All Press and stamping articles – Page 9
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ArticleTouch and go
The diversity of parts produced by automotive tier suppliers sees them use both contact and non-contact measurement techniquesCompanies involved in contact and non-contact measurement operations have to make a fundamental decision about the type of coordinate technology they will utilise – either a contact technique involving a touch probe or ...
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Article
Uma questão premente
Com as novas oportunidades que se abrem, o setor de prensagem e estampagem independente continua a evoluir.Tomadores de decisão focados em tecnologias exigentes impulsionadas por regulação - especialmente quanto às emissões, conectividade, carros autônomos e elétricos - limitações em termos de recursos e capacidades significa que novas oportunidades estão se ...
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Article
冲压现状分析
大部分原始设备制造商多年来都是在厂内冲压车间生产汽车车体，但是现在出现新的契机，独立冲压部门正在悄然出现随着汽车制造商不断关注新技术、并不断追求规则引导的技术 — 尤其是排放量、连通性、自主性和电动车 — 在资源和能力方面的局限性，为Gestamp, Magna这样的公司提供了新的契机。汽车公司自己生产几乎所有Class-A表面外盒；有一些例外（比如Porsche Macan），但巨大多数可视车体都是在厂内冲压车间冲压而成，不论是钢材还是铝材。大部分工作实在相关汽车装配厂完成，但有些情况就涉及到复杂的冲压件内部供应链：比如，GM在欧洲各工厂之间运输冲压件 — 有些零部件是在英国制造的，运输到波兰，而有些是在波兰冲压制造，最后送到德国。GM甚至从Kaiserslautern（联邦德国）的组件厂派送冲压件到外饰座椅结构制造商或座椅装配厂，而自己的汽车厂充当一级、二级或三级供应商。规则之外虽然这个行业大多数独立公司生产不可见车体下部分、结构冲压件和装配，但是也有例外；其中一个就是美国公司Tower Automotive，公司在欧洲也有工厂，比如在比利时为Volvo供应，在德国东部也有工厂。公司在茨维考（德国东部城市）的工厂制造车体冲压件和外壳板材，尤其是为VW集团供应。特别的是，工厂为Porsche Macan提供80%的外板；工厂还制造Porsche Cayenne, Audi Q7和Volkswagen Touareg汽车的下部装配。促成这种结果的因素是Tower公司在茨维考的工厂过去曾制造声名狼藉的Trabant汽车。公司在2015年投资Ä11m（约合1,170万美元），实现冲压车间现代化，安装了AP&T的热冲压线。最近几年里，外部冲压件市场发生了很大变化，主要是通过公司合并，计划收购和淘汰并存。与此同步的是，热冲压成为主要工艺，使供应基地有机会改变投资，保证长期发展，而大多数汽车公司选择外包一些货全部流程。VW公司和Fiat公司都是安装自主热冲压线的公司，但是双方，尤其是VW公司使用外面的供应商，比如Gestamp和Tower公司，因为对使用该技术生产的零部件的需求迅速增长。因此，正如其他汽车领域一样，外部冲压部门正逐渐被大型国际公司所引导，最著名的是Magan, Gestamp和Kirchhoff公司；钢铁公司VoestAlpine建立了车体结构工厂，遍及全球，但是最近主要投资北美；这种综合方式很少被钢铁公司采用。ThyssenKrupp过去在结构冲压领域影响很深，但是不久前已经退出这个行业。从西班牙的小城镇到国际舞台Gestamp公司能从西班牙小公司转变成为全球领军公司，主要得益于最近刚刚兴起的热冲压技术，该技术已经成为核心工艺了。公司是第一批投资该技术的公司，最著名的是德国的Griwe工厂，而且在领域内的收购也很显著，首先是与瑞典SSAB Hardtech合并，之后是法国的Sofedit公司（是从ThyssenKrupp手中收购的）。公司还从ThyssenKrupp手中购得英国Tallent公司。 Gestamp has grown through both the acquisition of other companies and investment in new technologies, notably hot stampingGestamp公司还投资北美、西班牙的热冲压工厂，最近还在英国投资 — 在英国进行脱欧投票之前宣布，要在英国投资7,000万英镑（约合8,860万美元），确定后脱欧未来前景。新的投资是在伯明翰附近Cannock特意建造的工厂，将使用传统的热冲压系统和新的热冲压技术，使用一个传输伺服冲压线。公司还投资英国东北部Newton Aycliffe的Tallent工厂，在那里安装了两个新的冲压机，据说可以保证工厂未来30年的发展。冲压机是从西班牙供应商处购得，供应商离Gestamp西班牙总厂很近；这些冲压机已经老化淘汰，运送到英国用于再装配。