All Assembly articles – Page 26
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White light
Michael Nash visits Constellium’s new plant in White, Georgia, from where it supplies BMW with aluminium crash management systemsThe rise of electrification is having a huge impact on vehicle manufacturers and their product portfolios, with many promising to launch a wide variety of new battery electric vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrid ...
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Schedules to keep
Raffaello Lepratti, vice-president of business development and marketing at Siemens, outlines the company’s SIMATIC IT Preactor planning and scheduling solutionCar buyers’ tastes are becoming more diversified. They are attracted by design and performances, but also by region-specific features and a touch of uniqueness. Cars are one of the few mass ...
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Saint-Gobain white paper: Stop corrosion before it starts
Corrosion is a key challenge automotive manufacturers face; and door hinges are most at risk. Learn how you can stop corrosion and red rust from affecting door hinges in this free white paper by Saint-Gobain Rain, salt water and other extreme weather conditions test all parts of the automotive exterior. ...
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Alpine scales new heights
One of the most interesting plant revivals in the last 12 months has been Renault’s overhaul of its factory in Dieppe, which now builds the A110 sports car. Nick Gibbs reportsThis is the home of Alpine, the revived sporting brand that Renault may or may not expand to become a ...
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Ford starts Ranger production
US - The midsize pick-up is now being built at the OEM's Michigan Assembly Plant, which was previously used to make the Focus. By moving away from compact car production to larger vehicles, the company believes it is becoming more aligned with current consumer preferences."Ford truck fans demanded a midsize ...
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Grid reference
Mike Farish visits Williams Advanced Engineering to see how the company delivers a distinctive F1 take on an innovative electric vehicle platformOne of the implications of the growth of the market for electric vehicles is the opportunity it provides for newcomers possibly to become major players in the automotive industry ...
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Ford names VP of manufacturing
US - John Savona has been appointed vice president of North American manufacturing. He is now responsible for the company's entire production footprint across the country, which consists of over 30 plants."John has nearly 30 years of experience in Ford manufacturing, having held leadership positions in many of our manufacturing ...
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Maruti Suzuki takes on 362 students
India - The company's Japan-India Institute for Manufacturing (JIM) has welcomed its second batch of 362 students, after recording 100% placement for the first 254 in June 2018. JIM is located at Ganpat University in Mehsana, Gujarat."Growing skill gap is a crucial challenge faced by young India," said A. K. ...
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Extreme flexibility is essential
KUKA offers numerous solutions that are helping vehicle manufacturers to tackle several challenges The automotive industry is undergoing the biggest transformation in its history. Megatrends such as digitisation, autonomous driving and e-mobility have significant implications not only for manufacturers but also for suppliers. What is required are smart production ...
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Advanced 3D metrology for car body
GOM has worked on improving the speed and accuracy of its latest generation of optical 3D coordinate measuring machinesThe automotive industry has undergone many changes over recent years, and new technologies are influencing production processes with the aim of making manufacturing more efficient. The implementation of robotics on the assembly ...
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Making metal add up
Additively manufactured metal parts present a challenge for high-volume production but at the other end of the scale, engineers are successfully developing the process for specialist, low volume parts. Mike Farish reportsAll over the automotive industry companies are exploring the potential of additive techniques to make parts in polymers and ...
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Audi Hungaria starts making Q3
Hungary - The OEM has started making the second generation of its compact SUV at its plant in Győr, which is situated in the north west. The Q3 is now the fifth model being produced at the facility, sharing production lines with the A3 Sedan and Cabriolet, as well as ...
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Two-wheel e-mobility
BMW’s e-mobility ambitions have not been limited to four wheels; Nick Holt visits the company’s Berlin plant to see how its sophisticated C evolution maxi scooter is built
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Leading a winning team
Nick Holt talks to Ford Craiova’s award-winning engine plant manager, Jo Payne, about the facility’s award-winning enginesJo Payne is no stranger to accolades, having been crowned winner in the manufacturing category of this year’s Autocar Great British Women in the Car Industry awards. She also won the award back in ...
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Time for an upgrade
As Toyota shapes up its global manufacturing network to build the new vehicle platform, Nick Holt visits the OEM’s Valenciennes facility to see the progress being madeTo meet the challenge of rapidly changing markets and segment volatility, the development and adoption of common, modular vehicle platforms is now a familiar ...
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Expanding and restructuring
As the move to electrified and autonomous vehicles accelerates, Toyota is expanding in both technology areas and restructuring its operations. Ian Henry reports Toyota is making a number of key organisational changes to simplify and rationalise its operations in response to the fast-changing automotive market. As of the end of ...
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A slow return to growth
Vehicle-makers in South America are seeing signs of recovery, boosted by growing exports, reports Nick Gibbs
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Forging a future in Factory 56
New car manufacturing facilities will need to be highly flexible as the trends of vehicle electrification and autonomous driving continue to evolve. Mercedes-Benz futuristic ‘Factory 56’ paves a new path.
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High-speed screw-fastening system
Engmatec offers a high-speed screw-fastening station for inline operation as part of an assembly line system. It uses a fastening method based on the pick-and-place principle incorporating vacuum suction units. It also includes a Mitsubishi Electric RP-5ADH robot with corresponding CR1D robot controller. The company claims this screw-fastening system has ...
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Interview with Oliver Blume, Porsche
The premium OEM’s global head of Production and Logistics talks about its recent expansion in Leipzig for the addition of the new Macan SUV.