Automation – Page 173
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Article
Putting in a shift
OEMs are keeping options open on transmission supply. Many are moving from an established in-house option and increasingly looking to source externally Body panels, engines and transmissions are the three fundamental component areas that the major car makers tend to produce in-house. However, behind this established pattern there is a ...
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Article
Putting in a shift
OEMs are keeping options open on transmission supply. Many are moving from an established in-house option and increasingly looking to source externallyBody panels, engines and transmissions are the three fundamental component areas that the major car makers tend to produce in-house. However, behind this established pattern there is a changing ...
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Article
调节适应
OEM制造商们在变速器供应上还保留选择权，很多人从成熟的厂内方案逐步向外部供应车体外板、发动机和变速器是大型汽车制造商想要在厂内生产的三个基础性组件领域。但是，在这个固定形式的背后是一个不断变化的变速器供应网络，涉及了全球大型组件供应商，偶尔还会涉及到汽车公司之间的跨公司供应；举例来说，梅赛德斯-奔驰变速器用在北美生产的日产和因菲尼提车型上。厂内供应或外部供应的情形在近些年都转向喜欢使用无级变速器（CVT），以及双离合自动变速器（DCT）。这些变速器大部分都是在外部制造的。全球变速器市场里大约65-70%都是由汽车公司在厂内生产的，这个数据在过去都保持稳定。但是，随着CVT，尤其是DCT变速器不断受青睐，外部供应的比率也在不断增加。格特拉克公司被麦格纳公司收购协议中包括福特公司供应的变速器 — 通过格特拉克-福特合资公司 — 这成为变速器供应结构中最为显著的变化。麦格纳-格特拉克公司是全球四大变速器供应商之一，其余三个是日本爱信（Aisin）、日本捷特科（JATCO）和采艾孚（ZF）公司。这四家公司占据大部分变速器境外市场。此外，Hyundai-WIA在韩国内供应，而在发达市场里则存在大量的跑车变速器专门供应商（比如Tremec公司为美国跑车供应手动变速器）。日本也有一些供应商，比如Univance公司为日本日产SUV提供变速器，并从北美和泰国工厂出售到很多日本汽车制造商手中。还有一个就是柳川的Seki公司，为Kei汽车提供手动变速器。厂内生产或者外部采购大多数欧洲汽车制造商都自己生产变速器。最例外的就是宝马汽车公司（ＢＭＷ），公司很多手动变速器和所有双离合自动变速器是从格特拉克公司采购的，而大部分自动变速器都是从采艾孚（ZF）公司采购的。爱信（Aisin）公司为Mini公司提供变速器，同时为宝马公司提供一些前轮驱动。有趣的是，在i3和i8电动车中，单速变速箱是有德国宝马自己制造的。这部分可能会随着i系列产品的扩大而增加。与宝马公司从外部采购并俗气的情况相反，梅赛德斯几乎所有的变速器都是公司自己生产的。在德国，公司主要的变速器工厂是在Gaggenau，并不断向斯图加特Unterturkheim延伸。采艾孚（ZF）公司为梅赛德斯轻型商用车系列提供变速器，但是乘用车变速器则是公司生产的。这里最重要的两个改变就是在斯图加特工厂内部生产DCT变速器（用于MFA平台生产的A-级汽车及其变体车型），以及决定要在罗马尼亚开设变速器工厂，以应付不断增长的变速器生产。随着这种变速器类型安装数量的增加，罗马尼亚工厂也在生产DCT变速器。工厂还大量进口德国产组件，装配梅斯德斯新款9速自动变速器。格特拉克为Smart系列提供变速器，包括雷诺制造的ForTwo和ForFour（等量车型Twingo也使用格特拉克变速器）。 In Europe, ZF and Getrag are the biggest companies, both with around one-third of the external market在菲亚特-克莱斯勒，集团一半以上的变速器都是内部生产的；Fiat变速器在意大利的3个工厂，以及巴西贝廷生产，而Chrysler的主要变速器生产是在印第安纳州的Kokomo，那里有三个工厂生产变速器。在欧洲，Fiat主要生产手动变速器，在需要的时候就向Aisin公司采购。在美国，Chrysler使用采艾孚变速器，而且已经获得许可生产9速采艾孚自动变速器。由于变速器意外划入空挡，公司日前正在召回，这个问题还影响了Jaguar Land Rover，公司生产的Evoque汽车就是用这个变速器。Chrysler汽车仍然使用一些梅赛德斯变速器，这从DaimlerChrysler的时候就遗留下来了，但是数量却逐渐下降。在福特公司，大部分变速器都是在内部生产的，Ford-Getrag JV一直是内部生产公司。这些变速器应该 — 尤其现在Magna已经收购了Getrag公司 — 应当被视为外部供应了。除了Getrag-Ford JV（在法国、德国、斯洛伐克和英国拥有工厂），福特在巴西还有变速器工厂（为地方需求生产手动变速器），在美国还有3个自动变速器厂，2个在密歇根州，1个在俄亥俄州。在欧洲，通用汽车公司在奥地利的Aspern制造变速器，但是从Aisin和ZF公司采购自动变速器 — 有趣的是，公司在美国所需的少量手动变速器是从Aisin公司采购的。在北美，Ford公司在内部生产大部分变速器，2个工厂在墨西哥 — Silao和San Luis Potosi — 近些年公司向这些工厂进行了大量的投资。本田（Honda） — 和宝马截然相反 — 一直以来所有的变速器都是公司内部专门生产。但是从2014年，Acura品牌使用ZF生产的9速自动变速器（这个变速器也被Fiat Chrysler和Jaguar Land Rover所使用）。在欧洲， 本田从亚洲日本和北美进口变速器，但是在美国，公司大部分变速器是在墨西哥、俄亥俄和佐治亚工厂生产。俄亥俄工厂是公司在日本以外生产CVT变速器的少数工厂之一。Honda以11速多离合变速器取得一款专利，显示了在变速器领域的实力；专利实际在2014年就批准，但是直到2016年夏天才公开。这个变速器是否会用于汽车生产还有待观察 — 公司10速变速器定于近期投入使用，但是公司还没有公布会在哪个车型上使用（福特和通用都曾说准备使用10速变速器）。本田近年来的趋势是使用越来越多种类的变速器：2012年，本田大多数车型使用5速自动变速器，要在5年内都使用10速变速器。目前，Acura车型的RLX轿车上使用7速DCT变速器，而ILX和TLX轿车使用8速DCT变速器，NSX超级跑车（本田的光环车型）目前使用9速DCT变速器。Hyundai、Kia和本田一样，在变速器供应上几乎全部自给自足，或者从Hyundai工厂，或者从财阀旗下Hyundai-WIA采购。现代在捷克变速器工厂为现代和起亚（在斯洛伐克附近），斯洛伐克的Kia发动机厂为两个品牌供应。这种情况在北美正好相反。Kia在佐治亚州生产变速器，为两个品牌提供变速器，而Hyundai为两个品牌提供发动机。PSA在公司内制造手动变速器，而且几乎所有的都是在法国Metz和Valenciennes制造。自动变速器来自Aisin公司。同时，法国-日本集团雷诺-日产在公司内生产大约55-60%的变速器；公司外部供应商是JATCO，日产公司占据主要股份。JATCO供应集团使用的几乎所有自动变速器和无级变速器。雷诺仍然在欧洲的STA工厂制造一些自动变速器。这个工厂之前是与PSA之间的合资公司，但是现在全部归雷诺公司所有。在欧洲，雷诺在法国、西班牙、葡萄牙、土耳其和罗马尼亚兼有手动变速器。日产从日本和欧洲的雷诺工厂向英国进口变速器，但是在西班牙巴塞罗那工厂生产变速器，为轻型商用车和皮卡车使用。 Globally between ...
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ArticleElectrical power analyser
.According to Yokogawa the WT1800E power analyser was developed to provide engineers with accurate and reliable power measurements for applications such as plug-in hybrid/electric vehicle power management, storage, energy recovery, generation and traction systems, and the manufacture of energy efficient devices and electrical components.It features a motor evaluation function that ...
