All Manufacturing engineering articles – Page 9
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PSA: Fábrica de motores de Douvrin
A Peugeot começa a produção de seu novo motor 1.2 litros de três cilindros com injeção diretaA fábrica de motores Française de Mécanique, no noroeste da França, já construiu mais de 48 milhões de unidades de energia para a PSA Peugeot Citroën, Renault e Volvo desde a sua criação em ...
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Turbo-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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Hyundai Motor India
AMS visited the company’s impressively modern facilities in Chennai, where petrol and diesel engines can be manufactured on the same lineHyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) is the second largest automotive manufacturer in India, established in 1996 by the Hyundai Motor Company (HMC) of South Korea when the Hyundai brand was ...
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Editor's note: Getting serious about lightweighting
I’m happy to admit the subject of lightweighting fascinates me, which is a good job since it crops up in almost every item that covers the future of vehicle manufacturing. Being something of a factory ‘geek’ I’m really looking forward to some plant visits to see how this challenge is ...
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Painting by numbers
Dr. Ing. Qiaoyan Ye and Dr. Oliver Tiedje of Fraunhofer IPA discuss the ability of modelling and numerical simulation to improve painting processes The benefits of numerical simulationNo need to watch paint dryGreen Carbody TechnologiesComputer-aided engineering and numerical simulation based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) can be a very useful ...
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AMS North America returns to Detroit
Conference chairman Simon Duval Smith outlines the expert OEM and tier supplier speakers contributing to the agenda of this must-attend event.Bringing together senior manufacturing and purchasing executives from OEMs and tier one suppliers, the North America AMS conference is returning to the US on September 23-24 at the MGM Grand ...
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Simulation stimulates Ford's improvement
Mike Farish reports on Ford’s use of computer simulation to develop its manufacturing processesBefore any new engine goes into production within the Ford organisation in Europe, essential details about it will come to John Ladbrook’s team, based at the company’s Dunton Research Centre in the UK. Ladbrook is a simulation ...
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Perfecting production to cut costs
The AMS South America conference, in São Paulo on October 29-30, will hear experts discuss tough challenges, says Simon Duval Smith.Vehicles sales continue to grow at a healthy rate in South America and this has spurred the building of new manufacturing and assembly plants by both established players and new ...
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Flexible philosophy at Ford
Mike Farish takes a close-up look at how devolved management helps Ford operate highly flexible production on its powertrain linesOpened ten years ago at a cost of £325m, the Ford Dagenham Diesel Centre (DDC) comprises a climate-controlled production hall with 44,530 square metres of floor space for diesel engines plus ...
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GM appoints Jim Glynn as vice-president
USA – General Motors has appointed Jim Glynn as GM North America Labor Relations vice-president.Most recently Glynn was GM North America Manufacturing manager, leading operations at 10 vehicle assembly, powertrain, metal stamping and battery assembly plants.He succeeds Cathy Clegg, who is now Global Manufacturing Engineering vice-president.www.ford.com
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It all adds up
Steed Webzell reports on the evolution of additive manufacturing techniques as they become more valuable in the product development processAnyone labouring under the misapprehension that additive manufacturing (AM) is still a conceptual technology should think again. For instance, according to the Wohlers Report 2011, AM is already a US$1.8 billion ...
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Fasteners take hold
Saving cost, weight, time and the planetThe nuts and bolts of itSimplifying logisticsTechnical advancesJaguar Land Rover’s ‘all new’ 2013 model Range Rover marks a radical departure from the hefty leviathans that have previously made up the marque’s 40-year history. The fourth generation Range Rover is said to be the first ...
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Vauxhall Luton UK van plant – a car finish on a commercial
Primer and basecoat – premium processEnergy saving and environmental concernsLearning in Luton – Vauxhall’s undergraduate schemeGaining with the groupMick Bewley’s manual spraying masterclassesThe Vauxhall Van Plant in Luton, some 50 kilometres north of London is home to production of the Vauxhall Vivaro, Nissan Primastar and Renault Trafic vans. The present ...
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Engine downsizing at Ford and VW
Ford EcoBoostVolkswagen EA211 enginesComponent optimisationDual-loop coolingLess frictionModular matrixEngine downsizing has gone some way to achieving the ideal combination of performance and efficiency. However, this concept presents challenges in both the design and production of the engines. To achieve greater efficiency the engines have to become physically smaller and lighter whileproducing ...
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Meeting the revival challenge at Chrysler
Facing a bleak future just a few short years ago, Chrysler has rebounded with a strong line of products and a manufacturing philosophy that highlights its focus on globally competitive production. When restructuring with Fiat began in 2009, Chrysler dedicated itself to World Class Manufacturing (WCM). Scott Garberding, senior vice-president, ...
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Right first time
The various strategies being used to support successful integration of new production lines, including how 3D simulation can certify cell and assembly line performanceSiemens offer integrator services3D modelingBefore the business of building a new line can begin, a period of development is required. This part of the line integration process ...
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Plant reborn
New material usageBody testingBeyond FreelanderAutomation in productionRaising the roofSealing the doorCustom paintMeeting expectationThe Land Rover Freelander 2 is not, by any definition, an entry-level model. Yet the new Range Rover Evoque, which borrows its layout from the Freelander, has undergone a series of major revisions in terms of its manufacturability ...
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How to make it in America
Executives at three transplant OEM production sites in the United States discuss how their respective operations are developing and what challenges had to be overcome in order to achieve success in manufacturingClose relationshipsBenchmarking worksPeople powerProcess leadershipDecoupled shiftsDifferent future pathsNo restIn 1966, Nissan was the first transplant carmaker to set up ...
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Aluminium gets tough
Research into steel substitutionRecycling aluminium for automotive usageStadco predicts increased aluminium usageTesting to continueAMC takes shapeBreakthrough weight savingsThe advantages to be gained from using aluminium to build cars – whether as body panels, chassis solutions or powertrains – are now widely recognised. The material is significantly lighter than sheet steel, ...
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When carbon counts for the better
An alternative to wet-chemical cleaningProcess technology – the decisive criterionComprehensive testing validates cleaning resultsRobot system with three nozzle arraysSmooth operation with many advantagesTopcoat line to go CO2As part of its drive towards greener paintshop processes, BMW has introduced a revolutionary cleaning technology at its Landshut plantTraditionally, plastic components for automobiles ...