All articles by Nick Holt – Page 20
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ArticleMazda takes top Japanese accolade
Japan: Mazda has received the Monodzukuri Nippon Grand Award from the country’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) at the fifth such bi-annual ceremony in Japan.The award, presented by the prime minister, recognises the contribution of Mazda’s Monotsukuri Innovation programme to manufacturing ideas and processes in the ...
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ArticleFocus II Light Curtains and Light Grids
ABB Jokab Safety’s Focus II Light Curtains and Light Grids offer an updated means of protecting personnel from hazardous machinery, robots and automated systems via an infrared field, the company saysThe Focus II equipment consists of a transmitter and receiver which detect any objects breaking the optical barrier formed by ...
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ArticleNew rapid-release lock for RobiFix connectors
Multi-Contact is now offering a quick-release locking unit for heavy-duty connectors for the robotic arms used in spot welding and other high-power applications. RobiFix-Lock is designed for the RobiFix electrical connectors used in robot dresspacks, the company says.According to Multi-Contact, the locking unit is suitable for fixed welding robots, manual ...
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ArticleFree Process Safebook for engineers
Rockwell Automation has compiled a free guide to functional safety for process applications, to assist with the IEC61511 standard, available athttp:// www.emea.rockwellautomation.com/ process/en/free-safety-guide.aspx.Process Safebook contains real-life examples and explains how to manage safety in electrical, electronic and programmable electronic systems, providing guidance for engineers on how to integrate safety into ...
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GM's ‘largest rooftop’ solar project in Ohio
USA: Generating nearly 3% of the facility’s electricity, the new 1.8-megawatt solar array at GM’s Toledo Transmission plant is claimed to be the largest rooftop array in Ohio.“Having 21,000 solar panels on Toledo’s roof is a great visual representation of our commitment to renewable energy,” said Rob Threlkeld, GM ...
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ArticleEP coolant for cutting
Rhenus Lub has developed an EP coolant for cutting operations on titanium, aluminium, aluminium alloys (silumin) and most hard steel qualities and special materials.Rhenus FU 60 is mineral oil-free and water-miscible, formulated on the basis of synthetic greases and with no additional armines or boric acid. Rhenus says it combines ...
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Plants: VW-FAW, Ford, Renault, Henkel, BorgWarner
China – Volkswagen (VW) and the FAW-Volkswagen JV have opened a new vehicle production plant in Foshan, in the south of the country, following a two-year construction period. Initial capacity at the plant – VW’s 104th location worldwide – will be 300,000 units per annum and there are plans to ...
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ArticleXCal-View laser analysis
Renishaw has released a new laser data analysis solution for use with XL-80 and ML10 laser calibration systems, plus the XR20-W rotary axis calibrator. XCal-View, which gives users greater analytical control, covers the most common measurement types in CNC machine tool calibration, including: linear, angular, rotary, straightness, squareness and parallelism.New ...
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UK car production grows as commercial vehicle decreases
UK: The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) says UK car manufacturing in August grew by 16.2%. UK car-makers produced 91,282 vehicles during the period, up by 12,705 units on the year before. The third successive monthly gain pushed year-todate volumes up 3.1% to 984,545 units. The increase was ...
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ArticleGM plant’s retool for hi-tech engines
USA: As a result of a $400m investment, GM's Tonawanda engine plant will produce four versions of the Gen 5 Small Block – a 4.3L V-6, 5.3L V-8 and two variants of a 6.2L V-8.At full production, the plant will produce more than 1,000 engines a day. The new ...
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GM starts up new stamping press at Arlington
USA – The first of three large presses is now operational at GM’s new $200m stamping facility in Arlington, Texas.GM’s Arlington plant currently receives stampings from as far as 1,000 miles away, but the new facility will produce large metal parts for the next generation of full-size SUVs, such as ...
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GOM conference focus
Germany – This year’s GOM Conference in September attracted 600 participants to the company’s headquarters in Braunschweig, Germany, it says.Focusing on material and component testing, and 3D co-ordinate measurement, representatives from Adidas, Miele, Lamborghini, Audi, Bertrandt, Brembo, Tata Steel Europe and Stryker presented.GOM itself teamed up with VW to discuss ...
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Skoda still top manufacturer in Central Europe
Czech Republic: Skoda is the largest manufacturing company in Central Europe for the third consecutive year, according to the Deloitte CE Top 500 report.Using fi gures from 2012, the study compared the 500 highest-revenue companies across 18 countries, including 84 from the Czech Republic.The company has a 2018 growth ...
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ArticleFord’s plan for near-dry machining
As part of what it describes as its commitment to sustainability, Ford has added near-dry machining capability to six plants globally – a number that will almost double in the next few years.Near-dry machining, also known as Minimum Quantity Lubrication or MQL, is a process that lubricates cutting tools ...
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ArticleProduction of A3 Cabriolet starts at Györ
Germany/Hungary – Audi has invested more than €900m in buildings and equipment at its plant at Györ for series production of the new A3 Cabriolet. The company also builds the A3 Sedan, next-generation TT Coupe and TT Roadster there.“With this model, Audi is creating a new highlight in the ...
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ArticleFinding solutions for Avtovaz
Interview with Luigi Lazzari, president of Geico Taikisha Europe, on the company’s current projects AMS: What are the details of the recent contract with Avtovaz for a new paintshop?Luigi Lazzari: This will be both a brown field project, as, from a building environment perspective, we will reuse some of the ...
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Article10m Tennessee-built vehicles are ‘testament to workforce’
USA – Nissan marked two major milestones with the first US-produced 2014 Rogue rolling off the line in Smyrna, as the facility’s ten millionth vehicle. Moving Rogue production to the US is part of the company’s strategy to build where it sells. By 2015, Nissan says it aims to have ...
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ArticleRenault Maubeuge celebrates 5 million
France – Renault has announced the production of the five millionth unit at its Maubeuge plant in northern France. The vehicle was a Kangoo ZE for La Poste, the French post offi ce, in Forbach.The 2,000-strong workforce at Maubeuge currently produces seven models ranging from compact LCVs to passenger cars, ...
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Honda marks five years of production in Indiana
USA – Honda Manufacturing of Indiana (HMIN) in the USA celebrated its fifth anniversary of mass production in October.The facility was originally announced in 2006. Ground-breaking occurred the following year and it became Honda’s fourth plant in the US and seventh in North America.The company operates a twoshift operation at ...
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ArticleSkoda’s second-best seller reaches 1.5m mark
Czech Republic – Skoda has now manufactured 1.5m secondgeneration Fabias since 2007.The milestone 1.2 TDi rolled off the production line in September at the main factory in Mladá Boleslav, Czech Republic. The Fabia fi rst went on sale in 1999 and is the car-maker’s bestselling model after the Octavia, ...