Latest News & Features – Page 136
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ArticleDaimler makes factory appointments
France/Germany – Serge Siebert replaces Joachim Betker as site manager of the smart plant in Hambach, with immediate effect. Betker is moving to Mercedes-Benz Bremen to become head of assembly for the Roadster SLC and SL.Siebert helped to pioneer the smart plant, known as ‘smartville’ for its innovative and lean ...
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ArticleAccessing 'hole' benefits
New drilling and boring tools for parts such as master brake cylinders and transmission switchgear housings are having a big impact on efficiency and can provide genuine competitive gainWhen it comes to engine, powertrain and brake system components, hole-making is a primary process that influences both quality and cost. With ...
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ArticleLightweight steering system
A plastic housing for mechanical steering systems has been developed by tedrive. The company says the housing design was developed specifically to meet the requirements of lightweight automotive concepts, achieving a weight saving of up to 40% compared with housings made from aluminium.The company claims this plastic housing is suitable ...
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Article
Voith constructs Coventry plant
UK – The new facility in Torrington Avenue will replace a 30-year-old operation in the same area and is aimed at meeting the needs of carmakers including Jaguar Land Rover and Vauxhall. A 90-metre assembly line has now been installed and is undergoing extensive commissioning.The first phase of the development ...
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ArticleMercedes-Benz Bremen gains new models
Germany – The factory will make the GLC coupe, and later this year the C-Class cabriolet, bringing its model line-up to ten vehicles. The move, which is part of a transformation plan announced in May 2015, will also see 200 temporary workers added to the permanent staff.“We are gaining further ...
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ArticleIntelligent sensor automation system
Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence claims its Senmation universal sensor interface enables the fully-automatic exchange of sensors within part programs. Based on a universal sensor switch and intelligent sensor module and directly integrated into the CMM quill, the system uses a mechanical loading system to engage the sensor without operator intervention. A ...
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ArticleSkoda strengthens Chinese operations
China – Volkswagen, SAIC Motor Corporation and Skoda Auto have signed a memorandum of understanding to expand the brand’s model range and invest in new automotive technologies. Subject to government approval, Skoda will acquire a stake in the joint venture SAIC Volkswagen.The development of Skoda’s model range in China will ...
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ArticleGear measuring technology
The P 16, P 26 and P 40 precision measuring machines from Klingelnberg are able to consistently deliver reliable measuring results in challenging ambient conditions, claims the company.All the measuring centres are equipped with new versions of calibration software, as well as a modern graphical user interface. The company says ...
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ArticleSkoda makes 1m third-gen Octavias
Czech Republic – The milestone vehicle, an Octavia Scout, was produced at the OEM’s main factory at Mladá Boleslav. The third generation was introduced in 2013; since the original launch in 1996, Skoda has made a total of 5m Octavias.The third-generation Octavia range includes the hatchback and estate in front-wheel ...
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ArticleKia reaches 2m milestone in America
US – The OEM’s plant at West Point, Georgia, turned out a 2016 Sorento SXL as its two-millionth unit, slightly over six years after the start of mass production. Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG) now makes over 40% of all Kia vehicles sold in the US.“Assembling 2m vehicles in less ...
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ArticleConnecting robots to CNC machines
Sinumerik 828D enables different types of robots from different manufacturers to be connected to CNC machines, claims Siemens. Using the Sinumerik Integrate Run MyRobot/EasyConnect interface, operators can synchronize processes between the machine tool and robots and the system also offers remote diagnosis of machine tools says the company.Sinumerik Integrate Access ...
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ArticleLight curtain for harsh environments
Sick claims its deTec4 Prime safety light curtain family is extra-rugged and suitable for harsh environments and wide machines. Possible applications in automotive manufacturing include multi-station component assembly lines or protecting long chassis body building stations on commercial vehicles.The company says the system features integrated laser alignment to simplify installation ...
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ArticleGM wins fifth EPA Energy Star award
US – The company was recognised by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its leadership in improving energy efficiency. Last year, GM reduced its energy consumption per vehicle by 5.6% at its US factories.“GM reinvested $7.4 billion to develop safer and more fuel-efficient vehicles with reduced emissions last year,” said ...
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ArticleNissan releases February production data
Japan – The OEM’s global output rose by 8.3% year-on-year to 414,239 units, the first increase in two months. This was driven by production outside Japan, which increased for the tenth consecutive month, this time by 11.2%, to 330,404 units.Production in Japan declined by 1.6% year-on-year to 83,835, the third ...
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ArticleTravel blog: The young ones
One of the most striking things about Bajaj Auto’s Chakan plant was how young most of the workers were. According to my guide around the factory, deputy general manager Sunil Deshpande, the average age of the workforce there is 24. Now, there is a suggestion that seeing everyone else as ...
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ArticleNissan shakes up North America management
US – The vehicle-maker announced a series of appointments across the US, Mexico and Canada as it enters the final year of its ‘Power 88’ mid-term business plan. The new postings are effective from April 1.“Today, we're announcing changes to our North American leadership team that will ensure our region's ...
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ArticleJaguar to hand-build XKSS supercars
UK – The OEM’s Classic division will use the knowledge gained during the Lightweight E-type project to make nine of the cars at its new Experimental Shop in Warwick. The vehicles will match the 1957 specification and replace those lost in the historic fire at the Browns Lane factory.The original ...
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ArticleFrançaise de Mécanique makes 300,000th PureTech
France – The PSA subsidiary in Douvrin assembled the milestone turbo PureTech three-cylinder petrol engine on March 19. The facility started making the engine type in March 2014 and now completes 6,450 per week.“Our PureTech petrol engine is a key factor in the success of the models it is fitted ...
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ArticleMercedes-Benz opens Iracemápolis plant
Brazil – Established at a cost of €600m ($683.2m), the new factory has a launch capacity of 20,000 units per year. The first car to roll off the line, 19 months after construction work began, was a C-Class saloon; from summer 2016, the plant will also make the GLA compact ...
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ArticleNissan to boost Qashqai capacity
UK – The OEM will modify Line 2 at its Sunderland plant, at a cost of £22m ($31.2m). The unspecified extra volume will be added by the end of the year, ahead of the next phase in Qashqai development in 2017, when the model will become the first Nissan in ...