Automation – Page 365
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ArticleChina's carmakers balance demand and labour costs
Lines and equipmentSmart platform strategiesGAC - building from partnershipsBody-in-white and paintshop policiesPowertrain strategiesBrilliance Auto Group was ‘approved’ by the government of Liaoning province in 2002 and at the last estimate has US$4.85 billion in assets and 35,000 employees. The company has two brands, Jinbei and Brilliance. Jinbei is one of ...
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ArticleFull steam ahead for pre-paint parts cleaning
New steam generating techniquesEffective cleaning with steam and airAlready proven in series production operationAPS reports on a new chemical-free process that uses saturated steam and high-velocity air to remove contamination reliably, quickly and cost-effectivelyImproved sustainability, increased cost-effectiveness and constant quality optimisation are some of the most important aims of the ...
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Article
Danielson appointed as vice-president at Volvo Cars China
Sweden – Volvo Cars has appointed Lars Danielson as senior vice-president, Volvo Cars China Operations. He succeeds Freeman Shen.Danielson was most recently vice-president of China operations within manufacturing, responsible for developing and establishing Volvo Cars’ manufacturing footprint in China.www.volvocars.com
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Article
Domenicali goes for CEO post at Ducati
Italy – Claudio Domenicali, currently general manager and member of the board of directors at Ducati, replaces outgoing CEO Gabriele Del Torchio.Domenicali joined Ducati as a project leader in 1991. In 2012, he was confi rmed as a member of the newly formed board of directors after the sale of ...
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ArticleChanging China
Simon Duval Smith investigates how Chinese OEMs are dealing with booming sales, rising labour costs, working in joint ventures and manufacturing abroad.China is a remarkable vehicle making country; subject to dramatic fluctuations in demand and production, driven by the sheer size of the market and the quixotic buying behaviour of ...
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ArticleBlue oval goes green in India
When the Ford India Sanand plant is completed in 2014 , it will have a capacity to produce 300,000 passenger cars per year. The existing Chennai plant and this newly developed plant have joint production capacity of 500,000 units per year with a capability to further expand to meet cycle ...
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ArticleHeavy work, made light
The diversity of off-highway vehicle manufacturing makes for complex production logistics, reports Sharon ClancyThe introduction of EU Stage IIIB and US (EPA) Tier 4 emissions legislations in 2011 led to the introduction of more sophisticated powertrain systems. As is the case with many commercial vehicle manufacturing operations, to achieve the ...
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ArticleThe Think Blue paintshop – an holistic approach
Eco robots help aim for a green targetHumidity control the key to successWaterless process drives plastic perfectionWhen Volkswagen opens its fully automatic paint shop for plastic parts at its Wolfsburg plant, it will be claimed as one of the most efficient units in the world.Bumpers, fuel tank covers and small ...
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ArticleNo truck with waste
Sharon Clancy talks to two European truck OEMs about their manufacturing operationsLike most truck manufacturers, Scania has global standards not just for most components and parts but also for working methods and quality, and environmental standards at all its plants. Likewise, Leyland Trucks, in the UK, is part of US-based ...
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ArticleGrowing bus and coach production with the population
Demand for clean air and higher passenger numbers are driving growth in the bus and coach sectorGlobal bus and coach manufacturing is in a growth cycle, driven by economic growth in the BRIC nations. In countries such as China and India, car-ownership is low, so demand for public transport is ...
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ArticleHeavy pressure to restructure
Sharon Clancy looks at how manufacturers of heavyweight vehicles are restructuring their operations in the wake of economic downturns and greater legislative pressureThe 2008 economic crisis decimated global sales of commercial vehicles, particularly in Europe and Latin America. Asia and North America started to recover in 2011 but only in ...
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ArticleBlue thinking in paintshop and power generation
Intelligent automationSunshine-powered sustainability"Think Blue” is the name of Volkswagen’s sustainability program, alluding to its aim is to increase fuel efficiency in each new vehicle generation by 10 to 15%, and that its aspirations to be ‘green’ will go beyond green to blue. The carmaker is matching its green vehicle development ...
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ArticleInterface accessories for harsh environments
Designed for reliable operation in harsh environments, Pepperl+Fuchs’s two new G10 Series AS-Interface splitters feature stainless steel coupling nuts, a robust one-piece housing with IP67/IP68/IP69K ratings and gold-plated and machined contacts, the company says.They can be mounted in tight spaces and the company claims they are immune to vibration.www.pepperl-fuchs.us
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ArticleVise and clamping systems catalogue
The new Get A Grip On Precision catalogue offers a comprehensive guide to a line of productivity boosting work-holding devices from OML available from importer Lexair.The catalogue includes the Genius precision 5-axis vise with 9,000lbf clamp force at the top of the jaws, the MC modular clamping system with patented ...
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ArticleHigh-speed cable assembly and connector systems
FCI has developed cabling solutions using ExaMAX connector technology that it claims will deliver up to 40Gb/s bandwidth capability.The ExaMAX IO connector design combines a new contact interface design technology that the company says decreases terminal stub and ground-mode resonances, with an optimised cable termination that minimises impedance mismatch and ...
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ArticleEntry-level vision system for colour applications
Cognex says its In-Sight 7010C, an entry level colour vision system, features 24-bit colour resolution that accurately identifies 16 million colour variations and is suitable for automotive manufacturing applications such as tyre model identification and fuse verification.Along with the In-Sight 7010C, the company is introducing three additional colour models, the ...
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ArticleExtended range of multi-sensor measuring equipment is launched
Hexagon Metrology has introduced three new Optiv Classic models to meet the European market demand for multi-sensor measuring machines at starter level.The company says its Optiv Classic 322, 432 and 443 are suitable for measuring flat parts such as punched components, circuit boards, foils or stencils, die cast and injection ...
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ArticleFlexible philosophy at Ford
Mike Farish takes a close-up look at how devolved management helps Ford operate highly flexible production on its powertrain linesOpened ten years ago at a cost of £325m, the Ford Dagenham Diesel Centre (DDC) comprises a climate-controlled production hall with 44,530 square metres of floor space for diesel engines plus ...
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ArticlePermeability measurement system, plus...
Versaperm says a new range of precise sensors for its automotive testing system not only check for any leakage (permeability) of hydrocarbons, but now also can check against CO2, water vapour, and virtually any other vapour.The company claims it can check ‘waterproof enclosures in automobiles against possible water damage that ...
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ArticleFacilitating mass manufacturing of carbon parts
Schuler now offers lines which it claims can economically produce carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) parts, even in large volumes.For the manufacturing of carbon parts, the company says it uses the RTM (Resin Transfer Molding) process. Due to the geometry of the part or cavity surface, the die’s centre of loading ...