Latest News & Features – Page 175
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Lightweight tooling for automation lines
DE-STA-CO says it has added more than 150 parts to its Accelerate collection of lightweight tooling. The collection was expanded with additional options to increase automated press room stamping line speed.New elements include: Crossbar and tri-axis transfer press components Clamp blocks, T-clamps and parallel clamp Sheet metal gripper mounting brackets ...
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ArticleInterview: Gurpratap Boparai, Fiat India
Fiat's CEO for the region talks of launching new models at Ranjangaon, including vehicles for FCA brandsAMS: Start of production at Ranjangaon was in 2007. What was the installed capacity then, and has this increased?Gurpratap Boparai (GB): It has remained the same at 130,000 units per annum, but if we ...
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ArticleHonda's Indian future
The OEM hopes to transform its newest plant in the country, Tapukara, into a major regional production hubIn the case of Honda’s latest plant in India, at Tapukara, appearances can be deceptive. At the time AMS visited, this huge facility was largely underutilised, producing just one model, the Amaze (production ...
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ArticleNilsson to direct Aston Martin in Asia-Pacific
Indonesia – Patrik Nilsson, who has previously worked for Porsche and Koenigsegg, moves to the company from McLaren Automotive, where he was operations manager for Europe. As regional director, he will be based at the new Aston Martin offices in Singapore after a familiarisation period in the UK.Nilsson has experience ...
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Article
Lightweight tooling for automation lines
DE-STA-CO says it has added more than 150 parts to its Accelerate collection of lightweight tooling. The collection was expanded with additional options to increase automated press room stamping line speed.New elements include: Crossbar and tri-axis transfer press components Clamp blocks, T-clamps and parallel clamp Sheet metal gripper mounting brackets ...
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Article
Hyundai to build fourth and fifth Chinese plants
China –The completion of the new factories in Cangzhou and Chongqing by 2018 will raise to 1.65m the total annual capacity of Beijing Hyundai Motor Company (BHMC), the 50:50 joint venture between Hyundai and Beijing Automotive Industry Holding. Construction work will begin next year.The fourth plant, in Cangzhou, is due ...
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ArticleFallboehmer moves to BMW Hams Hall
UK – The new director of the engine plant in north Warwickshire will oversee the launch of volume production for next generation engines later this year, as well as continued manufacture of current products such as the three-cylinder power units for the BMW i8.Markus Fallboehmer joins Hams Hall from BMW’s ...
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ArticleMMVO reaches 100,000 units
Mexico – Mazda de Mexico Vehicle Operation (MMVO) hit the total 11 months after production began. The 100,000th unit was a Mazda2 (Mazda Demio in Japan) for export to Europe.“We see this achievement as a milestone on our road towards achieving our mission of making MMVO one of the most ...
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Article
Mazda production down at home, up abroad
Japan – Total domestic output dropped by 26.6% in November compared to the same period the year before, due to lower production of both passenger cars and commercial vehicles (CVs). Overseas output jumped by 40.7% year-on-year due to greater production of passenger vehicles.Domestic production comprised: 19,647 CX-5 units (down 24.2% ...
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ArticleFCA spends $266m on TorqueFlight at Kokomo
US – The investment will increase capacity for the eight-speed, fuel-efficient transmission, of which the plant made nearly 700,000 in the first 11 months of 2014 – up from 300,000 the year before.Capacity will be increased within the existing assembly floorspace at Kokomo Transmission Plant (KTP); the investment will go ...
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ArticleExpanded Metal buys new equipment
UK – The company has made a multimillion-pound investment in the latest metal expanding machines, ancillary processing machinery, storage and systems at its Hartlepool plant.The new equipment is already being used to make the company’s Exmesh Automotive range. Expanded Metal says these expanded metal and micro-mesh products are becoming “increasingly ...
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ArticleScania Oskarshamn now using new paintshop
Sweden – Housed in a five-storey building with a total area of 5,000 sq.m, the priming facility will enable production to increase from 60,000 to 80,000 truck cabs per year; Scania says SEK 400m ($49m) has been invested.The facility has a low environmental impact owing to its powder coating method, ...
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ArticleTurning India green
With automotive output rising, the country faces higher demands on energy and waste management India was the sixth-largest vehicle-producing country in the world in 2013, according to statistics from the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers. Moreover, global analyst IHS Automotive predicts that the country will move up to ...
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ArticleMitsubishi Okazaki hits 5m milestone
Japan – An Outlander PHEV was the 5 millionth vehicle produced since 1977 at the facility near Nagoya. The milestone unit was presented to Yasuhiro Uchida, mayor of Okazaki City, for use as a four-wheel-drive emergency vehicle during natural disasters.Located next to Mitsubishi’s global R&D centre, the 425,000 sq.m Okazaki ...
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ArticleMaruti: Inspired by Japan
By strengthening its focus on quality, the OEM aims to keep its 44% market share despite more competitionWith sales of over 1.15m vehicles during 2013-2014 – encompassing hatchbacks, sedans, vans and SUVs – Maruti Suzuki is by any standards a major carmaker. As its name indicates, Maruti Suzuki is a ...
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ArticleIndia: Two wheels still good
Unharmed by the economic downturn, manufacturers of motorcycles and scooters are now pressing ahead with plans to increase production – building new plants and expanding existing facilitiesThe biggest motorcycle and scooter market in the world is back at full throttle after surviving India’s economic slump of the last couple of ...
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ArticleBelt conveyor preheating oven
Grieve Corporation has introduced No. 827, a 400°F electric belt conveyor oven, currently in use for preheating automotive fabric panels at a customer’s facility.Workloads travel on top of a 30” wide, mesh Teflon-coated fiberglass conveyor belt with 1/4 HP motor drive, variable speed from 0.5 to 10 feet per ...
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ArticleRotary table workstation for laser marking
FOBA says it has introduced two laser marking workstations with 2-position rotary tables for the processing of geometrically complex work pieces of varying sizes and small and large batches of parts. The automated laser class 1 rotary table workstations M2000-R and M3000-R come with a programmable Z-axis and a 2-position ...
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ArticleFaurecia inaugurates seating plant at Wentzville
US – The $13m facility in Missouri, which started production in September, will support the component supplier’s GM business by making seats for the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon truck lines.In establishing its new, 81,844 sq.ft manufacturing site, Faurecia partnered with the Department of Economic Development and local institutions to ...
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ArticleWelding trainer for robot programmers
Virtual Welding Robotics from Fronius is now available to instructors to assist the training of robot programmers. The system shows the user whether they have programmed the robot correctly or if the welding torch was handled in the right way, says the company. A virtual instructor provides specific instructions as ...