Automation – Page 254
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ArticleDPCA starts building fourth Chinese plant
China – The new facility in Chengdu will make Dongfeng Citroen, Dongfeng Peugeot and Dongfeng Fengshen vehicles, primarily for the SUV and MPV segments. Production capacity will be 360,000 vehicles per year and the first unit is due to roll off the line in late 2016.“Construction of the Chengdu plant ...
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ArticleVolvo Torslanda shifts up a gear
Sweden – The plant in Gothenburg will add a third shift and 1,300 personnel in the first quarter of 2015 to coincide with the production launch of Volvo’s new XC90 SUV. The move follows the opening of a new bodyshop in April this year which has raised the annual production ...
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ArticleGM adds 11 facilities to landfill-free tally
US – The newcomers have brought the OEM’s total to 122 manufacturing and other operations across Asia, Europe and the Americas which recycle, reuse or convert to energy all their waste from daily activities. The additional facilities will help GM to avoid more than 600,000 tons of CO2 emissions per ...
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ArticleBASF inaugurates Shanghai catalysts expansion
China – The launch of the expanded mobile emissions catalysts manufacturing operation comes at the end of a three-year project which has doubled the company’s capacity in the country by the addition of new light-duty emissions catalysts production lines, a new heavy-duty diesel catalysts plant and an automated warehouse. The ...
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WebinarArcelorMittal: Why hot stamping is such a hot topic
Are you involved in the designing and manufacturing of parts with advanced high-strength steel (AHSS)? Do you design car bodies and need to save weight while improving safety? Then you surely know that hot stamping is a hot topic. This webinar showed you the current potential and future perspectives of ...
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ArticleTMMT celebrates 20 years of production
Turkey – Over the course of two decades, the Toyota plant at Sakarya has produced more than 1.5m vehicles. With 85% of its planned 135,000-unit output for 2014 destined for export, the facility ranks in the country’s top ten exporters.The plant has produced the 7th, 8th and 9th generation of ...
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ArticleFiat Brasil: Em busca do crescimento
Alfredo Leggero, diretor de produção da Fiat Chrysler América Latina, discute o crescimento contínuo da maior fábrica da montadora em todo o mundo, Betim, em Minas Gerais - além de seu novo centro em Goiana, PernambucoJoanne Perry (JP): Quão importante é a América do Sul para a Fiat como um ...
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ArticleMelhorando a qualidade das peças do Brasil
Processo NewTech automatizado da Faurecia produzirá melhores resultados, mais ecológicos para a produção de exterioresNo pequeno laboratório na Faurecia Automotive Exteriors, São Bernardo do Campo, Brasil, leva muito tempo para encontrar uma peça, o que mostra as falhas que podem ocorrer durante a pintura de para-choque; um dos membros da ...
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ArticleIverson to lead new Castrol/TechSolve JV
US – Operating across the automotive, aerospace, construction equipment and machinery manufacturing industries, OPTIS will provide strategic advice, technology, data analytics and practical solutions to generate a competitive advantage by enabling manufacturers of machined parts to enhance the efficiency of their operations and supply chain. The 50:50 joint venture is ...
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Article
Castrol and TechSolve establish JV
US – In what is claimed to be the first such agreement between a lubricant producer and a machining process improvement company, a new entity called ‘OPTIS’ will develop technology and services to enable manufacturers of machined parts to enhance the efficiency of their operations and supply chain. The 50:50 ...
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ArticleHuf opens new paint facility in Tennessee
US – The 5,300 sq.m unit is an extension of the existing factory at Greeneville and has been equipped with facilities for automated paint application as well as plastic injection moulding. Capabilities also include a pressure foundry, electronics production and assembly.“For around 75 years, we've produced door handles for the ...
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ArticleMejorando la calidad de las piezas de Brasil
El proceso automatizado NewTech de Faurecia puede proporcionar mejores resultados y más ecológicos para la producción de exterioresEn el pequeño laboratorio de Faurecia Automotive Exteriors es São Bernardo do Campo, Brasil, se tarda mucho tiempo en encontrar una parte que muestre los fallos que se pueden producir durante la reparación ...
