Latest News & Features – Page 188
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ArticleSABIC supplies PC window for Ford’s MMLV
US – The multi-material lightweight vehicle (MMLV) features a polycarbonate (PC) glazing solution from the company’s Innovative Plastics business which reduces the weight of the rear window by 35% compared with a 2013 Ford Fusion.The lightweight concept vehicle was developed by Ford under the US Department of Energy Vehicle Technologies ...
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ArticleHams Hall ramps up for BMWi engine production
UK – A new facility has been developed within the Birmingham plant for production of the three-cylinder BMW TwinPower Turbo technology petrol engines, the first of a new generation to be built there. Powered by engines produced exclusively at Hams Hall, the first of BMW’s plug-in hybrid sports cars will ...
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ArticleSuper-fast Schuler press line starts production
Germany – Servoline L, which is suitable for the production of both steel and aluminium parts, including high-strength steel (HSS), is now operational at a premium car manufacturer. Reaching speeds of up to 23 strokes per minute, its maker says it is the fastest press line in the world.The compact ...
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ArticleChina: Powertrain suppliers expand
The rapid expansion of vehicle production in China has been accompanied by parallel growth in the operations of component manufacturers Engine component suppliers have received a notable boost in recent times by the establishment in China of premium-brand engine production operations alongside long-established vehicle manufacturing operations. BMW, Mercedes-Benz and ...
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ArticleNext-generation working environment
Ergonomic developments in the manufacturing workplace are boosting efficiency and productivity An ageing workforce coupled with the ever-present need to increase efficiency and achieve the perennial goal of doing more with less; growing product ranges and the increased complexity of parts and machines; the arrival of the next-generation workforce of ...
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ArticleCoating adhesion gauge
Elcometer has launched its new 510 automatic pull-off adhesion gauge. The company says the new gauge stores the cohesive and adhesive failure attributes, generates individual pull rate graphs for each test and allows users to set a maximum pull limit. The company says the unit will automatically measure and ...
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ArticleMicro TIG welder
The new MAWA-300A Linear DC micro TIG welder (arc welder) is suitable for joining conductive materials such as copper, coated wires, and dissimilar materials, claims Miyachi America. This unit produces welds with minimal heat affected zone by generating arcs between the workpiece and the tungsten electrode, says the company. Miyachi ...
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ArticleLinear inductive sensors
Pepperl+Fuchs has introduced two new PMI40 models to its family of PMI linear inductive sensors. The company says its PMI40-F90-U-V15 and PMI40-F90-I-V15 sensors offer a 40mm distance measurement suitable for vertical valve measurements. With these new models, PMI linear inductive sensors are now available with linear ranges of 14mm, 40mm, ...
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ArticleMazda2 production begins at Hofu
Japan – The model known as Mazda Demio in the domestic market has undergone a full redesign for the first time in seven years and is now rolling off the lines at the OEM’s plant in Yamaguchi, ahead of the sales launch this autumn.Like the Mazda CX-5, Mazda6 (Atenza) and ...
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ArticleHyundai’s Turkish plant produces 1 millionth unit
Turkey – The milestone vehicle which rolled off the line at Hyundai Assan Otomotiv Sanayi (HAOS) was an i10 destined for Germany. The model was added to the plant’s production line-up last year, joining the i20.The investment of $609m in 2013 doubled the capacity of the plant to 200,000 units. ...
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Article
British bodybuilding to benefit from streamlined approval
UK – A new process developed by the Department for Transport (DfT), Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) and Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) could bring a reduction in costs of £10m per year across the bodybuilding and conversion industry. The alternative National Small Series would result in an estimated ...
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ArticleSamsung SDI to supply more BMWi battery cells
South Korea – The memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two companies covers the i3 and i8 electric vehicles (EVs), plus future hybrid models, and will see increased quantities delivered over the medium term as well as further technological development.Since 2009, the partnership with Samsung has provided BMW with the ...
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ArticleHankook announces Mini and C-Class supply contracts
Germany – The first generation of BMW’s premium small car has featured Hankook tyres since 2011, but the 2014 version is now rolling off the assembly lines equipped in similar fashion. Meanwhile, Daimler has selected the company to provide tyres for its new C-Class model.Mini tyres of 15, 16 and ...
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ArticleContinental to supply second Maserati model
Germany – Following its first approval for Continental tyres last year, for the Quattroporte, Maserati has now approved ContiSportContact 5 for the Ghibli saloon. The tyre will be manufactured in eight sizes between 18 and 21 inches and marked with 'MGT' on the side wall to distinguish it from other ...
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ArticleAcura TLX manufacturing begins at Marysville
US – The mass-production launch for the TLX in Ohio means that over 90% of Acura vehicles sold in America will now be made within the region; first deliveries of the luxury sedan will occur in August.The 2015 TLX was designed, developed and engineered by R&D teams in Ohio and ...
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ArticleBritish Government spends £7.7m on new engineering centre
UK – The grant will go towards the establishment of a 55,000 sq.ft Central Research Laboratory (CRL) at the University of Brighton, boosting research into low-emission internal combustion engines (ICE), supporting high-tech and design-led manufacturing and commercialising the institution’s work.Since the 1990s, the university has worked on research projects with ...
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ArticleChattanooga to make VW’s new SUV
US – The OEM will invest $600m in the Tennessee plant as part of its $900m investment in the production of the seven-passenger SUV. The model will be the second built at Chattanooga after the Passat, with production beginning in late 2016.The midsize SUV, which is based on the CrossBlue ...
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ArticlePorsche Engineering teams up with Tongji University
China – The agreement between the two organisations, which was signed in Shanghai, will result in “extensive” co-operation in research, engineering and education. The partnership will mirror that between the Porsche Engineering subsidiary in Prague and the Czech Technical University, with joint activities in the fields of aerodynamics, thermodynamics, test ...
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ArticleWilliams Advanced Engineering unveils new facility
UK – The 3,800 sq.m R&D site in Grove, Oxfordshire, is the result of an £8m investment by the company over the past two years. The workshop has Formula One-inspired build bays which can be used for one-off projects or low-volume production and will accommodate up to 250 design engineers.At ...
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ArticleGM hands Cadillac leadership to de Nysschen
US – As president, John de Nysschen will be responsible for all aspects of Cadillac worldwide: sales; pricing and network development; strategic brand development and marketing; and product portfolio planning, including product engineering and design.Reporting to GM president Dan Ammann, de Nysschen will also join the leadership team as executive ...