Latest News & Features – Page 166
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ArticleLotus hits 40,000 mark for small-car platform
UK – The milestone was reached 20 years after the company unveiled its Lotus Elise, which has continued to see developments in terms of weight and efficiency. The OEM hailed the “sheer production flexibility” of its small-car platform, which also forms the basis for the Exige, Europa, 2-Eleven, 340R and ...
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ArticleNissan Smyrna makes new Maxima
US – The start of production for the eighth-generation model comes 12 years after the first US-made Maxima rolled off the line at the OEM’s plant in Tennessee.“Today's launch of the all-new Maxima is the beginning of an exciting year for Nissan's US line-up, with new versions of the Altima, ...
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ArticleQuality hotspots in welding
The latest technology developments are boosting the quality control and monitoring of joining processesResistance spot welding is the most commonly applied process for joining thin metal sheet in automotive body structures, with a typical family car containing up to 5,000 spot welds. However, one aspect of the spot-welding process that ...
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ArticleSolihull produces 6 millionth Land Rover
UK – The Range Rover LWB Vogue SE was completed on April 2 at the company’s West Midlands plant, marking the 45th anniversary of Range Rover production. The landmark vehicle is destined for export to China, a growing market for the brand.Solihull has been producing Land Rover SUVs since 1948 ...
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Article2016 MX-5 Miata now made for North America
US – The model is available at three trim levels – Sport, Club and Grand – and the first vehicles are expected at dealers imminently, following the April 20 start of production. The first 1,000 cars will be Limited Edition.Described by its maker as “smaller, lighter and more focused”, the ...
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ArticleChrysler using 3D printing for axle development
US – Engineers at the Chrysler Technology Center (CTC) are now printing transparent plastic components for test purposes, providing Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) with a better understanding of axle durability and efficiency.In conventional methods of evaluating oil flow inside axles and pinion carriers, ‘windows’ are cut into the components so ...
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ArticleAllied to success
The collaboration between Renault, Nissan and Daimler continues to progress – but what makes it tick?Renault and Nissan established their cross-shareholding and wide-ranging alliance in 1999. It is now the most enduring international partnership between two major car companies in the modern automotive industry. Renault has a 43.4% stake in ...
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ArticleSmart scanning sensor with collaborative robot technology
AUTOSCAN are a series of industrial metrology products that bring automated 3D scanning and dimensional measurement to the shop-floor using the latest collaborative robot technology claims Perceptron. The company says AUTOSCAN’s self-teach programming capability allows the robot to be programmed quickly without the need for off-line software tools. All robot ...
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ArticleHeavy lifting collaborative robot
Fanuc says its CR-35iA collaborative robot uses integrated vision technology, iRVision, to ensure safety by automatically stopping when the robot touches a human operator. This removes the need for safety fences, a previous requirement for all industrial robots, increasing production efficiencies and enabling a higher level of automation, claims the ...
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ArticleFord to build new Mexican plants
Mexico – The engine facility in Chihuahua will be constructed within the OEM’s existing engine plant at a cost of $1.1 billion and will make a new gasoline unit; a further $200m will expand existing lines for I-4 and diesel engines. The $1.2 billion transmissions plant will be built at ...
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VW reaffirms faith in chairman
Germany – In a statement, the OEM’s executive committee of the supervisory board said that Martin Winterkorn was “the best possible chairman of the board of management for Volkswagen”.Amid reports of disagreements at the top, the vehicle-maker went on to say that Winterkorn would continue in his role “with the ...
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ArticleHonda Alabama starts automated engine assembly
US – The OEM’s new, $71.4m engine facility is supplying V6 units for the Honda Odyssey minivans, Pilot SUVs and Acura MDX luxury SUVs made at Lincoln, Alabama. Its more highly automated assembly process is being hailed by the vehicle-maker as “a breakthrough for Honda engine production in North America”.The ...
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Ford and DowAksa formalise carbon-fibre deal
US – The two companies have signed a joint development agreement to advance research on the cost-effective, high-volume production of carbon fibre for automotive applications. The partnership will combine Ford’s expertise in design, engineering and high-volume manufacturing with DowAksa’s feedstock capacity, carbon-fibre conversion and downstream intermediates.The collaboration will enable the ...
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McLaren and AkzoNobel extend partnership
UK – Entering its fifth year, the agreement will see the OEM’s technical partner continuing to provide high-performance coatings and paint solutions, including the development of colours for the McLaren Super Series, Ultimate Series and upcoming Sport Series.“We have a close relationship with each of our technical partners and suppliers ...
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ArticleToyota to realign North American operations
US – The OEM will spend $1 billion on a new plant in central Mexico and will also adapt its factories at Cambridge and Woodstock, Canada, to produce mid-sized vehicles of higher value. The recently announced plans will support the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) for achieving sustainable growth through ...
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ArticleMagneti Marelli’s Chinese expansion
China – The company has inaugurated a new lighting systems plant in Xiaogan, Hubei Province, and enlarged an electronic systems facility in Guangzhou, Guangdong. The total investment comes to around €36m ($40m).Operated by the Hubei Huazhong Magneti Marelli Automotive Lighting joint venture, the Xiaogan factory is located on a 44,000 ...
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ArticlePollock is McLaren’s new regional director, Europe
UK – A fresh recruit to the company, Jonathan Pollock assumes the role of regional director, Europe, and will report to Jolyon Nash, executive director – global sales and marketing.Pollock joins McLaren after more than 12 years in senior sales and marketing roles within Europe, most recently as sales director ...
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ArticleAston Martin installs Siemens plant system
UK – At the OEM’s facility in Gaydon, Warwickshire, Siemens SIMATIC WinCC SCADA has been implemented as a scalable process visualisation system to monitor and control all aspects of production.The system operates all equipment and provides instant access to important data such as trend logging of temperature curves in the ...
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ArticleSouth American sunset?
Sliding towards recession, Brazil and its neighbours no longer seem like such bright prospects for global vehicle-makers, which have made significant investments in what looked to be a highly promising marketVehicle-makers in South America, and especially Brazil, are having to take evasive action as the once-promising ‘Latin Tigers’ enter what ...
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ArticleBBAC compact-car plant opens
China – With the production launch of the GLA, Beijing Benz Automotive Corporation (BBAC) becomes the most comprehensive Mercedes-Benz car plant worldwide, turning out front- and rear-wheel drive vehicles plus engines. The GLA is the company’s first locally made compact car.Built in less than three years and stretching over 1.5m ...