All Press and stamping articles – Page 18
-
ArticleChina's carmakers balance demand and labour costs
Lines and equipmentSmart platform strategiesGAC - building from partnershipsBody-in-white and paintshop policiesPowertrain strategiesBrilliance Auto Group was ‘approved’ by the government of Liaoning province in 2002 and at the last estimate has US$4.85 billion in assets and 35,000 employees. The company has two brands, Jinbei and Brilliance. Jinbei is one of ...
-
ArticleBlue oval goes green in India
When the Ford India Sanand plant is completed in 2014 , it will have a capacity to produce 300,000 passenger cars per year. The existing Chennai plant and this newly developed plant have joint production capacity of 500,000 units per year with a capability to further expand to meet cycle ...
-
ArticleGreat and global
Simon Duval Smith interviews Hu Shujie, Great Wall Motor’s vice-president of manufacturing about transplant strategies and machinery choicesGreat Wall Motor (GWM), one of China’s leading privately-owned domestic carmakers, is most likely to continue to grow despite a slight downturn in demand that started in 2012. GWM showed great agility in ...
-
Article
Making the grade with steel CHECK INTRO - SAME AS OTHER STORY
Steel makers are developing new grades and coatings that can help the automotive industry reduce weight without compromising safetyThere is a significant need within the automotive industry to find ways of increasing safety in a crash situation, using lightweight designs,” explains Anke Meyer, marketing manager at SSAB. One of the ...
-
Article
Steel crazy after all these years CHECK INTRO - DUPLICATE WITH OTHER STORY
Steelmakers are developing innovative new processes and coatings to meet changing demandsThere is a significant need within the automotive industry to find ways of increasing safety in a crash situation, using lightweight designs,” explains Anke Meyer, marketing manager at SSAB. One of the solutions is electro-galvanised steels such as SSAB’s ...
-
ArticlePressing matters
Mark Venables reveals how continued innovation in the manufacture, properties and application of new steel grades is evolving vehicle structuresThe steel used in automotive production today bears little resemblance to that used 20 or even 10 years ago. This ubiquitous material has been continually re-invented, engineering new grades and gauges. ...
-
ArticleRising to a challenge for Honda
Innovations in small car manufacturingSmall cars, big profits Glenn Brooks discovers how a well-timed product launch and strong leadership helped Honda recover from the effects of the 2011 earthquake.On April 8, 2011, Honda’s president and CEO, Takanobu Ito, addressed the company’s associates (employees), promising that the firm would restart operations ...
-
Article
GM appoints Jim Glynn as vice-president
USA – General Motors has appointed Jim Glynn as GM North America Labor Relations vice-president.Most recently Glynn was GM North America Manufacturing manager, leading operations at 10 vehicle assembly, powertrain, metal stamping and battery assembly plants.He succeeds Cathy Clegg, who is now Global Manufacturing Engineering vice-president.www.ford.com
-
ArticleExpending to save
Mark Venables reports on how OEMs are controlling their energy use throughout the manufacturing process using a combination of increased visualisation and energy efficient equipmentOEMs have been trying to reduce the input costs of energy by generating their own through co-generation plants, solar panels and wind turbines. This generation drive ...
-
WebinarNew trends in the process chain hot forming
Modern automobiles have to satisfy the latest crash test standards. One way to achieve this is using high tensile strength steels in the passenger compartment. Laser technology is used throughout the press hardening process, due to its versatility in multiple applications.One of the new trends in hot forming is the ...
-
ArticleLightweight luxury
With lightweighting in vehicle construction being a hot topic, AMS visited longtime aluminium users Jaguar at the company’s Castle Bromwich facility to see how they produce luxury cars from this materialJaguar’s new all-aluminium sports car, the F-Type, has been making the headlines recently, but it’s only the most recent vehicle ...
-
Article
Ultra high-strength, electro-galvanized steel for the automotive industry
Docol 1400 MZE is the next generation of ultra high-strength steels from SSAB. The company says these new steels are stronger, safer and lighter, and come with a corrosion resistant electro-galvanized coating. They represent the strongest UHSS steels that SSAB produces for the automotive industry and achieve the balance between ...
-
ArticleLooking East: five OEMs in Russia
Renault-NissanAvtoVAZFord-SollersVolkswagenGeneral MotorsRussia’s automotive market has grown rapidly in recent years, both in sales and manufacturing. AMS looks at the activities of OEM’s expanding into the country.Renault-NissanThe French manufacturer has been keen to develop its presence in Russia given the potential of the market. As such the company has made strong ...
-
ArticleRussian revolution for GAZ
Restructuring for the futureCommercial successIn-house component productionCustomer-based benchmarkingContract manufacturingInvestment and upgradingRussia’s automotive industry has seen something of a renaissance since its Soviet guise was consigned to history. GAZ, famous for its trucks and Volga and Chaika cars, is re-establishing itself as a car maker through contract manufacturing with VW, GM ...
-
ArticleGM Europe – the group in profile
Around the region – plants and plansEllesmere Port – a true union successKaiserslautern – engines and alloysGeneral Motors Europe AG, a subsidiary of the global group, was established by GM in 1986 and has operated up to 14 production and assembly facilities in nine countries, and employed around 54,500 people. ...
-
Article
UHSS brings electric light
Crash courseBattery changeMore steel = less weightUHSS offers the scope to save weight on electric vehicles. A report on ArcelorMittal’s updated S-in motion project with an electric car BIW exercise.Electric vehicles (EV) present automotive designers with a whole new set of challenges. The powertrain – including the batteries – is ...
-
ArticleManufacturing with UHSS
Definition and familiesProduction methodsUsage – where and when?Joining and fasteningHigher strengthCorrosive influenceElectric lightThe pressure on reduce weight, while maintaining strength and improving safety, continues to drive the development and usage of advanced materials. Along with engineering plastics, engineered metals are enjoying a raised profile and being employed in more areas ...
-
ArticleAutomation stamps out inefficiency
The automation of stamping lines, presses and conveyor systems presents a three-fold challenge. According to Siemens, key issues include funding a sizeable investment; maintaining a longterm technology commitment; and utilising customised applications in lieu of off-the-shelf designs. Ensuring efficient production means providing the right foundation for automated systems. After all, ...
-
ArticleNew stamping ground with the latest technologies
Revolutionising toolmakingStamping is a process where every second counts. A time lag of 0.1 second may sound tiny, but multiplied over thousands of parts a week, over many years, the cost can be considerable. The range of solutions in this technology area has evolved tremendously and today comprises everything from ...
-
ArticleGoing from local to global in Brazil
Model behaviourFreeing up tradeSheet metal solutionsThe global experienceLocal challengesGM expansionSomething for the future?Moving forwardVarious factors allowed the Brazilian economy to maintain a steady course of growth through the otherwise global economic downturn of 2008 and 2009. For its part, the national government of former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva ...