Latest News & Features – Page 198
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ArticleMagna Closures grows in Dortec
Canada – The latching technology division of Magna International is expanding its manufacturing facility to produce electronic systems and modules for the automotive industry. The $1.5m investment will also boost the workforce by 75 personnel.Manufacturing activities at the site will focus on electronic closure modules for power closure and roof ...
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ArticleDaimler breaks ground at Sebes transmissions site
Romania – The upcoming assembly plant will handle the new Mercedes-Benz 9G-TRONIC nine-speed automatic transmission from 2016. The total investment at Sebes, amounting to €300m ($414m), will involve the creation of a 500-strong workforce.Automatic transmissions for Mercedes-Benz are manufactured in the production network operated by the OEM’s Untertürkheim plant in ...
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ArticleInterview with Renault's EVP, Manufacturing & Supply Chain
Jose-Vicente De Los Mozos Obispo, head of worldwide Manufacturing for Renault, RSM & Dacia, discusses plans for production plants in Europe and further afield, including China Glenn Brooks (GB): Could you give an overview of the Renault Group’s European manufacturing operations? Jose-Vicente De Los Mozos Obispo (J-V O): We have ...
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ArticleBASF and TODA partner for Li-ion battery materials
Japan – The two companies will establish a joint venture focused on the production, marketing and sales of the cathode active materials (CAM) used for lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries in electric vehicles (EVs). This will include nickel cobalt aluminium oxide (NCA), lithium manganese oxide (LMO) and nickel cobalt manganese (NCM).Under the ...
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Schlemmer buys majority share of HOPPE
Germany – The acquisition of the 75% stake, which was formally agreed in March, sees the Schlemmer Group growing to comprise 20 companies and 23 manufacturing sites. Schlemmer will integrate the product segment of the injection-moulding specialist into its own portfolio, leveraging common ground in the area of air and ...
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ArticleContinental buys Zytek Automotive
UK – Effective from February 3, the tyre supplier has taken full ownership of its former 50:50 joint venture, which is based in Fradley, UK and has a 150-strong workforce. Zytek will now operate as part of Continental Engineering Services (CES), providing engineering services to cover the chassis, interior and ...
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ArticleToyota taps landfill gas for green power
USA – Toyota will use gas generated from a landfill site close to its factory in Georgetown, Kentucky, to power vehicle production. The gas is created as the solid landfill waste breaks down. This is then captured in a network of wells and used to fuel electricity generators. The power ...
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ArticleSunderland’s automotive sector to grow in 2014
UK – There were a number of major investments made by Nissan, TRW and Gestamp in their Sunderland operations during 2013. Nissan invested £750m in a new model launch programme which will see the Note, Qashqai and electric powered LEAF models being produced in Sunderland. In addition, the Japanese OEM ...
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ArticleJLR installs solar panels at engine plant
UK – More than 21,000 photovoltaic panels, with a capacity of 5.8MW, have been fixed to the roof of the OEM’s new Engine Manufacturing Centre at i54 South Staffordshire, in what is claimed to be the largest array in the country.The system will generate over 30% of the facility’s energy ...
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WebinarAutodesk: A step towards a digital factory model
A factory changeover is the wrong time to identify interferences and issues with your factory layout. Problems at this stage can be expensive and lead to production delays. The solution is to create a single digital model of your factory, building upon familiar 2D layout techniques and adding 3D factory ...
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ArticleNesselhauf to lead DICV
India – Daimler Trucks announced three senior appointments effective from June 1. Erich Nesselhauf, currently head of Supplier Management and Logistics Trucks Asia India, will become managing director and CEO of Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV). His predecessor, Marc Llistosella, will lead the reorganised Marketing, Sales and Aftersales, Trucks Asia ...
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ArticleWatch BMW making the i3
BMW has spent €400m on expanding its production plant in Leipzig so that its new, “born electric” models can be made in a simpler and more modern way than conventional vehicles. However, the innovation doesn't start there but at the OEM's JV in Moses Lake, US, which makes the carbon ...
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ArticleBridgestone starts work on Ulyanovsk Oblast plant
Russia – The facility is scheduled to become operational in the first half of 2016, when it will produce passenger car radial tyres, including winter tyres, for the Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Capacity is expected to reach 12,000 units per day by the second half of ...
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ArticleInterview with Kenichiro Saruwatari, Mazda Motor Europe
Mazda Motor Europe’s new vice-president of R&D, Kenichiro Saruwatari, leads a team of 80 engineers at its R&D centre in Oberursel, Germany. He took up his post in February, after spending almost five years as programme manager at Mazda Motor Corporation’s Product Division in Japan. Saruwatari joined the company in ...
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ArticleChina’s production power continues
It is impossible to overestimate the importance of China to global carmakers. Growth in the country has continued unabated, with total vehicle sales hitting 20mIt’s only going to get bigger. Global analyst IHS Automotive forecasts production within China to reach 30m by 2020, up from 22m vehicles last year, and ...
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ArticleRenewable energy for manufacturing
Andrew Williams looks at examples of renewable energy sources being adopted by OEMs, the type of technology used to generate power and the emissions reduction resultsNissan MexicoAn innovative energy project has recently been completed by Nissan Mexico at its Aguascalientes 1 manufacturing plant, which generates power from two separate renewable ...
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ArticleDaimler acquires lithium-ion battery manufacturers
Germany – The vehicle-maker will become the sole owner of Li-Tec Battery and Deutsche ACCUmotive after buying all of the shares held by Evonik (50.1% and 10% respectively). Details of the acquisition have not been released. Daimler and Evonik previously collaborated on developing the serial production of lithium-ion battery cells ...
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ArticleHankook’s Ventus S1 evo2 set for BMW 4-Series Coupe
Germany – The UHP tyre will be fitted as original equipment after Hankook was selected by BMW as a supplier for its new model. The tyres will be provided in size 225/50 R 17 W.The 4-Series Coupe will be the sixth BMW model to be produced with Hankook tyres, after ...
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ArticleHow an i3 is born
At a cost of €400m, BMW has expanded in Leipzig so that its new, “born electric” models can be made in a simpler and more modern way than conventional vehiclesIn this article...CFRP productionMaking thermoplasticsBodyshopBody assemblyDrivetrain assemblyMarriage and final assemblyWhat does the future of mobility look like? BMW asked itself this ...
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Daihatsu announces new COPEN technology
Japan – The structure of the updated COPEN, called the ‘D-Frame’, will consist of an advanced framework of resin outer body panels, providing rigidity but also freedom of materials and design. The DRESSFORMATION interior and exterior components can be selected by customers to suit their preferences.The new-concept D-Frame chassis, with ...