All Press and stamping articles – Page 22
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ArticleThe Indian juggernaut
Mercedes-Benz – the road to full manufacturingBMW looks to local marketsGM launches second plant in TalegaonFord undertakes powertrain expansionMahindra & Mahindra goes globalBajaj Auto’s new-age philosophyAs carmakers and suppliers around the world re-assess their position in the global market and adjust to economic uncertainty, India’s key automotive players have plans ...
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ArticleSafety comes first
Different safety needs for automationSelf-installation systemWithout the right level of protection, assembly can be a hazardous place. Thankfully there is a plethora of barrier-free innovations designed to make even the most automated lines safe for all workersFor all its benefits, it is easy to forget that with automation comes the ...
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ArticleLaser-sharp products
A full range of products on showGiving a flawless appearanceCutting maintenance costsThis year’s Euroblech exhibition, running from 21-25 October in Hanover, Germany, will again be the world’s leading sheet metalworking show. A preview of some of the products and services that will be shownMore than 140 companies, from Italy, Taiwan ...
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ArticleMaking the best of India
Turning Tata aroundNew challengesGlobal reachWhat India lacks in infrastructure it makes up for in engineering talent and resourceful enthusiasm. In this first of two reports on the region, AMS looks at Tata Motors and talks to Eric Vas about the manufacturing challenges of this rapidly growing marketAs one drives through ...
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ArticleFit for automated purpose
Greater product varietyDevelopments in weldingReprogrammable robotic devicesClose co-operation between user and supplierThere was a time when ‘hard’ automation – tailor-made, dedicated installations – was the trend, but things are moving to a more flexible approachIt appears that the use of robots in the automotive manufacturing sector is entering an unpredictable ...
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ArticleKeep on rolling
Conveyors should be seen as fixturesCapacity issues caused problemsSkid system used as a bufferHigh flexibility and rapid cycle timesConveyors can seem a humdrum type of factory equipment - a moving track transporting a load from one place to another within a production environment. The operational variables also seem straightforward – ...
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ArticleCrisis? What crisis?
National boomAsset managementRevising the supplyRebalancing the lineRobot sourcingBigger flex and alcoholPetrol preferenceLocation, location, locationPersonal space issuesManufacturing – Argentina-styleNew credit laws have led to a boom in demand for new cars in Brazil, while Argentina is still on the rebound from the 2001 financial crisis. What does this mean for manufacturing ...
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ArticleTier suppliers under pressure
Cost of raw materials is relentlessThe supplier base is shrinkingAssembly integrationLife’s a batchGetting up close and personalConsolidation could be the new trendThe economic downswing means that more than ever, Tier Ones in the automotive sector are fighting for business, but there are a few success stories out thereThe ongoing, and ...
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ArticleWasting away
Reduction is increasingBalancing the conflictWaste not, want notMetal and plasticFluids – the environment’s worst enemyUsing recycled materialsInformed workforceOutsourcing waste managementTough regulations on recycling are coming into force on an almost monthly basis, but for vehicle makers waste management is not a new idea. Some have been sorting the swarf from ...
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ArticleAdding a bit of local colour at Toyota
Localising TPSEuropean supplyLean productionOne model diversityPotential beyond YarisFocus on the localLevels of automationEnvironmental challengesDesign for the futureThe Toyota Production System is a global success thanks to its customisation on a local level, and nowhere is this more evident than at the company’s Valenciennes plant in France. AMS talks to TMMF ...
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ArticleWired into automation
This year’s METAV show will take place from March 31-April 4. The trade fair is the largest international technology showcase in Germany and features the latest in manufacturing technology and automationThe 2008 edition of the METAV show should be very attractive for both visitors and exhibitors, as it coincides with ...
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ArticleHinrichs wants a revolution in robotics
Forefront of efficiencyCompetitive operatingPriorities for recoveryThe role of robotsQuality gainsPlanning and programmingParamount safetyRobot wish listJoe Hinrichs has got a wish list. He wants to see robots on the shopfloor that will revolutionise productivity and offer new levels of skilled automation and safety. AMS talks to him about the future of ...
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ArticleFrom strength to strength
A future for steelSteel innovationsFlat carbon steelQuiet SteelSmooth high strengthCross-car beamSteel solutionsSpecialist high-strength steels are helping engineers and designers save weight while meeting stringent performance and safety targetsWhen you talk to carmakers around the world the theme of high-strength steels as the preferred material for carmakers in terms of performance, ...
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ArticleDigital modelling for stamping
Life-cycle harmonyDecision drivers and dependencies in vehicle development life cycleTechnology enablersHolistic benefitsVirtual die technology embraced in the past decade has grown by quantum leaps, and those who embraced the technology in the early stages of its development are starting to realise superiority in competitiveness, productivity and profit margins.Stamping dies are ...
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ArticleHigh stakes and great expectations
Processes are digitally unifiedWork sharing from a global perspectiveVirtual assessment roomsFord’s virtual builds win plauditsProduct development cycles are reducedPressure pointsLean is the new themeDigital manufacturing is only now coming in to its own, and carmakers are using the virtual factory to assist in reducing time to market of products.But this ...
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ArticleCogniTens Optigo RE for 3D measurement
CogniTens has introduced its new Optigo RE model incorporating new optical 3D textured-light-based measurement technology and software. Optigo RE offers fl exible measurement volumes allowing full or partial measurement on small to large objects including body side panels and large stamping dies. Optigo RE serves primarily as a reliable shop ...
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ArticleLaw and order at Lexus
Continuous improvement in KyushuQuality policeMiyata complexInnovations on the lineIts fight for the title of No. 1 global carmaker is putting pressure on the Toyota Production System, but if any incentive were needed for further improvements in quality, it can be found in the Miyata Lexus complex in KyushuThe Toyota Production ...
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ArticleSimulation helps you get it right
By using the correct simulation software prior to the whole stamping process being carried out, OEMs can make cost savings by reducing engineering, manufacturing and tryout time, thus remaining competitive in a saturated global marketThe challenges of BIW manufacturingSimulation is your way to get it right, every timeA closer look ...
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ArticleGreat shakes in the Great Lakes
Ontario has the honour of being the largest automotive production hub in North America, with a vibrant economy and a regional government that is very proactive in attracting investors to the regionMajor investments made in OntarioBig players in the supplier sectorLinking and private sector and research facilitiesSuppliers a vital part ...
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ArticleFinding a second home
With the right expertise in house, using pre-owned presses or reconditioned robots keeps costs down and means less of an impact on the planet. AMS looks at the pros and cons of the second hand marketMultipurpose pressesRefurbishing the robotGrowing the low endNew combinationsProblem productsSelling whole plantsGoing where the action isMarket ...