When Controls Converge: CNC,PLC & PC
Related: Automotive Production Digital Domain Related Suppliers FANUC America Corporation What’s happening in factory control these days? In a word:Â convergence. Many of the features that differentiated programmable logic controllers (PLCs) from computer numerical controllers (CNCs), CNCs from motion controllers, and all of those from industrial controllers based on personal computers (PCs), can now be found […]
Volkswagen’s PLM Strategy
On their third try, Oliver Riedel, director of Process Integration and Information Management at Volkswagen, and his colleagues were going to get it right and get it fast. The selection of a product lifecycle management (PLM) software supplier, that is. “This time, the complete evaluation period was slated to take only six months. We gave […]
Top 10 Intranet Deployment Considerations
Related: Digital Domain Intranets are all the rage these days for several good reasons. First, they unify multi-site operations, while simplifying and improving the quality of inter-departmental communications. Second, the collaborative computing provided through intranet and (typically free) browser technology is far less expensive than the $150-plus per desktop spent to implement proprietary-by-comparison Lotus Notes […]
The Toyota Concept-i: Driving 2030
The Toyota Calty notion of what a car in 2030 could look like. While it has autonomous capabilities, actual driving is still part of the Concept-i experience. The Concept-i was designed, according to Calty’s Ian Cartabiano, from the inside out. Note that the interior is clean, lacking the tablet-like screens that are proliferating in interiors, […]
Tires of the Future?
Related: Automotive Chassis Automotive Materials Rubber tires’ many inherent weaknesses—tread separation, dry rot and a complicated and time-consuming production process—all argue for the development of an alternative tire material. Attempts have been made. As far back as the 1950s tire companies were experimenting with making tires out of polyurethane, but they couldn’t concoct a formula […]
The CCV: Will This Change the Way Vehicles Are Manufactured
Related: Automotive Chassis Automotive Management Automotive Materials Automotive Production Automotive Supply Side In 1989 Fred Keller went to the massive international plastics exposition in Dusseldorf, K’89. He didn’t go as an interested visitor, although that is how he would ordinarily attend such events. Keller is chairman and CEO of Cascade Engineering, Inc. (Grand Rapids, MI), […]
The Changing Definition of ‘Niche Vehicles’
Scion was sold as an experiment to bring younger consumers into the Toyota fold while learning about their wants and desires. However, by placing three vehicles into a segment in which most OEMs would only put one, producing limited edition models, and encouraging aftermarket companies to supply unique items, Toyota also is learning lessons it […]
The Internet of Things
Dennis Hodges, CIO of Inteva Products, has plenty to smile about: responsive plant maintenance, worker safety, a modern ERP system that truly monitors and responds to the product floor, and low-cost IT operations. Related: Digital Domain Related Suppliers Plex Systems Dennis Hodges of Inteva Products (intevaproducts.com), doesn’t really use the term “Internet of Things†(IoT). […]
The 2017 Genesis G90: A Substantial Sedan
The 2017 Genesis G90 is an all-new platform. The vehicle is designed and engineered to compete with sedans including the Mercedes S-Class and the Lexus LS460—and to put the Genesis brand on the map in the luxury vehicle category. Plenty of wood, leather and technology. The driver’s seat can be adjusted 22 ways. The front […]
Taking the Weight Off With Hydroforming
Examples of some hydroformed parts produced by Schuler Inc. include the roof- bow for the Chevrolet Corvette. The part is produced in both aluminum and steel. An employee oversees a hydroforming press line at Schuler’s hydroforming plant in Canton, MI. The company’s automated production line produces approximately 600,000 hydroformed components each year. Previous Next Related: […]