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ArticleA smooth gear change
As transmission design grows more complex, the challenge for OEMs is to produce a greater range of gears in high volume while ensuring qualityUp until a few years ago, five-speed transmissions reigned supreme in automotive design, but gear numbers have grown rapidly in the last 10 years. With this change, ...
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ArticleAutomated end of line inspection cell
A new end of line automated car inspection and conformance cell, the IVS-ELCi, will enable automotive manufacturers to automate repetitive and critical inspection tasks covering the whole vehicle, claims Industrial Vision Systems. Featuring up to 50 sensors to offer a 360° check of every vehicle, the system automatically saves images ...
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ArticleFastening future
Following the lead of their automotive customers, fastening technology specialists are responding to industry demands to find innovation in weight, strength and performanceAs OEMs develop lightweight construction and optimised materials, the challenge for fastening specialists is to provide solutions as small, light and adaptable ideas without compromising on strength. Profil’s ...
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ArticleMotoring in Mexico
Like its competitors, GM is being lured by the idea of higher production in low-cost Mexico, to the consternation of US unions. The vehicle-maker will invest $5 billion in its four existing factories by 2018Like its main rival, Ford, and most other carmakers which are building vehicles in North America, ...
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ArticleFinding affordability
Ford has caused controversy at home by announcing a $1.6 billion vehicle factory in Mexico, but this is not its only investment in the country; it is also building a transmissions plant and expanding an engine facilityFord is moving more vehicle production to Mexico and – alongside most other major ...
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ArticleIncreased Magna-tude
A veteran of manufacturing in Mexico, Magna has started production at a new exteriors plant in QuerétaroOne of the latest additions to the roster of tier-one supplier facilities serving Mexico’s automotive OEM community, the new Magna Exteriors plant in Querétaro, central Mexico, started operations in July of this year. The ...
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ArticleInterview: Fidel Otake, GKN
GKN Driveline has had a manufacturing presence in Mexico since the 1970s and has grown strongly in recent years. The company's operations director for the country discusses its new propshaft facility in GuanajuatoJoanne Perry (JP): GKN Driveline has many facilities around the world but relatively few in the Americas. Is ...
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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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ArticleInterview: Alfons Dintner, Audi
The company's CEO for Mexico explains how it became the first premium brand with a plant in the countryJoanne Perry (JP): San José Chiapa is Audi’s first factory in Mexico – and North America. Can you elaborate on its significance?Alfons Dintner (AD): This plant is a major building block for ...
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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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Article
Honda adds $53m facilities in Ohio
US – The two new buildings at the OEM’s Raymond site will accommodate quality and information technology operations for North America. The expansion will open in early 2017.The 98,000 sq.ft North American Quality Center will consolidate the activities of several Honda organisations, while the 38,000 sq.ft Ohio Data Center will ...