Automation – Page 189
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ArticleTravel blog: From booth buzzword to business benefit
Industry 4.0 loomed large over the two major trade shows I visited recently. In the case of Hannover Messe, the show’s exhibitor board chairman, Friedhelm Loh, proclaimed that the event marked a “final breakthrough” for Industry 4.0. With hundreds of real-world examples being showcased in Hannover, Loh confidently asserted that ...
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ArticlePPG opens Oak Creek development centre
US – The $3m liquid coatings facility in Wisconsin features advanced equipment to simulate customer production lines, providing both research and training opportunities. The centre will help PPG to ensure that its products are applied correctly and consistently in industrial manufacturing environments.The facility houses curing ovens, robotic paint applicators and ...
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ArticleFCA Toledo gains Silver WCM status
US – The assembly site in Ohio is the first plant in the country to achieve the World Class Manufacturing accolade, and the third facility in North America. Toledo received Bronze in July 2012.Silver status was awarded after a two-day audit, during which Toledo earned a minimum of 60 points ...
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Mercedes-Benz to build plant in Jawor
Poland – Parent company Daimler will invest around €500m ($570.4m) in the engine factory, the second such facility for Mercedes-Benz Cars outside Germany. The OEM says that the investment is dependent on final commitments including state aid, but that the start of production is anticipated for 2019.“Capacity expansion in Eastern ...
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ArticleVW Chattanooga makes new SUV test body
US – The plant is celebrating an early production milestone after completing the first metal test body for the midsize SUV which is due to be made later this year and enter the market in 2017.The test body was used to test the calibration of bodyshop equipment and processes, then ...
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ArticleKumho opens delayed Macon plant
US – The $450m facility covers 80,000sq.m on 530,000sq.m of land in Georgia and has a launch capacity of 4m tyres per year, with the potential to increase to 10m in future. Construction began in May 2008 but was suspended during the global downturn; it resumed in 2014.Kumho says the ...
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Tendo em mente PTFE
Pode haver uma tendência a prestar pouca atenção no PTFE, mas quando se trata de montagem e desempenho este pequeno componente pode fazer uma grande diferença As dobradiças das portas, capôs e outros dispositivos carro-carroceria parecem à primeira vista, um dos elementos mais simples de componentes em qualquer veículo. Mas, ...
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Atingindo o gás
Conforme OEMs aceleram os seus programas de sustentabilidade, dois principais participantes estão chegando em marcos-principais. A AMS relata como projetos de biogás têm contribuído grandemente para o sucesso de energia renovável da GM e BMWNo ano passado, pela primeira vez, o BMW Group conheceu a maioria de suas necessidades de ...
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ArticleMarchionne marches on at Ferrari
Italy – While retaining his current role as chairman, Sergio Marchionne is taking the responsibilities until now held by CEO Amedeo Felisa, who has served the company for 26 years. In his retirement, Felisa will hold a technical advisory position on the board of directors.“I have known Amedeo for more ...
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ArticleSteiner replaces Hatz at Porsche
Germany – With immediate effect, Michael Steiner succeeds Wolfgang Hatz as member of the executive board with responsibility for R&D. Hatz, who took the position in February 2011, is leaving the company at his own request.The statement from Porsche noted that Hatz went on temporary leave “as a precaution”, following ...
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ArticleNissan CIVAC celebrates 50 years
Mexico – The plant at Jiutepec in Morelos State was the company’s first outside Japan. Nissan said that, as well as launching its global strategy, CIVAC “established the beginning of a longstanding tradition in innovation, research, commitment and the highest quality standards in vehicle manufacturing”.José Muñoz, executive vice-president, Nissan Motor ...
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Cojinetes de PTFE
Puede haber una tendencia a prestar poca atención al humilde cojinete de PTFE (politetrafluoroetileno), pero este pequeño componente puede marcar una gran diferencia cuando se trata del montaje y el funcionamientoLas bisagras de puertas, capós y demás dispositivos de cierre de la carrocería parecen estar en un principio entre los ...
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A todo gas
A medida que los fabricantes intensifican sus programas de sostenibilidad, dos actores principales están alcanzando los hitos cruciales. AMS informa sobre cómo los proyectos de biogás han contribuido en gran medida al éxito de GM y BMW en las energías renovables El año pasado, BMW Group obtuvo por primera vez ...
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Hitting the gas
As OEMs step up their sustainability programmes, two leading players are arriving at key milestones. AMS reports on how biogas projects have contributed greatly to the renewable energy success of GM and BMWLast year, for the first time, the BMW Group met the majority of its electrical energy needs by ...
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Bearing in mind PTFE
There may be a tendency to pay little regard to the humble PTFE bearing but when it comes to assembly and performance this small component can make a big difference The hinges on doors, bonnets and other car-body closures seem at first to be among the most straightforward elements of ...
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ArticleJLR saves 50,000 tonnes of aluminium
UK – The ‘REALCAR’ closed-loop recycling reclaimed an equivalent weight to 200,000 XE body shells over the past 12 months, cutting 500,000 tonnes of CO2. The aluminium-intensive model recently marked its first full year of sales.The REALCAR project, led by Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and part-funded by Innovate UK, saw ...
