All Materials articles – Page 8
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ArticleIndustrial balancing goes e-mobility
As EV makers develop smart-factories, efficient and flexible automation solution for balancing e-drives is at the top of the list, writes Schenck-USA’s Tarek El-Sawaf Increasingly better range and output values of electric power units and, above all, the more stringent environmental regulations for internal combustion engines are increasing the demand ...
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Article
Oxsilan expectations
Engineers from GM’s Orion plant in Michigan describe a successful conversion to a thin-film pretreatment from Chemetall The Surface Treatment global business unit of the Coatings division of BASF, operating under the Chemetall brand, sets out the story of the highly successful conversion and launch to full production of Oxsilan ...
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ArticleForging the deals
Ian Henry examines the key trends in the North American automotive supplier sector where technological progress and feisty trade policies continue to present a range of business challengesWith rapid technology change across the sector as the automotive market accelerates into the era of electrification, the uncertainty over the future of ...
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ArticleSpoilt for choice
Eight different models are made at DTNA’s Cleveland plant, and a high level of customisation means that thousands of options are available to customers. Michael Nash reports
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ArticleA bigger, bolder Belvidere
The transfer of the Jeep Cherokee production from Ohio to Illinois was the first part of FCA’s response to the growing demand for more SUVs. Mike Farish reportsOn 1 June last year production of the FCA Jeep Cherokee began at the company’s plant in Belvidere, Illinois, after transferring from its ...
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ArticleThe X Factor
As GM Fairfax gears up to build the new Cadillac XT4 alongside the existing Chevy Malibu sedan, Gareth Price travels to Kansas City to speaks to plant manager Bill Kulhanek about the new eraWhat sort of preparations have you had to make for the new process? Have there been any ...
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ArticleStratasys starts shipping 3D printer
Israel - The Fortus 380mc Carbon Fiber Edition was first previewed at the additive manufacturing event called Rapid 2018, and is now available to purchase for US$70,000. It is dubbed by the company as an "affordably priced additive manufacturing system dedicated for carbon-fiber-filled Nylon 12."The printer has already been used ...
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ArticleFrom prototype to production
The use of additive manufacturing technologies has now moved passed their initial application area of just ‘rapid prototyping’ While now seeing use in limited production roles, additive techniques are still being put to use in new and innovative ways as product development tools. One example is the Plastics 3D Printing ...
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ArticleBMW splashes on new plant
Hungary - The german carmaker has announced it will build an assembly plant in Hungary next year, near the town of Debrecen in the east of the country. Debrecen was selected because of the advantages it offered in terms of infrastructure, logistics connections and proximity to the supplier network. BMW ...
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ArticleFrom paper labels to smart materials
From the Internet of Things to Industry 4.0, manufacturing is changing. Paper labels no longer fit process complexities; what is required is optimal flexibility and quality assuranceFor 40 years, paper has been a trusted flag in manufacturing, providing sequential work instructions for operators. This simple visual cue has been the ...
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ArticleCSP invests in sheet molding
France - Continental Structural Plastics (CSP) has announced that it will install a new sheet molding compound (SMC) line at its facility in Pouance. Costing a total of €5.1m (US$6m), the line will allow the supplier to expand its range of advanced composite products made with both glass and carbon ...
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ArticleBenchtop dispensing robot
The Fisnar F4500N dispensing robot offers an expanded format of 500x500mm says Intertronics. Integrated with dispensing equipment from the company’s range, the robot can dispense beads, dots, arcs and infills in three dimensions, with a claimed positioning resolution of 0.001mm/axis.The company says that by adding the appropriate dispensing setup to ...
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ArticleThe problem with plastic
With automotive manufacturers looking at ever increasing levels of plastic-based materials content, Steed Webzell examines the challenges for machine shops Recent research suggests that by 2020 the average car will incorporate 350kg of plastic-based materials. As a result, the need for efficient and economic machining methods for plastics has ...
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ArticleMotoring on
Mike Farish reports on the development and manufacture of an innovative electric motorThe rise of electric vehicles and the need for new, efficient powertrain technologies has provided smaller companies with the opportunity to establish themselves as major players – particularly as component or sub-system suppliers – if they can offer ...
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ArticleSteel makes a strong case
With the push for powertrain electrification gaining strength producers of high-strength steel are preparing themselves to capitalise reports James Bakewell In 2017, global sales of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) reached 1.3m units, according to Frédéric Painchault, head of Global Automotive Marketing at steelmaker ...
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ArticleUniversal tap
The Garant MasterTap is a new universal tap from Hoffman. The company says this tool is suitable for use with a wide range of materials including steel, stainless steel, aluminium, brass and cast iron.The company claims the tap features a new geometry as well as optimised flutes, which it’s said ...
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ArticleThermal management for EV batteries
Henkel claims its thermal interface materials (TIMs) provide effective management of heat generated during charging and operation of the battery system. The company says that its Bergquist Gap Pad 1450 offers a solution to move heat away from Li-I cells and is suitable for fragile applications.According to Henkel its Bergquist ...
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ArticleMaterials handling transfer point solutions
Flexco says it offers a number of splicing and transfer point solutions to optimise belt conveyor performance. These include segmented transfer plates, which the company says are designed to accommodate both large and small gaps between transfers. It’s claimed the plates prevent product and foreign object debris from jamming in ...
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ArticleEV transmission
BorgWarner says its eGearDrive transmission has been designed for the emerging high-volume electric vehicle market and is featured in First Automotive Works (FAW) Group’s Besturn B30EV and Junpai A70E.The company says this transmission features an efficient helical gear train that offers quiet performance and it’s claimed can handle high input ...
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ArticleMass-spectroscopy instrument
Versaperm claims it has developed a new multi-chamber mass-spectroscopy based instrument that allows OEMs to identify and correct problems by measuring permeability for water vapour, air and hydrocarbons, and any other gas as well. The company says this system works on both complex components and assemblies as well as on ...