Automation – Page 197
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ArticlePSA: Back in the race
With new management, a new strategy and new shareholders, PSA is experiencing a change in fortunesIt was not long ago that the future of PSA was called into question. The joint venture (JV) and cross-shareholding arrangement with General Motors was collapsing, the company was in financial trouble and it needed ...
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Article
PSA重回赛场
PSA以新的管理、新的战略和新的股东，正在开辟新的历史刚刚不久前，PSA的未来还在摇摆不定。在财政危机上，公司与通用之间交叉持股合作已经崩塌，公司状况命悬一线，急需中国的东风公司和法国政府的资金注入。新任首席执行官的出现，对局势起到扭转乾坤的作用。新任首席执行官，前任雷诺总裁Carlo Tavares对公司局势起到关键作用。在他掌管公司之时，公司损失累计达到70亿欧元，需要对公司的战略和经营进行彻底的修订；为了确保重组，减少了标致家族的股权，而法国政府和中国的东风（是标致在中国的长期伙伴）各持有公司14%的股份；在这些交易完成之前，通用汽车公司就提前出售了股份。在Tavares接管公司不久就制定了一些重大目标：重振雄风的战略需要在2016年的营业毛利达到2%，并且要节约成本，对公司的生产线进行检修，而现代化是制造厂的重中之重。新的战略的4大支柱式：更好地区分品牌，尤其要在价格上渐进；把重点放在减少全球核心车型范围；在全球获得盈利增长；在所有核心领域树立竞争力。尽管要做的事情还很多，但是新战略的成功已经变得清晰可见，2015年的战略的成功实施就能证明这一点 — 到2016年，实现2%的营业毛利，去年汽车部门的盈利为5%。此外，公司的净利润为12亿欧元，与2014年损失5.55亿欧元相比，真是大的改观。按照规划将Faurecia外部组件分公司出售给Plastic Omnium之后，集团的营业额增长了6%。销量增长带动财务稳定公司全球销量增长了1.2%，达到2,973,000辆，在欧洲销量的增长率接近6%；这主要归功于Citroen C4 Cactus， Peugeot 108, 2008和308。但是，很多车型的销量却下滑了，这可能会导致车型被替代；3008跨界车销量下降近9%；标致最大车508的销量也下降了近9%，而Citroen C4在全球的销量下降了近17%。公司大部分大棚货车，不管是意大利菲亚特或是土耳其工厂生产，还是西班牙PSA生产的汽车，销量都有所上涨 — 有些甚至超过10%。Peugeot Expert、Boxer和Citroen Jumper的情况也是一样。Expert上涨了10%，Citroen Jumpy(上涨近8%)成为2016年所有新款车型中的佼佼者。 PSA's three-cylinder petrol engine is leading the way in engine downsizing投资不断，欧洲增长缓慢2016年，公司预计欧洲地区增长率缓慢，大约在2%左右，中国达到5%的增长率；拉美和俄罗斯可能会继续下降大约10-15%。PSA可能在伊朗会有大的动静，而且紧随雷诺进驻北非。回到欧洲，在Sochaux和Mulhouse增加生产班制；Sochaux工厂从2016年2月开始增加了半个班制，增加了300个岗位。这是为了应对欧洲市场对Peugeot2008, Citroen C4和DS4的需求。而在Mulhouse，公司投资4亿欧元，对工厂进行现代化改造，用PSA自己的话说，“要成为欧洲顶级制造厂”，同时增加了950个岗位，满足市场对Peugeot 3008和5008以及DS5的需求。从2018年开始，公司还要继续投资，用以支持新款DS车型的生产。为了生产C4和3008而录用新的员工，使得之前的大幅裁员有点过于严苛。在创造就业岗位和巩固平型投资的车辆方面，C4可谓老牌，但是其他车型或者是跨界车，或者是DS品牌，都证明PSA正在走向高端市场。这些车段，比如跨界车或者高端市场，DS的特定目标就是PSA的未来之路，至少在欧洲是如此，其他地方可能也是如此。新的Citroen系列是基于Aicross理念，并利用C4 Cactus设计理念制造的，会在未来几年内推出。传统的车型，比如C3和C4将逐渐淡出视野，或者消失 — C2,C5和C6的名字会重现，与原来的车型在外观上会截然不同。与雷诺电动车路线不同，PSA开发混合动力和电动技术；PSA还在发动机规模小型化的技术上领先，并宣称即将达到每公里105克二氧化碳的目标；公司还在筹备插件和全电动汽车，包括与中国东风合作生产的电动车，这款车应该在2020年之前面世。PSA过去传略的核心一直是利用合资公司，尤其是与Fiat的合作生产汽车，因为以自身的产量不足以开发平台；因此土耳其的小型货车公司和意大利的大型货车公司（Fiat Ducato公司以前生产Citroen Realy和Peugeot Boxer汽车）。第三个与Fiat的合资公司在法国，生产MPV和重型货车。在Fiat离去之后，又来了Toyota，而这两家在欧洲的产量都不足以平衡自身的项目；因此全新车型Peugeot, Citroen和Toyota将于2016年推出。PSA-Toyota的合作还包括捷克共和国的合资工厂，在那里生产Citroen C1和Peugeot 108，以及Toyota Aygo — 所有这些车型的新款版本都在2015年推出。通用合资公司原来还包括共享采购、物流、新车型和交叉持股，但在规模上小了很多；事实上，目前在欧洲只有3个汽车生产线。PSA将在合作项目中生产Opel Zafira MPV的替代品，包括新款Peugeot 3008；而在西班牙的Zaragosa工厂的合作项目上，Opel将制造C3 Picasso的替代品，生产新一代Opel Meriva；在PSA西班牙Vigo工厂里，新一代Citroen Berlingo和Peugeot Partner已经出现，这个工厂将生产一款Opel Combo汽车，替代Fiat ...
