Automation – Page 165
-
ArticleWhat might Trump have in store for OEMs?
During the recent presidential campaign, Donald Trump was severely critical of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) which allows Mexican-made vehicles to be imported tariff-free to the US. At various times, he threatened to rip it up, or at least renegotiate it to give US workers “a better deal”. ...
-
ArticleRicardo hits engine production record
UK – The company made 2,000 units in the six months to the end of October – more than in any full year previously. The increased volume was enabled by the expansion of Ricardo’s plant at Shoreham, which was inaugurated this year.Mark Barge, managing director of Ricardo Performance Products, said ...
-
Webinar
SSAB webinar: The influence of the forming process and design on UHSS
As some parts require narrow radii for functional use, bendability of UHSS has in various cases become a limiting factor for upgrading. This webinar will describe how bendability of martensitic UHSS can be greatly improved.The presentation will examine how bendability of cold-formed martensitic steel can vary significantly depending on ...
-
ArticleKorea: A question of cost
The country’s automotive industry is once again fighting its recurring battle with the unions as it struggles to balance workers’ wage demands with the need to cap costs in an expensive country to build carsUnions have forced a series of stoppages this year at Korea’s biggest carmaker, Hyundai Motor, to ...
-
Article
韩国：成本问题
韩国的汽车制造业又一次陷入与工会的争执中，挣扎在工人的工资与降低汽车制造成本的平衡大战中。工会今年在韩国最大的汽车制造商Hyundai Motor公司强行进行一系列阻碍活动。公司对地方媒体称，到9月末为止，共损失了114,000辆汽车的生产。今年形势尤其艰难，LMC Automotive公司亚太地区部长兼分析员May Aparthapan对AMS说，“每年在工资协商过程中，工人们的罢工非常普遍。但是几年罢工对现代的影响尤其严重。”这种影响导致现代将全球第五大汽车制造商的位置输给了印度（依据7月份的数据）；韩国地方Korea Herald报纸刊登了韩国贸易部长Joo Hyung-hwan的话。当你被政府部长标记已经失去生产表上的地位，那么就证明已经失去了地方上的自尊。此次罢工的时间正值韩国汽车业的艰难时世。虽然去年地方制造商的汽车销量突破了900万辆大关，但是其中的很多都是由现代和起亚在韩国以外地方化工厂网络实现的。国内工厂今年就不得不应付不断下降的需求，这是暂时汽车购买计划终止以及不断进口造成的。现代去年国内市场占有率为45%，到9月底，销量下降了3.3%，还不足50万辆。 GM say the cost of labour in Korea as drastically increased in recent years工资问题不仅影响了现代和起亚。通用韩国公司同样中招，努力保持通用汽车王国小型汽车出口中心的地位。2002年，通用收购Daewoo，并成立公司之后，先后建立了4个生产厂，主要生产Chevrolet品牌。9月份，公司工会集结了16,000名工人，在经过部分罢工之后，同意除了红利（是公司的10-30%）之外，每月增加80,000韩元（约合57美元）。通用韩国公司首席执行官James Kim在九月份对Automotive News说，“劳动力成本不断增加，这成为韩国整个工业的最大挑战。近年来，劳动力成本大幅提高，损毁了公司高水平生产的利益。”美国报纸报道，通用韩国工厂现在的产量在758,000辆以下。到今年9月末，通用韩国的销量，包括国内和国外，达到434,573辆，下降了4.4%，出口销量下降了10%。产量中大约四分之三都运到了国外。通用韩国非常依赖这些出口。