advantagesAll manufacturing engineers know the score when it comes to body-in-white welding. Emerging technologies such as laser welding, remote laser welding, laser-arc hybrid welding and laser brazing are all knocking on the door. The only barrier thwarting their progress to even wider adoption is ...
-
ArticleGreen-fitting gathers energy and efficiency gains
Minimizing cost, maximising ROISoftware solutionsSoftware solutionsThe automotive paintshop world has many mature paintshop installations that will not be replaced but can have their carbon footprint greatly reduced by intelligent energy managementModern paint shop operations are as unique as they are complex; there is no uniform design, no absolute standard and ...
-
ArticleRussian revolution for GAZ
Restructuring for the futureCommercial successIn-house component productionCustomer-based benchmarkingContract manufacturingInvestment and upgradingRussia’s automotive industry has seen something of a renaissance since its Soviet guise was consigned to history. GAZ, famous for its trucks and Volga and Chaika cars, is re-establishing itself as a car maker through contract manufacturing with VW, GM ...
-
ArticleSmall, efficient and a true survivor within GM Europe
Press lineSharing the stressBodyshop ingenuity Future visionAssembly expertiseLuton today – economic and effectiveAll new for X82A good example of how things have changed at Luton, UK over the years is the shift patterns: in 2008, the plant ran three shifts but at present runs two, from 6.00 am to 21.30 ...
-
ArticleRethink your idea of a paint booth
‘Re’ as in reliable‘Re’ as in recirculate‘Re’ as in redesign‘Re’ as in reduce‘Re’ as in reshape‘Re’ as in resultThe shape and size of a typical paint booth would seem an ideal candidate for modularisation, and one company has introduced a compact and scaleable solution for a truly flexible paintshop Dürr ...
-
ArticleA stronger simpler safer shuttle for PT and EC lines
Simple design reduces maintenanceHydraulic lift-axis drive with energy-efficient load compensationContinuously rotating axis for greater productivityEmergency scenarios – simple solutionsAn OEM vindicates version 4High and heavy – no problemA major German carmaker's paintshop has trialled an improved version of a popular PT/EC conveyor that is designed to be compatible with existing ...
-
Article
Fully-assembled linear guide rail system
Igus UK claims its fully-assembled linear slide rail and carriage drylin W provides low wear, a low coeffi cient of friction and quiet, maintenance-free operation.This modular linear guide system offers both double and single rail options and can be fi tted with a range of components that includes 12 types ...
-
Article
New levels of accuracy for distance positioning sensor
With the next-generation DL100Hi laser distance measurement sensor, Sick UK says it has developed a signifi cantly-improved control loop technology to achieve faster and more accurate position feedback. The sensors’ data output supports applications with acceleration values up to 15m/s2. The DL100Hi offers the choice of three measuring ranges to ...
-
ArticleThe power of engine production in Dundee, USA
World class manufacturingInnovative productsAutomation productionQuality testingLocated 60 miles southwest of Detroit, the Dundee engine plant—formerly known as the Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance (GEMA)— epitomises Chrysler Group’s drive for state-ofthe- art manufacturing. The production complex’s North plant, launched in October 2005 and the South plant, launched in November 2006, offer 1.16 ...
-
ArticleGoing from local to global in Brazil
Model behaviourFreeing up tradeSheet metal solutionsThe global experienceLocal challengesGM expansionSomething for the future?Moving forwardVarious factors allowed the Brazilian economy to maintain a steady course of growth through the otherwise global economic downturn of 2008 and 2009. For its part, the national government of former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva ...
-
Article
SKF’s portable new endoscope
SKF has launched a new series of portable, compact and easy-touse, multi-functional endoscopes that are suitable for internal inspection of a wide range of machinery. TKES 10 endoscopes are high quality instruments that provide fast and easy inspection with functions such as snapshot, video recording, picture and video review on ...
-
ArticleHow to ensure good coverage
Water Transfer PrintingPlant Engineering / Paint SupplyConveyor TechnologyPlant EngineeringQuality ControlPlant EngineeringCoatingsPre-TreatmentRegardless of whether it is metal or plastic parts that need to be painted – enhanced quality, efficiency and sustainability are high on the list of challenges faced by OEMs and tier suppliers. At PaintExpo roughly 400 companies from 22 ...