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ArticleHoffmann leads JLR’s Canadian branch
Canada – Moving from Audi Canada, Wolfgang Hoffmann will take up the role of president at Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) Canada from March 7. He will be based in the regional head office at Mississauga, Ontario, and will report to Joe Eberhardt, president and CEO, JLR North America.Hoffmann previously worked ...
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ArticleBentley launches recruitment drive
UK – The manufacturer announced that 42 places are available for its 2016 intake, starting this September. Twenty of them will join the recently developed manufacturing apprenticeship programme, designed and delivered by Bentley Master Trainers.“As our business continues to grow, we continue to invest – in our people, our products ...
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Subaru hits 15m total for AWD output
US – The OEM’s American branch announced the milestone achieved by its parent company, Fuji Heavy Industries, 44 years after the launch of the Subaru Leone 4WD Estate Van. Today, all-wheel drive (AWD) vehicles account for the majority of Subaru’s sales; last year, the proportion was 98%.These models are fitted ...
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ArticleBarnes is Bentley’s new Americas COO
US – Replacing Kim Airey, who becomes the company’s regional director in China, Mark Barnes will take up the post of COO with immediate effect. He returned to the Volkswagen Group in 2014 after working for other OEMs.Barnes has 30 years of experience in the automotive industry, having served with ...
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ArticleZF TRW makes 1bn Colette callipers
Germany – The Active and Passive Safety division of ZF has announced that it is celebrating the “first-ever disc brake industry milestone”, after making the one billionth calliper of the Colette design family. The company estimates that over half of all cars globally are now fitted with this type of ...
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ArticleTaking Control of quality
AMS previews the array of quality-assurance technologies that will be on display at the Control 2016 showControl 2016 – the International Trade Fair for Quality Assurance – is celebrating its 30th anniversary by featuring techniques and hardware used in quality assurance, including conventional mechatronic measuring systems, 3D metrology, microscopy and ...
