All Closures and consolidation articles – Page 3
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ArticleFCA–PSA fusion: first of the electric shock waves?
The merger attempt by FCA and PSA will be complicated but makes economic and operational sense, including for manufacturing efficiency. Whether or not it goes ahead, more consolidation is likely as the automotive industry gears up for electrification
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NewsDyson scraps plans to build electric vehicles
In a statement posted on the company’s website, founder James Dyson said that ”the Dyson Board has taken the very difficult decision to propose the closure of our automotive project.” The company had failed to make the project “commercially viable”, the statement explained, and attempts to find a buyer had ...
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VoiceWeight out, strength in
A strategic alliance between Henkel and RLE International is exploring the lightweighting innovations available when combining expertise in structural foam technology and engineering design. David Caro and Tobias Wigand describe the findings
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ArticleGreater expectations: brighter days will return for the automotive industry
Although automotive OEMs will face years of stagnant vehicle sales, a stronger recovery thereafter will bring growth back up to long run averages and herald a return to stronger profits. By then, however, the industry is likely to have undergone further consolidation.
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ArticleStaying on track
FCA’s restructuring has proved successful and the Jeep brand continues to prosper with new models on the way, but there are still challenges to overcome. Ian Henry reports
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ArticleCanada feels the chill
Trading challenges and dwindling investment is putting Canada’s automotive manufacturers under pressure.
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ArticleMade in Wales
Nick Gibbs reports on the opening of Aston Martin’s SUV plant in South Wales, all set to build the new DBX
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ArticleHitting the reset button
Given the scale and scope of its current restructuring programme, a very different Ford will eventually emerge. Ian Henry looks into the changes being made With one part or another of its shrinking global empire subject to significant change in terms of organisation or product focus, Ford ...
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ArticleHonda closure deals blow to UK
Honda has announced plans to close its Swindon plant at the end of the current model’s production lifecycle in 2021. The statement, which was published on the company’s website, refers to the changing nature of the global auto industry and Honda’s “commitment to electrified cars” as the main reasons behind ...
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ArticleAsia’s other powerhouse
Already a dynamic and rapidly growing manufacturing hub, South-East Asia’s automotive industry is finding further opportunity in the growth of battery and hybrid vehicle production Two nations dominate South-East Asia vehicle production, namely Thailand (approximately 2m units per annum (upa)) and Indonesia (c1.1m upa). There is one mid-sized producer ...
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ArticleClean and tidy
Coherent-ROFIN’s Frank Gäbler describes how the CleanWeld process can garner greater results in fibre laser welding While automotive manufacturers have successfully employed fibre lasers in metal welding for over a decade, efforts still continue to improve their utility and extend the results they deliver in terms of part ...
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ArticleSchaeffler to shut two UK plants
UK - Global automotive supplier Schaeffler has announced the closure of two plants. The first is located in Llanelli, Wales, and houses the production of mechanical tappets and bearings for car makers. The other is in Plymouth, England, where spindle bearings and machine parts for the company’s industrial division are ...
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ArticleFord Bridgend makes petrol engines
UK - The OEM has started production of its new three-cylinder 1.5-litre EcoBoost petrol engines at the Bridgend plant in South Wales. This follows on from an investment of £100m (US$128m) in the facility. “I’m personally very proud to see production start of this all-new engine, here in Bridgend,” commented ...
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ArticleVW to suspend lines for WLTP update
VW Group CEO Herbert DiessGermany - Volkswagen must plan for temporary production closures at the main plant in Wolfsburg to allow a changeover to new laboratory test cycles on fuel consumption and emissions from passenger cars.The Group CEO Herbert Diess announced the expected disruption at a works meeting, and ...
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ArticleMagna opens aluminium casting facility
UK - The supplier has opened a new aluminium casting facility in Telford, England, in order to provide structural castings to Jaguar Land Rover. The facility covers 225,000 sq.m and will employ around 300 people."With this new aluminium casting facility, we have established a world-class centre of excellence to bring ...
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ArticleConstellium provides aluminium for CLS
Netherlands - The supplier has announced that its Surfalex aluminium is being used in the Mercedes-Benz CLS, which went on sale in March 2018. The material is used for outer trunk lid panels and fenders."Constellium is proud to contribute to the new Mercedes-Benz CLS with our Surfalex® aluminium solutions," explained ...
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ArticleExact and to the point
inos took on the task of integrating a new gap and flush system into an existing production line shared by two separate and distinct vehiclesAs modern vehicle design responds to the customers’ growing expectations on fit and finish quality, the demand grows for increasing sophistication in manufacturing techniques. Semi- or ...
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ArticleNew workholding system
The latest One-Lok clamping system from Chick Workholding is available in two sizes – 400mm or 500mm long, offering maximum gripping lengths of 180mm and 280mm respectively. The company says further improvements include a lowering of the clamp profile from 150mm to 134mm, which allows longer spindle travel in the ...
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ArticleStandard bearers
A current programme run by the International Automotive Task Force is looking to revise the technical specification IATF16949, the published standard informing quality management across the automotive industry worldwideThe concept of quality management is now a well-established aspect of all forms of business. It essentially denotes implementing a system of ...
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ArticleTaking control
With the growth in automated assembly applications comes a demand for quality data and improved insightsThe prevalent dimensional control strategy of the automotive industry has been to incorporate various in-line and near-line measurement devices into production lines. Different approaches have been successfully implemented, from a few single cells along the ...