Joining News
Lightweighting the EV is a challenge to celebrate
There is a new impetus to save weight as vehicles become powered by electric powertrains. Reducing the weight of a vehicle by optimising the mix of materials and the application in design is now a key focus.
Watch: Vehicle lightweighting rises to the top of the agenda for designers and engineers
This livestream investigates how designers and engineers at Ford, Gestamp and key suppliers are using innovative materials and creating lightweight architectures, including for models like the Ford F-150 Lightning and Maverick compact truck.
Advanced polymers: Reinforcing metal-to-metal adhesive bond strength
As the automotive industry continues to focus on lightweighting for better fuel and energy efficiency of vehicles, there is an increased trend towards light metal alloys and eliminating mechanical fasteners by adhesive bonding. This has created a need for improving the reliability of metal-to-metal bonds, for which proper surface treatments are key. Solvay discusses some solutions
Cellular manufacturing adds flexibility in Mercedes-Benz bodyshop
For the production of the new C-class, Mercedes has taken the opportunity to add flexibility by way of cellular manufacturing in the body shop and with so-called ‘TecLines’ for assembly.
Watch: Electrifying Production – How to build an electric future (Pt.2)
In the second part of our Electrifying Production Livestream series, AMS explores how OEMs are ramping up EV production through modular strategies, data analytics and advanced joining and metrology tools. Featuring Volkswagen Group, Ford, Renishaw and Atlas Copco.
Watch: Automotive suppliers charging ahead – Electrifying Production Series (Pt.1)
In the first part of our Electrifying Production Livestream series, AMS explores how vehicle electrification is changing major tier-1 suppliers’ manufacturing engineering and design, plant equipment and manufacturing strategies. Featuring experts from automotive suppliers and production specialists including Gestamp and ZF, Henkel and ABB.
Building the battery pack
While cell manufacture is still largely in the realm of specialist producers, more OEMs are now assembling the battery pack inhouse, but this can be a complex task requiring specialist tooling. Nick Holt reports
Watch: Supporting production through automation – from AI to cobots (EP.2)
This Livestream Hour episode discusses how automation and AI can support automotive manufacturing with technology leaders from BMW and Ford, together with systems and software specialists.
Watch: Strategies for Greener Production (EP.1)
This AMS Livestream Hour episode discusses how automotive manufacturers are making their plants and value chains more sustainable through new processes and technology, with special guests including Scania and ArcelorMittal. Watch and download slides.
AMS Autumn 2020 – At the cutting edge, the latest on 3D printing and aluminium welding
The latest issue Automotive Manufacturing Solutions features insight on 3D printing of parts and tooling with Porsche, Audi and Seat, digital solutions for aluminium welding and much more. With technology solutions from ABB, Rockwell Automation, Henkel and Castrol.
Watch: The latest technology from Coherent solves your most challenging welding tasks in e-mobility battery manufacturing
A major leap in fiber laser welding technology that can significantly improve your productions processes.
Sames Kremlin: Team bonding brings Eisenmann Intec on board
Sames Kremlin and Eisenmann Intec have joined forces to meet the future production challenges of the adhesive market
ABB: Safe and sound with servo
A collaboration between ABB and truck cab manufacturer Crenlo has resulted in a faster, robotic, servo spot-welding system, one that ably meets the plant’s comprehensive safety requirements
A flexible approach
ABB’s latest welding and joining technologies in the bodyshop promise to boost productivity while making the entire process simpler
Team players
The market is in a state of flux but an e-mobility task force is in place to handle new demands, explains AWL-Techniek’s Niels van ’t Hul
Al around the weld
Joining aluminium parts gives the bodyshop a number of challenges not encountered when welding steel. But a variety of weld techniques are helping OEMs to adapt and extend use of the lighter metal
Creating strong bonds
While mixed-material vehicle body structures yield impressive weight reduction results, the joining processes present a challenge for OEMs. How do they fix the myriad materials but still maintain the requisite properties and structural integrity?
Worth its metal
Aluminium welding requires special care but an understanding of the process helps suppliers to make good choices, writes Lincoln Electric’s Raheel Khan
Strong bonds
James Bakewell looks at the challenges of joining new grades of advanced and ultra-high strength steels in the latest multi-material vehicle structures
Customising production
James Bakewell reports on BMW’s growing use of additively produced parts in both vehicle personalising and series production applications
