Automation – Page 186
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WebinarArcelorMittal Webinar: How to use iCARe® electrical steels for top performance in electrified powertrains
Since its launch in 2012, ArcelorMittal’s iCARe® electrical steels for automotive traction have assisted OEMs to achieve significant powertrain performance enhancements in both electric and hybrid vehicles.This webinar will examine how the updated range iCARe® steels can help realise performance targets for traction motors, whether in breakaway torque, power, power ...
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ArticleCPT appoints Hayter to commercial role
UK – In the newly created position of chief commercial officer, Dennis Hayter will be responsible for commercial activities and customer relationships at Controlled Power Technologies (CPT), both at its Coventry operation in the UK and at subsidiaries in Germany and the US. He will be based at the company’s ...
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ArticleSika expands adhesives capacity at Grandview
US – The company has commissioned mixing equipment and associated bulk packaging capabilities at its plant in Missouri, enabling the local production of SikaPower products which are used in vehicle assembly. The move is in line with Sika’s ‘Global Reach with Local Presence’ strategy.“The expanded capability enables further supply of ...
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ArticleNissan adds solar farm at Sunderland
UK – Made of up 19,000 photovoltaic panels, the new 4.75MW array is now fully operational. The solar farm has been installed alongside ten wind turbines which already generate 6.6MW of power, bringing the total output of renewable energy to 11.35MW – equating to 7% of the plant’s electricity requirements, ...
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Article
Problemas de airbag
Com o crescimento do mercado inflado e tecnologia defeituosa em conjunto, a produção de airbag está experimentando oportunidades e problemas em igual medida.O setor de airbag, infelizmente, é provavelmente mais conhecido no presente por seus problemas de recolhimento, especialmente aqueles que envolvem o fornecedor japonês Takata. Enquanto a Takata tem ...
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Article
Alunos d Fundição
Investigação acadêmica em técnicas de fundição está ajudando OEMs e fornecedores a preencher uma lacuna no conhecimento. Quase todas as peças de metal usadas na fabricação de um automóvel terão passado por um processo de fundição em algum ponto previamente - seja através de uma técnica tal como a areia ...
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ArticleDriving customer performance
In business since 1973, noted cutting room authority Lectra has established an industry-leading position by helping customers to achieve operational excellence through a unique combination of expertise, advanced technologies and best-in-class services.As the privileged partner to a broad portfolio of premier businesses, Lectra provides integrated cutting room solutions for the ...
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ArticleMazda3 reaches 5m milestone
Japan – The cumulative total was reached in April, 12 years and ten months after the production launch of the first generation – a new record for the OEM. Known as the Axela in Japan, the model is Mazda's second to reach the 5m mark, after the Familia.The Mazda3 is ...
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Problemas y oportunidades en el mercado de airbags
Dado el crecimiento acelerado del mercado y cierta tecnología defectuosa, la producción de airbags está experimentando una igual medida de oportunidades y problemasEl sector de los airbags es por desgracia, probablemente el más conocido en la actualidad en lo referente a sus problemas de retirada de producto, especialmente en lo ...
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Investigación en la fundición
La investigación académica en la fundición está ayudando a los fabricantes y proveedores a cubrir la brecha de conocimientosCasi todas las piezas de metal utilizadas en la fabricación de un automóvil han pasado por un proceso de fundición en algún momento previo, ya sea para darles forma mediante una técnica ...
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ArticleHonda production rises overseas
Japan – The OEM reported record output in April, with 352,161 units made outside Japan and a worldwide total of 403,742, representing an increase of 7.7% and 6.5% respectively compared with the same month last year. However, production within Japan dropped by 0.7% to 51,581, the first decrease since December ...
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Article
Cast learners
Academic research into casting is helping OEMs and suppliers bridge a knowledge gap Almost every piece of metal used in the manufacture of an automobile will have gone through a casting process at some point previously – whether to shape through a technique such as sand-casting or simply as a ...
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ArticleAirbag anxieties
Inflated market growth and faulty technology mean both problems and opportunities for airbag productionThe airbag sector is unfortunately probably best known at present for its recall problems, especially those involving the Japanese supplier Takata. While Takata has been by far the worst offender in delivering faulty airbags, or more particularly ...