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ArticleGetting connected at Hannover Messe
The show will highlight innovation in production and process automation, system solutions and industrial ITWith the Industry 4.0 concept high on the agenda, issues of connectivity and data management will be highlighted at this year’s Hannover Messe, along with additive manufacturing, energy efficiency, preventive maintenance and lightweight construction. A massive ...
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ArticleIran: Back on the road
Within days of sanctions on Iran being lifted in January, PSA announced a major investment of over $430m in a new joint venture in the country that will see Peugeot 208s, 2008s and 301s being made alongside new Iran Khodro-branded models (themselves likely to include a fair amount of Peugeot ...
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ArticleFCA Windsor makes 2017 Chrysler Pacifica
Canada – The first vehicle rolled off the line at the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) assembly plant in Ontario, ahead of deliveries to dealerships this spring. The 2017 model is based on a new platform, and the manufacturer claims that it “revolutionises” the segment with “nearly 40 minivan ‘firsts’”.Building on ...
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ArticleUnipres installs two new presses
UK – The £13m ($18.1m) machines came online in January at the company’s plant in Sunderland and are now producing lightweight, high-strength steel parts, 24 hours a day. The output is mainly for the nearby Nissan factory.The two pieces of equipment – a 2,500-tonne Tri Axis transfer press and a ...
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ArticleNissan Decherd makes 10m engines
US – The milestone engine was a 2.5-litre, four-cylinder unit for installation in a Nissan Altima scheduled for assembly at Nissan Smyrna, also in Tennessee. The OEM started making engines at Decherd in 1997.“Producing 10m engines is a big number for any plant, but hitting this milestone in less than ...
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ArticleHelical profile grinder
Precision Technologies Group (PTG) claims its Zenith 400 helical profile grinding machine is the first of its kind to offer three grinding wheel options: aluminium oxide, ultra hard plated CBN and vitrified, dressable CBN. The company says it offers high levels of versatility, combining a 420mm diameter grinding capability, with ...
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ArticleMachining units for use with robots
SUHNER says it has a spindle-programme specifically made to use with robots. The company offers three types of machining units. The selection relates to drilling performance for mild steel. Models BEX15 WW-ER25 and BEX 15 WW-HSK32 cover up to Ø15mm. Maximum permissible torque values, depending on unit configuration, range between ...
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ArticleDetroit Electric now making SP:01
UK – The first production sports car rolled off the line at the company’s main assembly plant at Leamington Spa and was handed over to Jowett Motors (Asia), which will be shipping it to China. Detroit Electric is expanding in the region and will soon additionally announce a distributor for ...
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ArticleLand Rover makes 500,000th Evoque
UK – The milestone vehicle rolled off the production line at the Jaguar Land Rover Halewood plant, four years after its sales launch. The Evoque has reached the half-million mark faster than any other Land Rover model.Richard Else, operations director at Halewood, said: “The Range Rover Evoque has been a ...
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ArticleAston Martin picks Wales for new plant
UK – St Athan will be the vehicle-maker’s second manufacturing location after Gaydon, which will also receive some of the £200m total investment in new products and facilities. The St Athan plant will make Aston Martin’s new crossover, while Gaydon will handle the next generation of sports cars plus the ...
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ArticleHonda makes American appointments
US – Toshiaki Mikoshiba will become president and CEO of Honda North America, COO of North American Regional Operations and president and CEO of American Honda Motor. He will replace Takuji Yamada, who will continue to hold the title of senior managing officer until his retirement.In addition, Tsutomu Morimoto will ...
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Possibilidades de cisalhamento
Pesquisa pela Universidade de Strathclyde oferece uma maneira de produzir um novo tipo de peça em bruto leve sob medida O uso de peças em bruto está agora bem estabelecido na fabricação de automóveis. O benefício mais óbvio adquirido com este processo é, por exemplo, produzir força extra em áreas ...