Recently added articles from Automotive Industries:
A battle for hearts and minds
Oct 01, 2008; ... While editing the articles appearing in this edition of Automotive Industries, I was reminded of a conversation with a Volkswagen plant manager at the time of the ill-fated DaimlerChrysler marriage. He told me it wouldn't work because of the different production philosophies. Americans, he ...
Green power and interiors
Oct 01, 2008; ... Environmental concerns provide both challenges and opportunities for the auto industry. Showcasing some of the latest technology is Johnson Controls, with its I3 concept car. The vehicle targets the fast-growing, crossover-utility-vehicle or CUV segment, and addresses the growing ...
Gearing up for Automechanika Shanghai
Oct 01, 2008; ... The world's second largest Automechanika show is taking place this December. Automechanika Shanghai promises to be the best so far, with an extra 41,000m2 off exhibition floor space, totaling 92,000m^sup 2^. The exhibition will take place between 10 and 12 December at the Shanghai New ...
Efficiency for the future
Oct 01, 2008; ... Audi is committing major resources in order to continue improving fuel efficiency and reducing emissions. The A4 TDI concept introduced at the Paris Auto Show offers the typical experience of driving an Audi, yet uses Just 3.99 liters of fuel per 100 km (58.95 US mpg) corresponding to a C02 ...
Climate-neutral air conditioners fitted as standard
Oct 01, 2008; ... In September 2007, German OEMs belonging to the German Automotive Industry Association (VDA) decided to use natural, climate-neutral carbon dioxide (R744) as a cooling agent. Automotive Industries (Al) asked ixetic managing director Georg Wolf what effect the introduction of R744 as a ...
eCall to reduce roadway deaths
Oct 01, 2008; ... The European Union is promoting eCall to reduce the number of roadway fatalities by minimizing the response time when an accident has occurred. eCall is a combination of an In Vehicle System (IVS), a device with a GSM cell phone and GPS location capability, and a corresponding infrastructure of ...
In Pole position for investment
Oct 01, 2008; ... Poland is seen as one of the new hotspots for automotive investment. An Ernst & Young report recommends Poland as one of the best places to locate new factories in Europe. With an auto industry dating back to the 1920's, the country is already well known for auto component ...
CO2-free driving
Oct 01, 2008; ... Oil prices may be down at the time of writing, but the motor industry continues to gear up for the time when demand exceeds supply and the price at the pump stays high by developing ever more efficient engines. The drive for efficiency also comes from environmental concerns, and in their ...
At the cutting edge of die and tool manufacturing
Oct 01, 2008; ... Earlier this year, Swedish company, NovaCast Technologies acquired SwePart Verktyg, Scandinavia's leading die manufacturer, from the Norwegian Bandak Group In a combined cash and shares bid. The acquisition is expected to help NovaCast push the popularity of its Camito process for the production ...
Changing gears in transmission design
Oct 01, 2008; ... Transmission design is becoming more challenging - and interesting - as manufacturers gear up to cater for a growing variety of power plants and hybrid vehicles. One of the leaders in the field is Getrag. Its PowerShift transmission was first fitted to the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X, ...
Building in quality
Oct 01, 2008; ... Quality is a key factor when it comes to engineering and manufacturing components, structures and complete seats for commercial vehicles, and Keiper has been doing it for 88 years. Automotive Industries (Al) spoke to Joachim Thamm, vice president Central Quality at Keiper, and asked him what the ...
How a supplier can boost OEM productivity
Oct 01, 2008; ... As the North American automobile Industry scrambles for financing to cope with the recession and restructuring for a markst which is buying smaller, lower-margin vehicles, KUKA Systems is demonstrating how greater supplier financial participation might be one solution. KUKA is the ...
Scuderi Air-Hybrid Engine reaching significant development milestones
Oct 01, 2008; ... A model of the valve train of what is expected to bo the world's moot fuel efficient Internal combustion engine - the Scuderi Air-Hybrid Engine - was on display at the Engine Expo In Stuttgart, Germany, in May this year. Automotive Industries (Al) caught up with Sal Scuderi, president of ...
Life after R134a in automotive air conditioning
Oct 01, 2008; ... Suppliers are preparing for 2011,when European Union regulations will ban the use of R134a in vehicle air conditioning units. Automotive Industries (Al) spoke to Japanese based Sanden Corporation about the implications. Sanden, one of the leading suppliers of automotive air conditioners ...
Innovation goes mainstream
Oct 01, 2008; ... Opel's latest world ear is the Insignia which was designed and engineered at General Motor's Europe's site in Rüsselshelm, where it is also being built. Aimed at the mid-size segment, the Insignia replaces the Opel Vectra. Launched at the 2008 London Motor Show, the new ear will hit dealerships ...
Putting all the parts in one box
Oct 01, 2008; ... Fiat is in the process of integrating the purchasing function of all its sectors around the world. This has seen the creation of Fiat Group Purchasing Offices in centers such as New Delhi, India. Fiat's Suppliers System plays a fundamental role in ensuring the competitiveness of the Fiat ...
Keeping the cabin clean
Oct 01, 2008; ... Motorists are becoming increasingly concerned about the quality of the air inside the cabins of their vehicles. The majority of today's vehicles are fitted with cabin air filters by Freudenberg Vliesstoffe KG. The company introduced cabin air filters to German automobile manufacturers in ...
Seeing clearly, safely and stylishly
Oct 01, 2008; ... Automotive glass has become an integrated part of design, with innovations in its manufacture creating new opportunities. These innovations are part of the OEM tool-kit as manufacturers strive to meet consumer demand for greater comfort, safety and audacious designs. One of the leaders ...
Facing the challenges of managing technology
Oct 01, 2008; ... Management of technology is a critical factor for any Industry, and particularly for the automotive industry. Christoph H. Loch, Professor of Technology Management and Dean of the PhD Program at the international business school INSEAD, has researched the challenge extensively. In his ...
FlexRay making connections
Oct 01, 2008; ... An important milestone was passed by the FlexRay standard with the launch of the first transceiver to pass the FlexRay Physical Layer Conformance Test by the Philips-founded semiconductor company NXP. The transceiver, called the TJA 108OA, will allow carmakers to introduce advanced ...