Automation – Page 302
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ArticleNew rapid-release lock for RobiFix connectors
Multi-Contact is now offering a quick-release locking unit for heavy-duty connectors for the robotic arms used in spot welding and other high-power applications. RobiFix-Lock is designed for the RobiFix electrical connectors used in robot dresspacks, the company says.According to Multi-Contact, the locking unit is suitable for fixed welding robots, manual ...
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ArticleFree Process Safebook for engineers
Rockwell Automation has compiled a free guide to functional safety for process applications, to assist with the IEC61511 standard, available athttp:// www.emea.rockwellautomation.com/ process/en/free-safety-guide.aspx.Process Safebook contains real-life examples and explains how to manage safety in electrical, electronic and programmable electronic systems, providing guidance for engineers on how to integrate safety into ...
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GM's ‘largest rooftop’ solar project in Ohio
USA: Generating nearly 3% of the facility’s electricity, the new 1.8-megawatt solar array at GM’s Toledo Transmission plant is claimed to be the largest rooftop array in Ohio.“Having 21,000 solar panels on Toledo’s roof is a great visual representation of our commitment to renewable energy,” said Rob Threlkeld, GM ...
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ArticlePainting Jackals, Coyotes and other big beasts
AMS takes a look at paint processes employed by specialist vehicle manufacturer SupacatOne of the UK’s most interesting specialist vehicle manufacturers is to be found in a collection of low-lying buildings at the edge of an old airfield at Dunkeswell, Devon, in the rural South West of the country. Supacat ...
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ArticleKey painting trends
Developments from consumer expectations to new paint processes and current environmental considerationsWater-based solutionsMethods of reducing paint lossToday, paint finishes are playing an increasingly important role in determining customer choice, whereas automotive paint originally served simply to protect vehicle body elements from corrosion.The quality of the coating must meet strict requirements ...
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ArticleWelding galvanised steel – hot tips
Kevin Pagano, segment engineering manager at Miller Electric and Deryck Hart, director of automotive NA, Hobart Brothers Company, discuss welding equipment advancementsIn automotive applications, galvanised steel has become an increasingly viable option for manufacturers aiming to build lighter-weight vehicles capable of offering greater gas mileage without sacrificing quality or safety. ...
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ArticleEP coolant for cutting
Rhenus Lub has developed an EP coolant for cutting operations on titanium, aluminium, aluminium alloys (silumin) and most hard steel qualities and special materials.Rhenus FU 60 is mineral oil-free and water-miscible, formulated on the basis of synthetic greases and with no additional armines or boric acid. Rhenus says it combines ...
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Plants: VW-FAW, Ford, Renault, Henkel, BorgWarner
China – Volkswagen (VW) and the FAW-Volkswagen JV have opened a new vehicle production plant in Foshan, in the south of the country, following a two-year construction period. Initial capacity at the plant – VW’s 104th location worldwide – will be 300,000 units per annum and there are plans to ...
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ArticleXCal-View laser analysis
Renishaw has released a new laser data analysis solution for use with XL-80 and ML10 laser calibration systems, plus the XR20-W rotary axis calibrator. XCal-View, which gives users greater analytical control, covers the most common measurement types in CNC machine tool calibration, including: linear, angular, rotary, straightness, squareness and parallelism.New ...
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ArticleFabre takes Infiniti EMEA role
Switzerland – Hugues Fabre is to become general manager Western Europe for Infiniti EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa). He will be based in Rolle and will report to Fintan Knight, Infiniti EMEA vice-president. Fabre most recently served the company as global marketing strategy director in Hong Kong.Fabre succeeds Guillaume ...
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ArticleTesting times for training
OEMs’ workers must help to deliver higher volume and quality in a globalised industryDemand for improved quality and higher production targets means that the training of workers and the constant refreshment of their skills is a crucial component of any vehicle-maker’s business strategy. It is not just the manufacturing processes ...
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ArticleCloser to the machines
As robotics companies push the boundaries of automation, human operators and robots are working in closer collaboration than ever before."Your new colleague is a robot.” This is a favourite line of Thomas Visti, chief commercial officer for Denmark-based Universal Robots, which is at the forefront of a revolution in automation ...
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ArticleCrafted with care
Mark Venables takes a look at the manufacturing methods in use at motorcycle maker KTM – a company where automation is kept to a minimumIn 1934 Hans Trunkenpolz opened a motorcycle repair shop in Mattighofen, Austria, selling DKW bikes. By 1951 believed he could do better himself and two years ...
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UK car production grows as commercial vehicle decreases
UK: The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) says UK car manufacturing in August grew by 16.2%. UK car-makers produced 91,282 vehicles during the period, up by 12,705 units on the year before. The third successive monthly gain pushed year-todate volumes up 3.1% to 984,545 units. The increase was ...
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ArticleMaking sure coatings measure up
Duplex coatings designed to prevent corrosion need to be measured with appropriate equipment, says Peter Neumaier, technical sales manager, Helmut Fischer Measuring Class 2 & 3 coatingsHand-held instrumentationGalvinised steel & lightweighting trendsCorrosion-protective duplex coatings are frequently used in the automotive industry for pipes and wires in brake and fuel systems, ...
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ArticleGM plant’s retool for hi-tech engines
USA: As a result of a $400m investment, GM's Tonawanda engine plant will produce four versions of the Gen 5 Small Block – a 4.3L V-6, 5.3L V-8 and two variants of a 6.2L V-8.At full production, the plant will produce more than 1,000 engines a day. The new ...
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GM starts up new stamping press at Arlington
USA – The first of three large presses is now operational at GM’s new $200m stamping facility in Arlington, Texas.GM’s Arlington plant currently receives stampings from as far as 1,000 miles away, but the new facility will produce large metal parts for the next generation of full-size SUVs, such as ...
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GOM conference focus
Germany – This year’s GOM Conference in September attracted 600 participants to the company’s headquarters in Braunschweig, Germany, it says.Focusing on material and component testing, and 3D co-ordinate measurement, representatives from Adidas, Miele, Lamborghini, Audi, Bertrandt, Brembo, Tata Steel Europe and Stryker presented.GOM itself teamed up with VW to discuss ...
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Skoda still top manufacturer in Central Europe
Czech Republic: Skoda is the largest manufacturing company in Central Europe for the third consecutive year, according to the Deloitte CE Top 500 report.Using fi gures from 2012, the study compared the 500 highest-revenue companies across 18 countries, including 84 from the Czech Republic.The company has a 2018 growth ...
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ArticleFord’s plan for near-dry machining
As part of what it describes as its commitment to sustainability, Ford has added near-dry machining capability to six plants globally – a number that will almost double in the next few years.Near-dry machining, also known as Minimum Quantity Lubrication or MQL, is a process that lubricates cutting tools ...