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ArticleFiat Brasil: el reto de crecer
Alfredo Leggero, director de producción de Fiat Chrysler Latinoamérica, nos habla sobre el crecimiento continuado de la planta más grande del fabricante en todo el mundo, Betim in Minas Gerais y su nueva central en Goiana, PernambucoJoanne Perry (JP): ¿Cuál es la importancia de Sudamérica para Fiat como localización de ...
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ArticleEditor's note: Winning ways
Flares, fires and petrol bombs flashed through the news this summer as Brazil battled riots sparked by its hosting of the FIFA World Cup – and as I prepared to embark on a tour of automotive production facilities in the region. Interestingly enough, the popular protests and my personal plans ...
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WebinarWEBINAR: Carl Zeiss measurement
Optical measurement is used for quality control in a growing number of applications and complements tactile measurement. With 100% inspection of process-relevant geometric features (eg holes, bolts, edges) of all parts within the production cycle time – combined with immediate feedback and visualisation of measurement data and tolerance measurement – ...
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ArticleFord adds 850 jobs for new F-150 production
US – The new jobs are divided among three facilities: 500 for Dearborn Truck, 300 for Dearborn Stamping and more than 50 for Dearborn Diversified. As a part of the launch of the new F-150, Dearborn Truck Plant recently underwent a major upgrade which replaced legacy manufacturing equipment with the ...
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ArticleToyota production hits 9m in Europe
Belgium – The OEM started manufacturing in the continent in 1971 after establishing Toyota Caetano Portugal, which currently makes the Dyna commercial vehicle. Toyota now has nine plants, including three powertrain operations, in seven countries and has invested over €8 billion ($10 billion) in its European footprint. The 9m-unit milestone ...
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ArticleDaimler and BAIC agree €1bn localisation
China – The deal between the two companies will see further localisation of Mercedes-Benz compact cars beyond the GLA-Class at the Beijing Benz Automotive Co (BBAC) joint venture. The €1 billion ($1.2 billion) pledge is part of a €4 billion total that will be invested in BBAC by 2015.Production capacity ...
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ArticleFiat Brazil: Quest for growth