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Article
- 气囊附件
随着市场的发展和瑕疵检测技术的进步，气囊生产正在经历着同等的机遇和问题气囊不幸成为目前召回问题最严重的原因，尤其是日本Takata事件。到目前为止，Takata是瑕疵气囊交付最为严重的案例，尤其是气囊充气问题，但是这并不是唯一的。这个部门在近年来出现了显著整张，尤其是在成熟市场。在司机、乘客气囊是每辆新车的必备，有些新车和轻型车里有8个以上的气囊。因为有了更多的应用，车辆发展就如以下所谈。市场的供应链机器复杂，而居于顶端的便是气囊模块供应商，其中最大的三家全球供应商是— Autoliv, ZF TRW 和Takata — 还有很多小型供应商，比如日本的Nihon Plast， 美国的中国企业KSS。一个气囊模块包括很多部分，气筒、电控，以及气囊本身。复杂的供应链绵延几个大洲，涉及多个供应商。 Driver, passenger and side airbags are standard fit items in developed markets虽然主要气囊公司理论上都是垂直一体化，将所有的零部件安进气囊模块当中，但是他们还没有足够的能力完成。因此，他们要依靠次级供应商的网络，以及自己的组件工厂。此外，还有数量巨大的跨供应零部件，尤其是气筒和电控。而通常来讲，Autoliv气囊配上Takata启动，以及一个其他供应商的电控，就是最常见的做法。这种分散的供应链可定会造成气筒召回危机；将所有可能存在问题的气筒安装到汽车上，这个过程其实很慢很困难。Takata的特殊问题在于使用硝酸铵推进无；这种化学物质如果暴露在湿热环境中，就会降解，而且一旦发生这种情况就会导致气囊爆炸，使金属盒破损，从而导致气囊配置失误。Takata努力将硝酸铵替换成硝酸胍，TRW和Autoliv已经使用这种物质多年，没有出现问题。然而，越来越多的车意识到气筒的问题。这个问题太严重了，以至于公司无法独自处理：而且需要从新设计气筒，使用不同的推进物。Takta不得不接受其竞争对手，尤其是Autoliv和TRW，以及气筒专家Daicel的产品，替换原来的气筒；事实上，90%的人们要求将气筒换成Takata公司以外的产品。复杂的供应链关于气囊是如何工作的，主要通过以下几个阶段： 气囊纤维由纺织品专家提供，比如Toray, Asahi, Global Safety Textiles, Toyota Boshoku 和Teijin，运到涂布车间。硅酮涂层布料可以与人的脸部直接接触；涂层的设计有利于气囊里的空气冷却（空气在调整是温度上升很快），同时也能组织碎片穿进气囊里。 涂层（脚部和膝盖部位的气囊不需要）完成之后，布料就会经过建材和缝纫，通常在低成本地区完成；很多欧洲使用的气囊都是在罗马尼亚、乌克兰、摩尔多瓦和摩洛哥等地完成建材和缝纫的。比如TRW罗马尼亚公司，在罗马进行建材和缝纫操作。公司计划到2018年多制造1,200万个气囊。到2017年，工厂的员工数量会达到1,000人，与罗马尼亚其他的ZF TRW工厂合作，制造压铸件、小型泡沫零部件，并装配气囊和方向盘外套。 完成建材和缝纫之后，材料被送到气囊装配厂，折叠，然后与其他气囊模块组件（也就是点火器、气筒和电控）一起放到盒子里。成本模块被送到汽车工厂的装配线，或者送到一级供应商那里装进其他的组件里；比如说，侧面气囊被放到做一粒，而前部气囊会装到仪表盘里。司机气囊被安装到启动轮盘里，多数情况是这样，但不总是安装到启动轮盘里。 From the cut and sew operation, the material is taken to the assembly plant and housed with units ...
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ArticleJapan shifts toward consolidation
Toyota will complete its takeover of Daihatsu later this year and already effectively controls Subaru. Since 2015, it has also had a wide-ranging technical alliance with Mazda, although without any capital involvement on either side.Full control of Subaru and Mazda by the largest Japanese car company may well transpire before ...
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ArticleFCA Jefferson North makes 6m vehicles
US – The milestone unit at the Detroit, Michigan, assembly plant was a 75th edition 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee, powered by a 3.6-litre Pentastar V-6 engine. The vehicle was due for delivery to a local customer.“Reaching this milestone is a reflection of this plant’s commitment to supporting the continued growth ...
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ArticleNew cutting fluid technology
Hysol SL 35 XBB and Alusol SL 51 XBB provide tangible benefits without the associated compromises, claims Castrol. The company says this new cutting fluid technology maintains constant pH levels (9-9.5) and stable conditions for longer than standard cutting fluids and that this reduces the need to add treatment additives ...