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ArticleLotus loses weight
UK – The vehicle-maker says it has cut 207kg from its model range over the past 12 months, after following a holistic approach to weight loss. The chassis for the Elise and Exige now weigh just 68kg each, and the company’s heaviest car is only 1,395kg.“We’re not concerned with following ...
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Beeston to direct Infiniti in Britain
UK – As country director, Barry Beeston will be responsible for all sales and marketing within the UK. He will assume the role on May 1, reporting directly to Francois Goupil de Bouille, vice-president of Infiniti Europe, Middle East and Africa.Beeston moves to Infiniti UK from Nissan Motor (GB). He ...
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ArticleAir compressor deal for Wabco and Cummins
US – Under the new agreement, Wabco will be the exclusive supplier to Cummins in North America for air compressors in trucks, buses and industrial equipment. The deal builds on the joint venture, Wabco Compressor Manufacturing, which was established in 1998 in Charleston, South Carolina.“Alongside making further use of Wabco’s ...
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- 沼气应用
很多OEM制造商加紧可持续性项目，有两个公司即将到达关键里程碑。AMS报道通用和宝马沼气项目在再生能源上的成功和经验。去年，宝马集团采用再生能源，基本满足集团所需能源。这是历史第一次，也是公司实现100%绿色能源道路上的重要一步。公司在这个道路上的速度非常快；到今年3月份，仅仅是新的措施开始12个月之后，新能源使用在整个能源消耗中的比率就从51%上升到58%。宝马集团可耻性发展与环保部长Ursula Mathar在去年的“可持续性机制报告”里说，“我们的目标很明确，对转型新能源也有具体的规划。但是她说，“经济可行性”和建立“适当的框架条件”将对宝马逐步实现规划非常关键：即要实现提高全球各地工厂的能源效率；安装可再生能源资源；向第三方采购绿色能源。2015年，宝马集团采用再生能源，基本满足集团所需能源，这是历史第一次。到2016年3月，可再生能源使用比率达到了58%在今年3月发布的最新“可持续性价值报告”中，宝马公司称，自2006年，集团的工厂已经节省能源36%。2015年，每辆车的耗能比前年已经降低了2.7%，只有2.19MWh。可再生能源设备包括太阳能电池板（比如英国的Mini Oxford工厂），德国莱比锡工厂的风力涡轮机，华盛顿SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers的水里发电，以及南卡罗莱纳Spartanburg和南非Rosslyn工厂的沼气。宝马公司在报告中称，集团的战略重点不是在任何特定的可再生能源上，而是在巩固各种技术上：“我们决定每个工厂适合什么理念的技术，才对地方最有利”。集团还特别说明了一个计划，就是在未来数年内会在德国工厂安装光伏系统。 The technical centre at Warren, Michigan, is one of 22 GM facilities worldwide with solar arrays通用一鸣惊人也是在3月份，另一个可再生能源巨头 — 通用公司获得了美国环保局（EPA）颁发的第五届“新能源”奖。2015年，通用在美国的工厂里，每辆车耗能下降了5.6%，只有1.9MWh。通用公司全球制造高级副总裁Jim DeLuca说，“我们不断追求新技术，降低驾车对环境的影响，并在汽车制造中减少碳排放。”2011年，当通用首次投入可再生能源时，就制定目标，要到2020年实现每年创造125MW绿色能源。2013年到2015年，公司向该项目投资3,600万美元，投资内容有：在22个工厂里安装天阳能电池，创造48MW的能量；在9个地方建设电动车充电站；3个垃圾沼气设备；1个垃圾焚烧发电设备。2016年，通用将完成突破发电125MW可再生能源的目标 — 比预计提前4年即将在墨西哥和美国开展的风能项目每年将为两国的通用公司提供34MW和30MW的能源；在德克萨斯Arlington装配厂，每年使用风能生产125,000辆SUV汽车。公司称，公司还在推进收购太阳能板，而不是依赖采购协议。公司最近投入到肯塔基Bowling Green公司1MW电能项目当中。沼气是一可再生能源战略中的支柱，从开始出现到现在，仍然是中流砥柱。有了俄亥俄、印第安纳和密歇根的项目，汽车制造商已经成为美国最大的行业沼气使用者。通用公司的工厂现在至少能获得105MW绿色能源。到今年3月为止，公司10年以来的新能源探索不仅帮助减少对环境的影响，而且还节省了8,000万美元。据通用公司全球可再生能源经理Rob Threlkeld说，有两个风能项目会在今年晚些时候上线，公司届时将突破125MW目标。动物粪便是BMW Rosslyn的能源材料2016年3月，宝马公司在南非Rosslyn启动一个可再生能源项目。公司投资60亿兰特（约合4.083亿美元）从3Series转型生产X3。在收购Bio2Watt之后，从2015年10月开始接受绿色能源。该公司在Bronkhorstspruit(位于首都东部50公里)的农场里经营一个沼气发电厂。这个农场接收牛和鸡的排泄物，还有附近Tshwane的垃圾，而且还有雨水收集堤坝。 BMW Rosslyn has found a good use for animal waste, in the generation of green power via a third-party plant有机废物被送到两个厌氧分解池里，生产沼气，然后进入内燃机发电。这些电进入电力网，售给宝马等公司。目前，有40,000吨牛粪和20,000吨昏黑废物已经转化成沼气，用于供热和供电。Bio2Watt工厂能发电440W。BMW ...