Alfredo Leggero, manufacturing director for Fiat Chrysler Latin America, discusses the continued growth of the carmaker’s largest plant worldwide, Betim in Minas Gerais – plus its new hub in Goiana, PernambucoJoanne Perry (JP): How important is South America to Fiat as a production location?Alfredo Leggero (AL): South America is very ...
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Article菲亚特巴西：寻求发展
菲亚特克莱斯勒拉美地区制造总监Alfredo Leggero，向我们详谈了该制造商在全球最大的工厂，即米纳斯吉拉斯州贝廷工厂的发展，以及在伯南布哥州戈亚纳新建中心的情况。Joanne Perry(JP):作为菲亚特的生产基地，南美的重要性在哪里？ Alfredo Leggero(AL): 南美对菲亚特非常重要；我们自1976年开始就在巴西开创事业，成为这里的领头羊已经有12年的时间了。去年，菲亚特克莱斯勒在拉美地区（包括墨西哥）共售出900,000辆汽车，预计到2018年会售出130万汽车。 2013年，在拉美地区市场出售了590万辆汽车，巴西成为世界上第四大汽车市场，去年在巴西出售360万辆汽车。最近，巴西已经超过德国、印度和俄罗斯这样的重要市场。现在，我们正处在调整销售量水平的阶段，但是我们规划，市场明年会重新恢复增长。据HIS公司和我们自己的预测，明年的复合年增长率(CAGR)将达到3.2%。 巴西拥有强大的国内市场，拥有2亿居民，而且最近的失业率达到历史最低 — 只有5.5%。消费市场、中产阶级和劳动适龄人口都在增加。而且，这个国家居民的拥有汽车平均指数非常低，因此具有很大的汽车销售潜力。在美国每1.2个居民就拥有1辆汽车，在欧洲每2个人就拥有1辆车，而在巴西每4.4个人才拥有1辆汽车。 JP: 菲亚特克莱斯勒汽车(FCA)的形成对南美工厂，尤其是贝廷的生产有什么影响吗？ AL: 我们要与FCA的战略保持一致，就是除了大量现代工业基础设施之外，还要共享建筑、动力系统，发挥技术和采购的协同效应。我们在拉美地区的经营正在增长。2015年，我们会在巴西戈亚纳建立新的汽车中心。新的工厂将会是整个集团内最为现代化和科技化的工厂。JP: 贝廷是菲亚特克莱斯勒在全球最大的工厂；这是该地区的制造标杆吗？ AL: 菲亚特贝廷工厂是菲亚特克莱斯勒集团全球最大的汽车生产部门，也是世界上独一无二的；这是在一个汽车工厂里如何解决复杂性和灵活性的成功案例。工厂每天生产超过3,000辆汽车，工厂开业以来共制造超过1,300万辆汽车和轻型商用车(LCVs)，为菲亚特在拉美的成功打下坚实的基础。 除此之外，贝廷在环境和社会可持续性方面，也是菲亚特克莱斯勒和其他公司的标杆：这是第一家获得1997年ISO 14001标准认证的LCV和乘用车制造工厂，并于2013年成为第一家获得ISO 50001认证的菲亚特工厂。 JP: 有人说你们将贝廷的生产力提高到年产量950,000辆，是真的吗？如果是，会不会扩建新楼，安装新的设备呢？ AL: 为了满足日益增长的巴西市场的需求，工厂已经完成几个重建工程，尤其是在过去的十年里，我们扩大了建设，安装了新的机械，调整了生产和物流流程，并且引进新的技术，生产力已经达到年产量740,000辆的水平 — 2012年的产量是811,000辆。“在贝廷这样的环境里，人是整个生产系统的主力”—— 菲亚特尅莱斯勒拉美地区，Alfredo Leggero喷漆是我们生产中的瓶颈，我们正在建造一个新的喷漆厂，能以现代化的喷漆工艺进行表面处理，提高效率，每小时处理180件 — 是世界最大的喷漆工厂之一。这样的话，我们每年的产量就可以达到950,000辆了。 菲亚特在贝廷工厂的重建工作还在进行当中。生产力和灵活性方面都已经适应了巴西市场的增长，这一点是工厂能够成功的秘密所在。五月份，FCA的首席执行官Sergio Marchionne宣布，工厂的设施与菲亚特未来五年的业务计划一致，将会引进一些新车型，并且进一步提高生产。贝廷已经为今后将要面临的挑战做好了准备。 JP: 在一个已经有几十年历史的老厂子里提高生产力是不是件困难的事情？ AL：这可是个不小的挑战，尤其是你考虑到我们正在以一个新工厂的标准提高生产力 — 即每年150,000辆汽车。但是我们利用“世界级制造”（WCM，该生产系统自2007年起被引入菲亚特贝廷）的理念，来解决目前经营和建设工作中的所有复杂难题。 能取得这种成果的极其重要的动因就是调动所有的人，抛开严格的应用方法和标准；在贝廷这样的环境里，人是整个生产系统的主力。我们尽力持续提高技术、管理、操作和方法方面的技术，评价领导能力，展示才能，并发展成果。 这些战略已经让我们在2012年和2013年取得优异的成绩：生产力提高18%，转制成本明显降低；产品质量提高14%；物流服务能力提高26%。 JP: 在贝廷，你们还自己负责材料运输和线路供应；这些改变带来哪些成果了呢？ AL: 这是个极大的成功。我们面临应用新概念线路工艺和材料运输带来的挑战，也就是要保证整合人才，创造强有力的物流工程，以解决工厂极其复杂的各种难题。主要成果就是货运流的改进和线路供应的优化，以及仓库效率的提高。所有这些使物流服务水平提高了30%，成本节约了20%。JP: 除此之外，菲亚特正在伯南布哥州的戈亚纳建造新的厂房。工厂设备是什么系列，将生产什么车型呢？ AL: 菲亚特在伯南布哥州的工厂是公司在巴西的第二个工厂，这里将成为高度集成的汽车制造业中心枢纽，包括一个供应商园区，有17条供应组件的战略线路。这是个完整的工厂，拥有冲压、白车身、喷漆、装配等部门，以及一个通讯中心。这个厂将会有一个现代化最佳布局，材料和产品流程都是以最高“世界级制造”标准设计的。我们将于2015年年初开始投产。主要生产3种车型；第一个面世的就是Jeep Renegade。 JP: 在戈亚纳设立一个大型供应商园区，它的重要性体现在哪里呢？ AL: ...