其中很多都是小型车，比如Chevrolet Spark。据LMC公司Aparthapan称，这些车在印度这样的新兴市场卖的更便宜。她说，“那些新车生产，或为新兴市场国内销售而进行的生产，都倾向于新兴市场。”尽管通用韩国困难重重，但公司在韩国的根基很深。除了响当当的R&D工厂之外，韩国公司还拥有全球第三大设计工作室，负责新款Chevrolet Bolt电动车的设计。专注SVU汽车成本已经成为中国和巴西这样新兴市场（两国都迫使外国制造商实现本地化，因为进口税极高）的巨大威胁，韩国仍然具有优势。Aparthapan说，“韩国仍然是高成本制造基地。但是，韩国仍然能够保持部分生产，因为规模和产量都很高，与日本相似。”韩国最终会舍弃生产小型乘用车。她说，“在未来很可能转向SUV（因为它的价值和利润都很高），以及新能源汽车，比如混合动力车和电动车。”通用韩国在Chevrolet Trax和Buick Encore小型SUV上都很成功，而Renault Sumsung通过为Nissan生产Rogue SUV，并向美国出口而翻盘。去年，Renault Sumsung全球销量暴涨，达到229,082辆，比前年增长了35%，其中包括釜山工厂新增生产的Rogue汽车。这弥补了停产Renault Koleos（转移到欧洲和中国生产）的空缺。工厂还制造Fluence为基础的SM3电动车，令人吃惊的是，从2013年3月到2015年底，韩国最畅销的电动车只出售了1,767辆。LMC的Aprthapan说，釜山计划制造更多Nissan汽车，但是不包括成功的Rogue汽车。另一个靠SUV的风潮发家的是韩国最小的汽车制造商Ssanyong公司，今年前9个月里，出口增长了9%，地方销量增长6%，超过100,000辆大关。这部分增长仅仅来自于大受欢迎的Tivoli小型SUV汽车。公司首席执行官Johng-sik Choi对AMS说，公司正在准备更多的新车型，并计划在2020年前进入美国市场。在他向我们解释的时候，品牌带来的新利润让他更加自信，效益不佳的Pyeongtaek工厂（首尔以南60公里处）的生产会达到最高，并在3年之内让公司盈利，据Choi说，公司从2001年以来就没有盈利。他还想复制现代和起亚的成功做法，到新兴市场进行本地化生产。 Domestic producers have been threatened by Korean demand for premium exports进口威胁国内汽车制造商习惯在国内市场按照自己的方式经营。1999年，进口汽车辆只有2,041辆。2011年，这个数字达到100,000辆。据当地进口汽车联合会KAIDA称，去年的进口量达到243,000辆，占到全年180万辆的13%。其中的81%是欧洲汽车，排名靠前的都是奢侈品牌。宝马排名第一，然后是梅赛德斯、大众和奥迪。61%的车辆是柴油机。现代推出Genesis高档品牌，试图力挽狂澜，正如丰田的Lexus的做法，但由于韩国的利润来自与其他国家之间的自由贸易，结果却事与愿违，韩国国内注重形象的消费者很自然受到德国高端品牌汽车的诱惑。进口的步伐在今年出现了翻转，但这仅仅是因为韩国对大众柴油欺骗行为态度非常严苛。大众和奥迪都停止在韩国的销售，去年他们承认使用非法软件，企图在排放测试中表现更加。韩国是亚洲少数几个购买柴油机的国家之一，占据一半的，而VW Tiguan 2-0-升柴油机是去年销量最好的进口车。不断增长的国外生产今年韩国制造商现代和起亚大力扩大国外生产，国外产量已经接近国内的三个工厂了。今年早些时候，起亚在墨西哥新建工厂，产量达到300,000辆，海外总产量达到168万辆，公司国内外总产量达到337万辆，而韩国国内的产量为169万辆。新的工厂开始制造Forte(K3)紧凑型轿车，出口美国，这部分占到公司全球产量的10%左右。Kia在中国的产量为615,000辆，在斯洛伐克的产量为369,000辆。去年该品牌售量超过300万辆，其中只有50万辆是在韩国出售的，地方市场占有率为33%。9月份，母公司Hyundai Motor Group称，会在中国开设两个生产厂，将两个品牌的产量提高到900万辆。去年，两个品牌合起来共出售800万辆汽车，Hyundai母公司成为销量第五大汽车集团。另一个靠SUV的风潮发家的是韩国最小的汽车制造商Ssanyong公司，今年前9个月里，出口增长了9%，地方销量增长6%，超过100,000辆大关。这部分增长仅仅来自于大受欢迎的Tivoli小型SUV汽车。公司首席执行官Johng-sik Choi对AMS说，公司正在准备更多的新车型，并计划在2020年前进入美国市场。在他向我们解释的时候，品牌带来的新利润让他跟家自信，效益不佳的Pyeongtaek工厂（首尔以南60公里处）的生产会达到最高，并在3年之内让公司盈利，据Choi说，公司从2001年以来就没有盈利。他还想复制现代和起亚的成功做法，到新兴市场进行本地化生产。 Ssangyong自信如斯，力图提高产量 Mr Johng-sik ...
-
Article
Cube expands to support overseas clients
UK – The manufacturer of press tools and components for the automotive and aerospace industries has created eight new jobs at its facility in Rowley Regis, including roles for toolmakers and machinists. The move follows the development of stronger trade relations with non-UK customers.“Two-thirds of our revenue in the last ...