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Article
- 铸造学习者
对铸造技术的学术研究正在帮助OEM制造商和供应商获得相关知识在过去，几乎汽车制造中使用的每一片金属都要经过铸造加工过程 — 不管是塑型称砂模铸造还是简单的气缸体，都要经过挤压这样的工序。所有的金属都要这样，比如所有的钢铁、铝合金、铜和镁。此外，所有的金属的下游性能条件都要由铸造工序决定，比如强度、表面质量。在任何制造类型中唯一例外的可能就是使用特殊材料，比如通过粉末冶金形式加工的钨。伦敦布鲁内尔大学先进凝固技术布鲁内尔中心（BCAST）副主任Dr Ian Stone简单总结了主要技术在金属制造工序的重要性。BCAST在金属加工技术方面已经有15年的历史的，该中心刚刚宣布了毅力写新规划，主要是为了推动铸造技术的发展，适应21世纪制造业的需求，尤其是汽车业。其中最为突出的就是先进金属铸造中心（AMCC），企业市值达1,700万英镑（约合2,500万美元），得到很多汽车制造商的支持，比如JLR公司，以及铝供应商Consetellium公司的还吃。Dr Stone解释说，尽管铸造技术对汽车业的发展避无可避，但是在很多方面都不利于汽车制造商和材料供应商的研究活动。汽车制造商通常“不具有”铸造厂。与此同时，拥有技术的材料供应商通常不愿意破坏日复一日的大规模制造工艺，而去生产相对数量较少的试验材料。填补空白相反，学术研究机构能够有效填补技术空白。Dr Stone称，机构能够生产适当批量的材料，用于研究，模拟行业条件下的真实使用过程。他说，“我们能铸造200公斤的材料，但不是行业价格”。她继续说，因此AMCC的经营模式非常特别。他说，“我们不能说这是全球唯一，但是这确实在欧洲与众不同。” Aluminium supplier Constellium is partnering JLR and Brunel University to form the Advanced Metal Casting Centre ventureAMCC的工作重点是铝和镁。这里的许多设备都是为了在真是工业环境下进行复制用的。其中包括： 一个1,600吨闭合压力的铸模盒，用于铝镁合金铸造 一个240公吨闭合力的低压铸模盒 一个1,600万吨的顺挤压力，带有锥形二次加热 一个试点规模热顶直接冷却铸工，适用于2米长的钢坯和204厘米直径的钢坯 一个双滚筒铸件，融合了布鲁奈尔自己的熔接条件技术 高分辨率实时X光检测技术重要的是，前三个被称为具有“商业”规模。尽管如此，Dr Stone称，有些设备经过改造具备了很高的灵活度，满足研究相关的要求。高压铸模盒能够在工作中与铝镁合金迅速换换 — 这在专门长期生产环境中并不要求如此。开发潜力或许与传统生产技术最大的不同就是AMCC的双滚筒熔接条件铸件。正如Dr Stone所说，这个技术在行业中使用，但只是用于“有限的低强度合金”。相反，布鲁内尔正在开发其潜力，想要用于制造薄的镁合金产品。他认为，这个材料很难滚动。布鲁内尔开发的另一个技术是Castparicular，这是铝材料“高剪切融化调节技术”。Dr Stone称，这来源于对大多数护腰零部件的铸造工艺处于“颗粒成核形成早期”的认识。他解释说，通过控制成核技术，就能控制“凝固期间的颗粒大小”以及“合金元素的散步”。重要的是，它能够生产薄壁铸件，并且极大降低了瑕疵比率。Dr Stone称，尽管行业已经试验了这种技术，但是在实际生产中并没有采用。但是，这个技术，正如Dr Stone所解释的那样，潜力远超出目前还非常超群的工艺。比如能够将铝合金碎片用于制造零部件的初期材料，满足汽车业的标准。就目前而言，“这还不可能”。这样的碎片的使用目前还是“不受青睐”，也就是说，循环使用的呼声并不高。但这很可能成为低生产使用材料 — 比如在钢铁制造业中的脱氧剂，以低廉的价格出口到不发达的经济体中，甚至直接送到垃圾场。不管是什么情况，最终的结果就是有可能失去利用这些金属进行再利用，创造高价值制造材料的机会。正如Dr Stone所说的：“如果我们能够合理再利用，这能成为价值来源。” The Constellium University Technology Centre supports the work of engineers, ...
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ArticleCast learners
Academic research into casting is helping vehicle-makers and their suppliers to bridge a knowledge gap Almost every piece of metal used in the manufacture of a vehicle will have gone through a casting process at some point previously, whether shaping via a technique such as sand-casting or simply as a ...
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ArticleCompact industrial cleaner
With its EcoCCompact, Dürr Ecoclean says it has optimised the successful model from the previous Compact 80C/P series. Operating under a full vacuum and equipped with two flood tanks as standard (a third flood tank can be retrofitted), the company claims this machine can clean and conserve parts with modified ...