他们不仅向英国的JLR，Nissan和Honda供应零部件，而且还想欧洲的Volov和Ford公司供应。Gestamp公司在2011年从ThyussenKrupp手中收购法国的Sofedit公司，此后投资3,300万英镑安装新的热冲压生产线，升级原有的生产线，增加激光切割设备，用于加工热冲压零部件。Gestamp公司不仅收购西班牙以外的公司，还收购国内的公司。2016年7月，公司收购西班牙同行冲压公司Estampaciones Sabadell公司60%的股份（2011年收购40%的股份）。Sabadell公司的一个亮点就是合约长期性 — 比如2014年，公司的一份合同里，为Mecedes Viano/Vito MPV/Van Programme提供构架，直到2027年。Gestamp目前一年的营业额为70亿Ä，来自全球100多个生产厂。公司报告称，2017年计划公开发行股票，这是在2016年日本Mistsui公司收购12.5%的股份之后提出的想法。Magna拓展冲压业务加拿大Magna公司也通过收购壮大；Cosma分公司获得冲压厂。最近还收购了英国的Stadco公司，后者也有收购历史，2011年收购英国的日本供应商Ogihara，并在Mayflower公司推出汽车业之后收购了该公司剩余股份。英国公司（长期以来为JLR, GM和Ford Saarlouis供应）现在已经并入Magna旗下Cosma分公司。Magna在英国Telford建设新工厂，从2018年开始为JLR供应结构铸件。Magna公司还进行大规模投资，建设自己的工厂，比如墨西哥Morelo建设工厂，这是Magna在该国的第31个工厂，于2015年开始营业。工厂位于墨西哥城以南100公里，为Nissan生产结构性焊接装备。此外，公司在中国重庆开设工厂，为Ford和VW公司供应。公司在中国的上海、长春和长沙也有冲压厂，在中国很有影响力。日本公司在欧洲和北美活跃日本的汽车公司已经将国内的供应商带到欧洲和北美的各个部门，包括冲压领域；但英国的Ogihara的业务却并没能持续，Unipres的情况有些不同 — 应该是更加乐观。Unipres在英国工厂的年营业额超过1,8亿英镑（大部分来自Nissan和Honda）。Unipres公司在近几年投资热冲压和传统冲压；2015年公司宣布增加两部冲压机（一台2,500吨压力Tri-Axis转移式冲压机，一台600吨冲压机，工厂冲压机总数量达到18台），主要视为西班牙的Renault供应，人们认为应该是Kadjar汽车，因为该车组件与Qashiqai基本一致，两款汽车平台相同。尽管公司位于英国北部，但是Unipres在西班牙中部的供应力也很具竞争力。此外，Unipres在中国与Dongfeng公司合作建立合资公司，铺设冲压生产线。公司在墨西哥投资6.7亿比索（约合3,300万美元），建立新厂，为Nissan在阿瓜斯卡连特斯工厂提供各种冲压装备，包括散热器悬挂梁架、中心后座构架和顶棚加固。跨国边境进入美国，Unipres公司投资了两个工厂；一个在田纳西Portland，和英国工厂一样，这里也安装了2,500吨转换式冲压机和一台600吨冲压机 — 这些冲压机用于制造Nissan ...
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ArticleA pressing issue
With new opportunities opening up, the independent pressings and stampings sector continues to evolveWith car-makers focusing on new, demanding and regulation-driven technologies – especially in emissions, connectivity, autonomous and electric cars – limitations in terms of their resources and capabilities mean that further opportunities are opening up for the likes ...
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ArticleFitting rewards
ArcelorMittal’s stronger hot-stamping grades are ideal for laser-welded blank applications, leading to further weight reductions and increased safetyThe automotive industry faces two major challenges today: emissions reduction and improvement of safety standards. Reducing vehicle weight by using lighter materials is an obvious way to cut emissions, but steel offers unbeatable ...
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ArticleMetal futures
Press hardenable steels enable automotive designers to find light and strong solutions. Now, the second generation of PHS will allow OEMs even greater scopeHot forming has become very important to the automotive industry as a way of meeting specific crash-performance criteria and ensuring low overall weight at an affordable cost. ...