-
ArticleBBAC reaches 1m-unit milestone
China – The one-millionth vehicle to roll off the line at Beijing Benz Automotive Co. (BBAC) was an E-Class, the first Mercedes-Benz model to be made locally. The third-generation E-Class entered production at BBAC in June this year.Xu Heyi, chairman of BAIC Group and its BAIC Motor subsidiary, said the ...
-
Article
New multi-sensor CMMs
The Optiv Performance 663 and 664 Dual Z are the latest multi-sensor coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) from Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence.The multi-sensor concept of the Optiv Performance line enables a variety of sensor configurations for tactile and contactless measuring and scanning tasks in a single system, says the company. Different workpiece ...
-
ArticleVW to produce new e-Golf at Dresden
Germany – The OEM will spend €20m ($21.2m) on converting its Transparent Factory back into a manufacturing location, which will be known as the Center of Future Mobility. Production will begin with single-shift operation in April 2017.“With a unique combination that allows visitors to experience the production of an electric ...
-
ArticleValmet grows team to make GLC
Finland – The company will recruit 1,000 extra staff at its Uusikaupunki plant ahead of series production of the Mercedes-Benz SUV from early 2017. Valmet Automotive says that, as well as car builders, it will hire 100 white-collar workers in production, production support and engineering services.Valmet currently has 1,550 staff ...
-
Article
Alumínio com forma
Novos processos de formação desbloquearão ainda mais o potencial do alumínio como material leve para estruturas automotivasAs operações de produção começaram com uma nova técnica que promete grandes aumentos nos benefícios que podem ser obtidos por meio de leveza usando alumínio em estruturas de carroceria de veículo.Tecnologias de impressão (ITL) ...
-
Article
KTM intensifica o ritmo
A KTM cresceu rapidamente e agora está procurando aumentar os volumes de produção. Nick Holt visita instalações de produção da empresa em Mattighofen, Áustria O fabricante de motocicletas austríaco KTM tem planos ambiciosos para aumentar a produção de suas atuais 160.000 unidades para 200.000 unidades por ano até 2020. Como ...
-
ArticleFord recognised for water conservation
US – The vehicle-maker was one of 24 companies awarded an ‘A’ grade by the not-for-profit organisation CDP for its water management efforts, out of 600 candidates. CDP has today released its report, ‘Thirsty business: Why water is vital to climate action’.Ford’s Global Water Management Initiative set out to reduce ...
-
ArticleSoftware performance tools
Allinea Software’s range includes the integrated debugger and profiler (Allinea Forge) and its reporting tool (Allinea Performance Reports) which the company say shows software users what performance is being left on the table by their existing in-house software.The company says its tool suite provides effective debugging, tuning and reporting to ...
-
Article
KTM aumenta el ritmo
KTM ha crecido rápidamente y ahora busca aumentar los volúmenes de producción. Nick Holt visita las instalaciones de fabricación de la empresa en Mattighofen, AustriaEl fabricante de motocicletas austriaco KTM tiene el ambicioso plan de aumentar la producción, pasando de las 160.000 unidades anuales actuales a 200.000 para el año ...
-
Article
Aluminio en forma
Los nuevos procesos de conformado liberarán aún más el potencial del aluminio como material ligero para las estructuras de automociónLas operaciones de producción disponen de una nueva técnica que promete un gran aumento de los beneficios obtenidos a través del aligeramiento resultante del uso del aluminio en las estructuras de ...
-
Article
Toyota breaks ground in Guanajuato
Mexico – The $1 billion plant in the central state will make the Corolla from 2019, with capacity for 200,000 per year. Employing 2,000 individuals, the factory will be Toyota’s 15th in North America and will raise its total capacity in the region to 2.2m vehicles per annum.Toyota Motor Manufacturing ...
-
ArticleMulti-axis calibrator
Renishaw claims its new XM-60 multi-axis calibrator is capable of measuring all six degrees of freedom from a single set-up, in any orientation for linear axes. Designed for the machine tool market, the XM-60 will capture angular, linear and straightness errors in a single set-up, says the company.The calibrator incorporates ...
-
ArticleNew premium bus factory for China
China – Scania and Higer have opened a new bus and coach factory in Suzhou, China, which will exclusively build Scania Touring and Scania-Higer dual-branded high-end buses and coaches. The current capacity of the new factory is 1,000 premium coaches per year, with the potential to raise this to 2,000 ...
-
Article
Aluminium with form
New forming processes will further unlock the potential of aluminium as lightweight material for automotive structuresProduction operations have started with a new technique that promises major increases in the benefits that can be obtained through lightweighting using aluminium in vehicle body structures.Impression Technologies (ITL) was set up a little over ...