Automation – Page 289
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ArticleRevitalising UK steel production
As a result of a £3.1m investment, Tata Steel recently opened a new profiling centre in the West Midlands; AMS went to take a lookWolverhampton today stands a long way from the glory days of the 19th century, when it was the beating mechanical heart of the UK’s “Black Country” ...
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ArticleGM makes senior appointments at Chevrolet, Buick-GMC
US – Brian Sweeney, currently US vice-president, Buick-GMC Sales and Service, will become US vice-president., Chevrolet. He will be responsible for Chevrolet sales, service and marketing in the US from the beginning of March. Don Johnson will retire from the position of US vice-president, Chevrolet Sales and Service, after a ...
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ArticleMagna and Chongquing Trim form JV
China – The 50:50 partnership between Magna Exteriors and Chongquing Guangneng Rongneng Trim, called Magna Guangneng Automotive Trim System (Hangzhou), will supply the Chinese automotive market through a greenfield facility that will assemble and sequence front-end modules (FEMs). Joe Pittel, global president at Magna Exteriors, Interiors and Seating, said his ...
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ArticleBosch in €160m multi-site Indian expansion
India – The technology and services supplier will enhance existing manufacturing sites plus research and development facilities. Bosch has recently expanded its manufacturing facility for automotive components in Chennai, where it is also constructing a new Bosch and Siemens Hausgeräte plant, and by 2015 a diesel plant will have been ...
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ArticleToyota, Daihatsu to export compact cars in SE Asia
Indonesia – A model based on Toyota’s Agya will be shipped from Indonesia to the Philippines, with the initial export volume expected to be around 500 units per month. Sales are due to begin by the end of the month. The cars will be produced by Daihatsu’s Indonesian subsidiary, PT ...
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Article
Renault-Nissan Alliance to accelerate synergies
The Netherlands – In order to hit a €4.3 billion ($6.0 billion) synergy target by 2016, the partnership will focus on achieving closer integration in four key areas: R&D, Manufacturing and Logistics, Purchasing and HR. In Manufacturing and Logistics, projects will be aimed at improving plant performance through “more rigorous” ...
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ArticleBMW hands new manufacturing contract to Magna
Austria – A fresh production programme will follow the end of the existing schedule for the current MINI Countryman and Paceman models which are assembled by Magna Steyr in Graz.Magna Steyr has been a strategic vehicle assembly partner of BMW since receiving its first contract for the BMW X3 in ...
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ArticleFord to invest $80m in Kentucky trucks
US – Production will be increased by 15% during 2014 in order to satisfy increased demand. An extra 55,000 units will be made per year, including the 5 millionth Ford F-Series Super Duty.The OEM says its investment will involve “significant automation improvements in the body and paintshops”, plus retooling. The ...
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ArticleFord starts EcoSport production in Rayong
Thailand – Joining the OEM’s facilities in Chennai (India), Chonqing (China) and Camcari (Brazil), the Ford Thailand Manufacturing (FTM) plant becomes the fourth location to produce the model. Thai-built EcoSport urban SUVs will be available for sale and export across the ASEAN region.Matt Bradley, president, Ford ASEAN, described the newly ...
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ArticleBarnes to lead VW’s sales in America
US – Mark Barnes will take up the role of vice-president, Sales at the start of February. He joins the company from General Motors, where he was vice-president of Sales, Marketing and Aftersales for the International Operations division. Barnes has previously served in a number of senior positions at Volkswagen ...
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ArticleMaruti Suzuki to expand in Gujurat
India – Following a proposal from Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) to implement the project through a 100% Suzuki subsidiary, Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) will build on land which was acquired in October last year, including 640 acres in Becharaji and 550 acres in Vithalapur. MSIL will enter into a ...
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ArticleMagna makes 5 millionth VW axle drive
Austria – Production for Volkswagen began in 2003, with the Magna Powertrain plants in Lannach and Ilz supplying the VW Golf and the Audi A3; other models were added in subsequent years.According to Magna, the additional business from other models led to “a rapid increase in production volume” and the ...
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ArticleTesla to open Chinese plants for Model S
China – According to the company’s CEO, Elon Musk, growth in sales in the region could match US demand potentially as soon as 2015, and therefore justify local manufacture.Musk intends to inaugurate Tesla’s presence in China at the end of March. In the US, assembly preparations for the Model S ...
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ArticleRenschler resigns from Mercedes-Benz
Germany – As Daimler’s board of management member for Manufacturing and Procurement Mercedes-Benz Cars, Andreas Renschler oversaw the ramp-up for the new S-Class and prepared the company’s plants for the start of C-Class production. Daimler said he is leaving with immediate effect “for personal reasons”. Renschler is being replaced by ...
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Article
Audi plans investment programme of over €20 billion
Germany – The company says its extensive investment programme (between 2014 – 2018), will be directed at new models, innovations and the expansion of its worldwide production network. German sites will benefit with more than half of the planned investment going to the Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm sites. At the same ...
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ArticleWilson to lead Williams Advanced Engineering
UK – As managing director, Craig Wilson will have overall operational and delivery responsibility for existing projects within the company, oversee all business development activity and take a strategic lead in the commercialisation of Williams’ Formula One technology for the automotive, motorsport, transport and energy sectors.Wilson previously served as CEO ...
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ArticleAudi teams up with TU Dresden
Germany – The two organisations entered into the strategic partnership “with the goal of making further progress with technical innovations” in areas such as lightweight construction and manufacturing technology. The research will take place at the Technical University of Dresden. As a result of prior co-operation, four doctoral students are ...
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ArticleContinental tyres to be factory-fitted on three VW models
Germany – The Golf 7 will be equipped with 15 and 16-inch ContiEcoContact 5 and ContiPremiumContact, the CC will be fitted with the 17-inch ContiEcoContact 5 and the ContiSportContact 5 and the Beetle will receive the 20-inch ContiSportContact 5. The tyres are premium summer models. Continental manufactures tyres for Volkswagen ...
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ArticleHonda hits North American production records
US – American Honda exported 108,705 Honda and Acura vehicles and imported 88,537 vehicles from Japan in 2013, becoming a net exporter for the first time. The shift was enabled by record production levels in the US and North America (1,309,917 units and 1,781,213 units respectively). Testsuo Iwamura, president and ...
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ArticleFORMAX to open automotive facility
UK – The 50,000ft2 facility will be dedicated to the manufacture of carbon multiaxial fabrics specifically for high-volume automotive applications. The installation of a new Karl Mayer Malitronic carbon line is in progress and the company anticipates that this additional line will be commissioned in March. The opening of the ...