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WebinarArcelorMittal webinar: Metallic coatings for cold-stamping steels
To meet their quality and cost challenges, carmakers look to select the most suitable and innovative steel coatings. This webinar will explore the most innovative steel coatings in the automotive steel industry available for cold stamping and describe the various properties, advantages and ...
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WebinarSSAB Webinar: Innovative solutions on springback and edge ductility when designing AHSS parts
Springback and splits on stretched edges are common issues when stamping automotive parts in UHSS.This webinar will describe innovative methods that can address the springback problem and will present a simple way to improve edge ductility for avoiding splitsTuesday 29 November | 15:00 CET | 14:00 GMT | 19:30 ...
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ArticleFord Rouge becomes landfill-free
US – The six facilities at Ford’s Dearborn site in Michigan have joined 68 others worldwide which send zero manufacturing waste to landfill. It is the OEM’s largest landfill-free complex and will save 14m pounds of waste per year.“With 16m sq.ft of factory floor space and approximately 7,000 employees it ...
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ArticleSIA builds first 2017 Subaru Impreza
US – The start of production at Subaru of Indiana Automotive (SIA) marks the first time the Impreza has been made in the country; until now, the model has been produced exclusively in Japan. The plant has spent three years preparing for this launch, after $1.3 billion was earmarked for ...
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ArticleGM's energy efficiency to save $73m
US – The vehicle-maker estimates that it will make this saving in 2016 through sustainability measures including the installation of 186,000 light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs and fixtures. GM is aiming to use renewable energy to meet 100% of its electrical needs worldwide by 2050.“Energy efficiency can reduce electricity loads, which ...
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ArticleSwitching to SUVs
FCA has announced big investments in the US and Canada in recent years but its Mexican factories have also received steady funding. At Toluca, this may result in a new focus on SUVs on the CUSW architectureAnnounced investments for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ US and Canadian plants between June 2009 and ...
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ArticleFit for purpose
Honda dé Mexico reached a record production last year, following the opening of its new plant at Celaya"The management, including myself, must lead in changing our mindset, and every associate needs to change their perception and the way they work,” said Honda CEO Takahiro Hachigo at a news conference in ...
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ArticleCorolla rolls into town
A long-time manufacturer of pick-up trucks in Mexico, Toyota will finally add car production in 2019. Its new plant in Guanajuato will be the first that is designed to make vehicles on the Toyota New Global ArchitectureToyota Motor Manufacturing de Baja California (TMMBC) has been assembling vehicles for North American ...
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ArticleRevitalising a veteran
VW has been making vehicles at Puebla in Mexico since 1967, but a $1.7 billion investment has added new facilities for the Golf 7 and long-wheelbase Tiguan. AMS takes a look at a vast but still expanding footprintThe automotive industry is a prime example of globalisation; major manufacturers span the ...
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ArticleMazda: Growing in Guanajuato
AMS gives an update on the OEM's recently opened plant at Salamanca, Mexico – its first in North AmericaIn January 2014, Mazda joined the flood of vehicle-makers arriving in Mexico by opening a new plant in Salamanca, Guanajuato – its first independent production site in North America. The idea behind ...
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ArticleNissan heads in a new direction
The OEM has been manufacturing vehicles in Mexico since 1966 but the new COMPAS collaboration with Daimler will add premium cars to the line-up by next year. AMS went to check on the progress so farThe rush among carmakers to set up a manufacturing base in Mexico will see no ...
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ArticleKia's brave new world
The South Korean OEM has just opened a state-of-the-art factory at Pesquería in Mexico, but political problems are preventing this first Latin American manufacturing base from reaching its full potentialA sun-scorched hilltop in Monterrey provides the perfect view of Kia Motors’ first Latin American factory: a gleaming white press shop, ...
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ArticleMaking light work
Strong, stiff and light, these properties make composites a compelling proposition for the manufacture of tooling and production aidsIn sheet metal forming, epoxy resin dies were first used in the 1950s. These thermosets were often filled with steel powder or sand to increase their wear resistance and mechanical properties. Filled ...
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ArticleAudi inaugurates San Jose Chiapa plant
Mexico – The factory in the south-central state of Puebla will produce the Q5 SUV for all global markets except China, with an annual capacity of 150,000 vehicles. Audi’s investment in the site exceeds €1 billion ($1.1 billion) and has enabled it to become the first premium carmaker with manufacturing ...