All articles by Nick Holt – Page 20
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Article
Honda marks five years of production in Indiana
USA – Honda Manufacturing of Indiana (HMIN) in the USA celebrated its fifth anniversary of mass production in October.The facility was originally announced in 2006. Ground-breaking occurred the following year and it became Honda’s fourth plant in the US and seventh in North America.The company operates a twoshift operation at ...
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ArticleSkoda’s second-best seller reaches 1.5m mark
Czech Republic – Skoda has now manufactured 1.5m secondgeneration Fabias since 2007.The milestone 1.2 TDi rolled off the production line in September at the main factory in Mladá Boleslav, Czech Republic. The Fabia fi rst went on sale in 1999 and is the car-maker’s bestselling model after the Octavia, ...
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Article
LGR produces millionth Cadillac
USA – The millionth Cadillac built at the Lansing Grand River (LGR) assembly plant rolled off the production line in Michigan, Detroit, in September – an early model of the redesigned 2014 CTS Sedan.All CTS production takes place at LGR, which opened in 2001 and has built more Cadillacs than ...
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ArticleEcoBoost line hits 2m units
USA – Ford has surpassed the 2m unit mark with its EcoBoost engine line, which was launched in 2009.Production has increased from 65,000 per month in 2012 to 100,000 at present, with a target of 1.2m for the year. A Ford Escape powered by the two millionth EcoBoost, a ...
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ArticleVolvo receives approval for manufacturing in China
China – Government authorities have approved Volvo Cars’ bid to establish manufacturing plants in Daqing and Zhangjiakou meaning that Volvo Cars’ full Chinese industrial footprint (including Chengdu) has now been approved.The assembly plant in Daqing is under construction and the first pre-series cars will be built in late 2013 for ...
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ArticleStability in piston ring inspection
Keyence’s LK-G32 laser displacement sensors, used at the Trémery PSA factory to inspect piston rings, feature heads with small spots 30 microns in diameter (LK-G32) to inspect the scraper and compression rings, and two LK-G82 heads to detect the top ring, says the company. It claims they provide a sampling ...
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ArticleEditor's Note: Giant steps
One of the suggested causes of the extinction of the dinosaurs was an inability to adapt to changing circumstances (as well as a meteor strike), and it seemed a few years ago that the US auto industry might go the same way. Many observers criticised these giants of manufacturing for ...
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Article5-axis water jet cutting system
Featuring Permalign EDGE technology, the EDGE X-5 from Jet Edge is capable of cutting chamfers, weld bevels and 3D parts such as impeller blades, the company says. It adds that its industrial PC controller is designed specifically for 5-axis water jet cutting and the AquaVision Di controller’s open architecture design ...
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ArticleHigh-performance bio-based metalworking fluid
EcoLine metalworking fluid is a new bio-degradable, multi-functional product formulated by Cortec. The company says it combines the latest corrosion protection technology with environmental factors that make it suitable replacement for chlorinated products and hazardous mineral oils.Compared to conventional fluids EcoLine is said to have enhanced corrosion inhibiting and lubricity ...
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ArticleHigh-precision non-contact laser for gauging
AMETEK Solartron Metrology’s Orbit LTH laser triangulation unit is a non-contact laser for high-performance gauging which, the company says, delivers 0.02 F.S. (full scale) reading over 2 or 10mm measurement ranges. This yields accuracy up to .05μm with the 2mm stroke.The laser can be networked with up to 150 different ...
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ArticleEntry-level turn and mill machining centre
The new CTX beta 2000 TC is an addition to DMG MORI SEIKI’s CTX TC turning centre series, which the company says offers affordable entry into complete turn-mill machining of workpieces with turning lengths of up to 2,000mm.The work envelope will accommodate workpieces up to 550mm x 2,050mm and is ...
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ArticleDual-purpose robot joystick
Thompson Automation Systems claims its new joystick unit can transform a standard industrial robot into an intelligent manipulating tool. Rather than just performing pre-programmed automated tasks, it allows a regular robot to be manually guided through a series of routines with up to six degrees of freedom.The joystick features programmable ...
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ArticleNew car body framing solution able to accommodate up to 14 robots
ABB Robotics has launched a GateFramer robotic car body framing system, which enables up to six different car body variants to be framed on the same line by swapping gates that hold the tools for each car model.The company says this system offers a consistent gate exchange time of 18 ...
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ArticleSafety and sustainability linked up for efficiency
Kimberly-Clark Professional says manufacturers should consider safety and sustainability together, in order to maximise their performance in both areas.The company’s Efficient Workplace programme aims to help businesses eliminate hazards and enhance the sustainability of their operations by highlighting the best way to select, dispense, use and store equipment and supplies ...
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ArticleAutomatic rotary changer for laser robots
Developments to Trumpf’s TruLaser Robot 5020 include an automatic rotary changer with turning axis which allows the operator to set up the next part in the changer as another part is being welded, reducing downtime to a minimum.Safety light beams and a system of sensors protect the operator during set-up. ...
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ArticleHi-tech cutting tool material
Becker Diamantwerkzeuge has undertaken extensive tests allow it to use new laser technology for PCD compound cutting-tool materials, in addition to solid PCD diamond processing, it says.The company claims the use of laser technology in the production of cutting edges increases their lifetime twofold compared to the commonly used grinding ...
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Article
Jobs added on production anniversary for Nissan in US
USA – In conjunction with the recent 30th anniversary of its Smyrna, Vehicle Assembly Plant, Nissan has added more than 900 manufacturing jobs to support future production of the Rogue. This marks the first time it has been produced in the United States.Throughout the last 30 years, the Nissan Smyrna ...
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Article
Kia Sorento SXL represents 1m US-built vehicles
USA: Kia’s West Point, Georgia manufacturing facility saw the one-millionth vehicle – a Sorento SXL – roll off the assembly line.Representing an initial investment of $1 billion, mass production of the Sorento CUV began at the plant in 2009.A $100m expansion completed in early-2012 increased the plant's annual capacity ...
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ArticleSystem improvements in automated welding
An improved tandem welding process, with a new torch and matched QINEO tandem welding power sources, has been developed by Carl Cloos Schweisstechnik.The QINEO CHAMP AC generates an alternating current with a special pulse form for optimum control of the welding process.Also available is a laser hybrid welding and cutting ...
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ArticleCAM machining software additions
SolidCAM’s 2013 SP2 software has more than 100 new enhancements across all its modules, including the improved handling of large models, with faster facet generation resulting in reductions in programming time for big CAM-parts.In addition to this, the company says new toolbox operations have been added to the 2.5D milling ...