Automotive Assembly

Articles about assembly technologies and trends in the automotive industry.

ASSEMBLY Capital Spending Report 2018: Spending Increases due to Economic Growth and Tax-Cuts

The past year brought blockbuster headlines for U.S. manufacturing. Taiwanese electronics giant Foxconn unveiled plans to build a $10 billion assembly plant in Wisconsin that would make liquid-crystal display panels and employ as many as 13,000 people.

2018 Assembly Plant of the Year: Ford Shifts Flexible Assembly Into High Gear

One of the top transmission assembly plants in the world is Ford Motor Co.'s Van Dyke facility in Sterling Heights, MI. It's part of a network of Ford factories that mass-produce axles, engines and other power train components used in the company's cars and trucks.

State of the Profession 2018: Smart Factories Demand Smarter Engineers

Increasing demand for smart devices and embedded intelligence is driving manufacturers in a variety of industries to invest in new production tools and technologies. Additive manufacturing, advanced sensors, augmented reality, cloud-based computing, collaborative robots and digital twins are just a few of the many trends transforming factory floors today.

Processing Thick Cables

Special equipment is needed to cut, strip and terminate large-diameter wire and cable

John Sprovieri

July 19, 2019

No Comments

About 2 million electric vehicles were sold worldwide in 2018, a whopping 57 percent increase over 2017, according to consulting firm Research and Markets. Some 69 percent of those were battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and 31 percent were plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).

Tugger AGVs Rejuvenate AER Engine Production

Jim Camillo

July 18, 2019

No Comments

When a customer learns that his car's engine needs to be replaced, the shop mechanic typically mentions three options, new, rebuilt or remanufactured, with the latter two being much less expensive because they contain new and recycled parts.

Handheld Wire Crimping Tools

Automatic crimping systems may get the glamour, but handheld tools are the perfect choice when the project involves small to medium wire, limited production runs or tight working spaces

Jim Camillo

July 17, 2019

No Comments

To the general public, the term handheld is synonymous with mobility. But, to assemblers of wire harnesses, the term also refers to tools that offer simplicity, reliability and accuracy.

Automotive Supplier to Build $55 Million Assembly Plant in Detroit

July 16, 2019

No Comments

DETROIT—Automotive supplier Dakkota Integrated Systems plans to build a $55 million assembly plant here to produce parts for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.

LG Chem Mulls Second US EV Battery Plant

July 16, 2019

No Comments

SEOUL—LG Chem is considering building a second U.S. factory to make batteries for electric vehicles.

Mazda Toyota Alters Production Plan for New Alabama Plant

July 16, 2019

No Comments

HUNTSVILLE, AL—A joint venture between Mazda and Toyota is altering its plans for a new assembly plant being built here.

BMW, Daimler initiatives drive high-volume metallic 3D printing

Austin Weber

July 11, 2019

No Comments

Automotive engineers are intrigued by the numerous benefits of metal additive manufacturing for applications ranging from seat brackets to under-the-hood components.

The Detroit Three Say Goodbye to Cars

John Sprovieri

July 10, 2019

No Comments

In April, Ford Motor Co. announced that it would stop selling the Taurus, Fusion, Fiesta and C-Max passenger cars, leaving only the Mustang to be sold in North America.

Additive Manufacturing: The Quest for Automation

Robots and other tools are key to mass-producing printed parts

Austin Weber

July 9, 2019

No Comments

Plastic injection molding, metal casting and metal stamping are age-old processes that form the backbone of manufacturing. Traditionally, there's no better way to mass-produce plastic or metal parts.

Ford Will Close Six European Plants as Part of Global Downsizing

July 9, 2019

No Comments

DETROIT—Ford Motor Co. recently announced that it will eliminate about 20 percent of its workforce across Europe and close six factories in a sweeping overhaul aimed at reviving the money-losing region as the company also moves to prepare for the future of electric and self-driving cars.

More Articles Tagged with 'Automotive Assembly'

IMAGE GALLERIES

Behind the Scenes at Ford's Michigan Assembly Plant

People are the heart and soul of the 2012 Assembly Plant of the Year. This slideshow shows some of the men and women who build three different types of electrified vehicles alongside traditional gas-powered cars on the auto industry’s most flexible assembly line—Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, MI. Photos courtesy Ford Motor Co.