FREMONT, CA--To meet its self-imposed Septembes deadline for the production of its Model 3 sedan, Tesla is planning to bypass prototyping and bring the vehicle directly to final production. Industry experts caution, however, that the approach poses assembly line risks and will cost millions in production equipment if it fails.
LITTLE FALLS, MN---Indiana-based Wabash National, which makes high-test, lightweight truck trailers, recently acquired the just-shuttered Larson Boat plant here and plans to invest $11 million to renovate and equip the facility. The company hopes to employ 70 people by 2019 and 100 or more within five years.
ANDERSON, IN—Automotive supplier NTK Precision Axle Corp. plans to expand its operations in Indiana by establishing a new axle assembly plant here. The company plans to create nearly 200 jobs over the next five years.
Taking tests and waiting with hope for positive results is a stressful activity that most people perform only when absolutely necessary. For wire-harness assemblers, it’s a daily challenge.
The door hinge is among the world’s most widely used devices. This common piece of hardware may seem simple, at first glance, but in fact, hinges offer a sophisticated range of functionality that design engineers can use to improve the operation of their assemblies.
Lightweighting is the No. 1 challenge facing automotive engineers today. Manufacturers are scrambling to build vehicles that contain a variety of weight-saving materials, such as aluminum, carbon-fiber composites, high-strength steel, magnesium and plastic.
Many important considerations in bolted joint development are often overlooked. While estimating the bolt tension achieved for a given tightening strategy is certainly a common focus, the effect of load on joint components is less fully discussed and understood.
DEARBORN, MI—Ford Motor Co. will invest $1.2 billion in three Michigan facilities to prepare for production of the all-new Ford Ranger and Bronco, and to support the company’s expansion into mobility. The company will invest $850 million to retool its Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne; $150 million in its Romeo Engine Plant; and $200 million to build a data center at the company’s Flat Rock Assembly Plant.
LINCOLN, AL—Honda will invest $85 million in its assembly plant here as part of a multiphase project to improve manufacturing flexibility, strengthen logistics, and prepare for future technologies.