Automation – Page 412
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ArticleMakers mark
Automated identificationAesthetic applicationFlexible installationDesktop systemsMarked improvementLight applications for lasersSMD applicationsPotential drawbacksWhile manufacturers have long seen the light when it comes to lasers, some are still in the dark when it comes to their use in parts identification. AMS finds an industry hiding its light under a bushelFeatured in all digital ...
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ArticleCrisis? What crisis?
National boomAsset managementRevising the supplyRebalancing the lineRobot sourcingBigger flex and alcoholPetrol preferenceLocation, location, locationPersonal space issuesManufacturing – Argentina-styleNew credit laws have led to a boom in demand for new cars in Brazil, while Argentina is still on the rebound from the 2001 financial crisis. What does this mean for manufacturing ...
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ArticleNo strings attached
Realistic parametersFobs and flashesNo margin for errorZigBeeMesh networksBluetooth capacityPractical wireless control solutions for auto manufacturing and what the future holds for this technologyIt would be something of a finance officer’s dream if automated factories could be controlled from a central point. Whether it was onsite or, even better, remotely, it ...
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ArticleConnecting the network
A matter of choiceDifferent attributes for different networksChoosing one or the otherOpening the WindowsExploiting the gatewaysBenefits of integrationControlling the carriersDriving the devicesInstallation times are reducedCommunications systems are becoming increasingly standardised but there are still two distinct campsOne of the most fundamental factors shaping shop floor manufacturing operations in the automotive ...
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ArticleTier suppliers under pressure
Cost of raw materials is relentlessThe supplier base is shrinkingAssembly integrationLife’s a batchGetting up close and personalConsolidation could be the new trendThe economic downswing means that more than ever, Tier Ones in the automotive sector are fighting for business, but there are a few success stories out thereThe ongoing, and ...
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ArticleA desire named street car
A potential for frictionThe future is plasticPassing on the skillsTechology transferRunning a Grand Prix racing team is not a cheap exercise, but carmakers involved in this most elite of motor sports are counting on the spin-offs of technology transfer to their commercial productsThe link between racing teams and carmakers has ...
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ArticleSkills training
Raising the barUp-skilling the staffIn a world preoccupied with the principles of lean manufacturing, a new generation of the workforce has emerged that needs to be given the tools – through skills training – to meet an increasingly important roleAlmost a quarter of a million people are employed by the ...
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ArticleWasting away
Reduction is increasingBalancing the conflictWaste not, want notMetal and plasticFluids – the environment’s worst enemyUsing recycled materialsInformed workforceOutsourcing waste managementTough regulations on recycling are coming into force on an almost monthly basis, but for vehicle makers waste management is not a new idea. Some have been sorting the swarf from ...
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ArticleAdding a bit of local colour at Toyota
Localising TPSEuropean supplyLean productionOne model diversityPotential beyond YarisFocus on the localLevels of automationEnvironmental challengesDesign for the futureThe Toyota Production System is a global success thanks to its customisation on a local level, and nowhere is this more evident than at the company’s Valenciennes plant in France. AMS talks to TMMF ...
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ArticleEditor's Note: Is the US the new Mexico?
It used to be that carmakers were from a given country, an integral part of the national heritage. Every product announced how it was made with pride in towns full of hard-working people that lived and died the brand. You didn’t choose which company you worked for, your birthplace chose ...
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ArticleLiving in a material world
Lightweight end of lifeReinventing traditional materialsTime for magnesiumAdvances in steelPlastic potentialAerospace and automotive convergenceHybrid vehiclesEnd-user benefitDevelopments in alternative materials are driving change in the drivetrain and bringing benefits to an industry trying to reduce emissions and improve performance Talk to anyone involved in the automotive supply chain and chances are ...
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Article
Litre Meter ships 30,000th flow meter
Litre Meter, a leading UK manufacturer and supplier of custom fl ow meters, has shipped its 30,000th fl ow meter to tyre maker Michelin in North America. The LMH Pelton wheel fl ow meter was shipped to Michelin for use in its rubber mixing operation in South Carolina. Rubber is ...
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ArticleEnergy buffer for servo press machines
Some press machine manufacturers use highperformance servo motors as ram drives. These have short-term, high energy requirements for the targeted acceleration – which can lead to voltage dips in the power supply. To counteract these, Fanuc GE has developed ‘energy charge’ modules, which can buffer the energy and thus ensure ...
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ArticleAll-around sound from Bruel & Kjaer
Sound mapping in enclosed spaced, such as car and aircraft interiors, is set to become easier and quicker with Bruel & Kjaer’s new Spherical Beamforming system. Unlike other methods, which only map part of their surroundings, Spherical Beamforming provides a complete omnidirectional noise map. It is ideal for carrying out ...
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ArticleLeica Geosystems launches Absolute Tracker
Leica Geosystems - part of the worldwide Hexagon Measurement Technologies stable – has launched its new laser tracker. Known as the Absolute, it sets new metrology industry standards for accuracy, durability, portability and ease of use.The highly-advanced portable CMM weighs in at only 22kg and measures 62cm in height, making ...
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Article
Argus analyses 100 per cent real-time process data
For more than two decades, Perceptron has been helping its customers to manage their manufacturing processes using 100 per cent real-time data generated by its non-contact gauges. Now the company has introduced Argus, a solution for analysing 100 per cent real-time process data. The process of turning real-time data into ...
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ArticleMicro-Epsilon measures up with new laser sensor
A new high-performance laser sensor has been launched that is specifi cally designed for optical distance measurement with direct refl ecting materials, including highly polished metal, mirrored objects, glass and chrome-plated products. The optoNCDT 1700DR, developed by precision sensor manufacturer Micro-Epsilon, is the latest addition to the company’s existing optoNCDT1700 ...
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ArticlePotting and encapsulation costs reduced
A new way to encapsulate electric components and seal switches and wires in the electronics, automotive and aerospace industry has been developed by Power Adhesives of Basildon. Traditionally, the process involves the use of epoxy resins or silicone-based products. Power Adhesives, the UK’s leading manufacturer of hand-held hot melt adhesives ...
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ArticleVancron 40 – every time a winner
Uddeholm Vancron 40 is a unique PM tool steel that offers an excellent combination of galling resistance, adhesive wear resistance and low friction. This means that it is very suitable for coping with problems that might occur in powder compacting, cold extrusion, blanking and forming processes. Actual customer trials have ...
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ArticleGrinding down the expenses
Competitiveness is keyThe rise of CGIVersatility in productionEliminating filtration problemsCutting down machining timeSaving pays for new investmentThe process of reducing weightIn the ultra-competitive machining sector, the investment levels required to meet cost and quality demands are not for the faint-heartedThe automotive supply chain is investing heavily to retain and attract ...