Automation – Page 100
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ArticleSlim nozzle torch body
Its new torch body for robotic welding devices features the MTB 350’s gas nozzle, which has a diameter that is 20% smaller than conventional torches, claims Fronius. The 20mm nozzle allows the welding torch to reach the interface more easily when working with challenging component geometries, and offers a high ...
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ArticleFord's future
The UK press was rather excited recently when one of the Sunday papers claimed that the Ford Mondeo would be axed. Given that this model is not, and has never been, made in the UK, such concern was perhaps surprising. This was part of a wide-ranging story that Ford was ...
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ArticleSkoda announces head of 'India 2.0'
India - Pavel Richter has been named production technical director of the Skoda-led 'India 2.0' project - an initiative launched by the Volkswagen Group back in July 2018 with the primary goal of developing and producing models specifically for the Indian market. Richter will be responsible for production of all ...
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ArticleA European focus
The third edition of the French automotive forum offered insights into the region’s production footprint and OEM e-mobility strategies. Nick Holt reports The 3rd FEAL Auto forum placed its focus on the Hauts-de-France, seen as a primary region for automotive manufacturing. The event highlighted the strong commitment from both regional ...
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ArticleFact, not fiction
Mike Farish reports on a sci-fi inspired additive technique that’s gaining interest with automotive manufacturers New items of technology often get hyped as being like something from science fiction, but in the case of one of the most innovative and unusual additive techniques now on the market, continuous liquid interface ...
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ArticleMaking 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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ArticleAudi 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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ArticleWaste not…
Karen McCandless reports on vehicle-maker recycling projects ranging from plastic bottles to electric vehicle batteries As vehicle production numbers continue to increase, up from 11.9m in 2013 to 17m in 2017, so do the automotive industry’s waste management efforts continue to improve. The waste generated per unit produced in the ...
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ArticleFrom prototypes to production
The use of additive manufacturing technologies has now expanded beyond their initial ‘rapid prototyping’ exclusivity. Mike Farish provides an insight As well as being used in limited production roles, additive techniques are still being applied in new and innovative ways as product development tools. One example is at the Plastics ...
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ArticleRobotic materials handling for industrial saws
Kasto claims it can implement combined storage and sawing systems for its customers in which all processes are automated, from storage of the raw material to retrieval of the cut parts. The company says control software can be linked to existing ERP systems offering improved transparency and efficiency. Also the ...
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ArticleVW to 3D print for mass production
Germany - The OEM has announced that it is the first car maker to be using HP Metal Jet - a metallic 3D printing process that is more simple and faster than other existing techniques. According to the company, productivity is improved by fifty times compared to these other methods."Automotive ...
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ArticleCompact welding robot
Claimed to be designed for manufacturers with compact floor spaces, but managing large workpieces, Fanuc says its ARCMate 100iD/10L is suitable for high-batch production lines where the quality and function of the weld are critical. The company says this robot has capacity for 10kg of additional tooling, such as welding ...
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ArticleTwo-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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ArticleLeading 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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ArticleTime 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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Article
- 升级时刻
丰田汽车打造其全球制造网络，建立新的汽车平台。Nick Holt访问丰田瓦朗谢纳工厂了解进展 为了应对快速变化的市场及汽车转型，开发并采用普通的模块化汽车平台已经成为常见的方案，因为它可以简化生产并降低成本。对很多成熟工厂来说，升级采用新平台可以提高灵活性，控制生产及未来稳定性程度。 Luciano Biondo, 丰田法国汽车制造公司总裁 丰田法国汽车制造公司（TMMF）总裁Luciano Biondo谈论瓦朗谢纳工厂称：“这个工厂是丰田全球战略的一部分，我们根据全球规划，将丰田新全球构架（TNGA）逐步融入到工厂里。第一个TNGA构架是在土耳其建成，然后是英国的伯纳斯顿工厂。去年一月的时候我们决定将TMMF升级为TNGA平台。” 丰田在升级上已经投资了3亿欧元（约合3.484亿美元），用于生产新一代Yaris和其他TNGA-B平台上的车型，但Biondo认为将来工厂可能会生产小型SUV汽车。 混合动力占据领先TMMF还对丰田电气化计划也非常重要。瓦朗谢纳已经将原来Yaris柴油机变体淘汰出去，但是据Biondo讲，生产混合动力电动车足以弥补索取。 “目前我们每天生产1,200辆汽车，其中的75%是混合动力。因此我们生产高质量高竞争力的混合动力汽车，就是支持全球战略。” 工厂生产的汽车在质量方面获得客户好评。但他说，将大比重生产转移到混合动力车型，对生产变体成本又影响。Biondo说，“Yaris混合动力与汽油机车相比，生产成本要高出很多，因为劳动力和零部件需求提高了。” More on Toyota Expanding and restructuring A bigger bet on BEVs 在被问到未来制造面临的挑战时，Biondo回答说：“对我而言有两个挑战。第一个是如何保存并提高竞争力。随着新技术的引用，客户对安全性、质量和成本的要求就更高了。第二个挑战是培养员工应对新技术，提高技术能力，克服一切挑战。” 在瓦朗谢纳工厂，我们与TNGA项目总经理Eric Meunier谈论了升级新平台方面的改变，以及项目相关挑战： 在新平台方面，主要升级了哪些关键点呢？有一个多年未变但这次被升级的关键部分是车身底座。我们的目标就是拥有一个共同的底座。车身长度可以不同，但是基本底座要相同，此外我们还要制造许多不同的车型：轿车、SUV、斜背式等等，但是其根本是相同的。现在使用的底座是2004年开发的，2005年开始在这里使用。 因此，新的平台在车身硬度、强度方面都有提高，而且悬架的各方面都有助于提高驾驶、舒适度等。但是要实现这一步，我们需要改变整个平台，而在C-段和C-HR以及Prius汽车上基本已经完成改变了。我们还要对B平台汽车上也进行改变。 在工厂方面，你们为了新平台做了那些改变呢？汽车车体修理厂做了一些改变。而且，我们在装备方面也做了许多改变，可因为悬架、发动机盖板，以及底座上的所有东西都全部是新的。在冲压车间，我们还要引进新的模具，用于生产新的底座和结构性零部件。这些都是平台方面大的改动。 ...
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ArticleExpanding 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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ArticleTriple edge cutting
Mapal says it is expanding its triple edged Tritan-Drill range, which now includes a new universal version, made from HSS that has been developed for small-series production.The company says this tool offers stable cutting edge corners, reducing the chance of damage to the cutting edge and, it’s claimed, higher feeds ...
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ArticleNew coating for composite battery cases
Zircotec says it has developed a new conductive ceramic coating that enables vehicle manufacturers to use carbon or plastic composite battery casings for hybrid and electric vehicles. The company claims this coating overcomes composite’s inability to isolate the battery from electromagnetic fields and radio frequency interference (RFI), which has prevented ...
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ArticleIndustrial stack lights
The 151SSLD-RYGN-NNS1 3-segment stack light has 40mm diameter indicators, standard height lenses and is suitable for OEM and systems integrator machine builders, says Onyx Industries.The lights use an industrial grade, stainless steel housings and long-life LEDs, and the company says it offers number of options that allow OEMs and system ...