All articles by Chris Ludwig – Page 4
-
Feature
Ten years in India: a look back at Tata Motors
This November 8-10th in Gurgaon will see the 10th Automotive Logistics India conference. To celebrate our first decade in this critically important market ahead of the conference, we’ll be looking back regularly at our coverage of the subcontinent over this time, with links back to features and analysis from ...
-
Feature
Slovakian plant wins Magna World Class Logistics awards
Magna International Europe has recognised three plants in its inaugural World Class Logistics awards, with Magna Slovteca, which produces mirrors, taking the top prize for a transformation project across its internal and external logistics operations.Magna Exteriors’ plant in Meerane, in eastern Germany, took second place in the awards for an ...
-
Feature
UK sets Brexit timetable as carmakers worry about market access
The UK government has laid out a timetable for exiting the European Union, which may come as early as the first quarter of 2019. It has also reaffirmed that it is willing to put control of immigration and regulation over retaining full access to the European single market – a ...
-
Feature
Last Mile: Another brick in the wall?
We should celebrate the breaking down of barriers in trade and business, not encourage their construction through stubborn rhetoric and isolationist policy.We may be re-entering an age of wall-building, whether towering in barbed-wire reality, or constructed by barricading political language. Often, such physical and rhetorical enclosures go together, cemented by ...
-
Feature
JLR part 2: The big cat is hunting for outbound efficiencies
Jaguar Land Rover has taken a lead in using in-vehicle technology and connectivity to improve outbound visibility, part of a recent programme of change and investment across the carmaker’s logistics[sta_anchor id="1"]Jaguar and Land Rover cars and SUVs are, by mandate of their brands, powerful and highly engineered creatures. Today, that ...
-
Feature
Niclas Mårtensson takes over as boss of Stena Lines
Niclas Mårtensson (left) has been appointed chief executive officer at European ferry and short-sea shipping operator Stena Line. The current chief executive, Carl-Johan Hagman, will resume his position as chairman of the Stena Line board and will also remain in the role as head of shipping at Stena.Mårtensson has more ...
-
Feature
Bertrand de Techtermann joins other logistics veterans at BCA
BCA, the used car auction and vehicle logistics provider, has appointed Bertrand de Techtermann to the newly created role of European operations director.De Techtermann joins BCA following more than 17 years in the automotive and vehicle logistics industry, most recently at Gefco Group, where he helped set up the company’s ...
-
Feature
Volkswagen to deepen common platform and component sharing across MAN and Scania
Volkswagen’s commercial vehicle brands, led by MAN and Scania, have confirmed plans to deepen integration of component and powertrain development across various segments, with common platforms across the companies and cross-production of some components for other brands.The integration, which will not affect current plant capacities or locations, continues the group’s ...
-
Feature
Michelin to build major tyre distribution centre in South Carolina
French Tyremaker Michelin has confirmed plans to build a highly automated, $270m distribution centre close to Spartanburg, South Carolina to store and deliver tyres for passenger vehicles, heavy trucks and agricultural equipment in North America.The distribution centre will include five buildings representing a total of around 3.3m sq.ft (306,600 sq.m), ...
-
Feature
Eberspächer expands supply network for western Europe and north Africa
Tier supplier Eberspächer is building an exhaust component plant in Tondela, Portugal in response to new orders among carmakers on the Iberian Peninsula and Morocco. The new plant will add incremental production capacity and allow shorter delivery compared to Eberspächer's existing production sites in Europe.The company has announced that a ...
-
Feature
Hyundai loses exports from South Korea over strikes
Hyundai Motor has been facing an all-out strike of its unionised workforce in South Korea after failing to reach a wage agreement, holding back the production of thousands of models destined for global export.The strikes, the first all-out industrial action Hyundai has faced in its home country since 2004, have ...
-
Feature
Gefco reports higher profits on modest revenue gains
Logistics provider Gefco Group has reported a strong growth in pre-tax earnings over the first half of 2016 compared to the same period last year, driven by recovery in the automotive industry in Europe, cost reduction initiatives and the acquisition of Dutch freight forwarder, IJS Global.Gefco, based in Paris and ...
-
Feature
Port of Calais expansion begins as France pledges to shut down The Jungle
Construction has officially begun on a major expansion of France’s port of Boulogne Calais, one of Europe’s busiest gateways for ferry and ro-ro traffic, and the major port for the exchange of goods between the European mainland and the UK. The €863m ($970m) project, dubbed Calais Port 2015, will ...
-
Feature
Global conference: Penske and Novelis close the loop on aluminium
One of the most significant shifts in the automotive supply chain over the past few years has been an increase in the use of aluminium in vehicle bodies. In North America, the most significant example has been for the Ford 150 truck, the best selling vehicle in the US at ...
-
Feature
Opel/Vauxhall: Stable & ready to launch
Following a period of transformation and improvements in production planning, Opel is on a product offensive. Director of logistics Andreas Graffe and outbound logistics manager Michael Gorny discuss the importance of ‘frontloading’ logistics to support it. In this story... Supporting change A stable supply chain Hitting the right slot Investing ...
-
Feature
Anita Pieper takes over BMW’s global vehicle logistics; Ulrich Wieland to lead design of production system
Anita Pieper is to take over as vice-president of vehicle distribution and vehicle distribution centres (VDCs) at BMW Group from September 1st. She will be responsible for global vehicle logistics, plant yard and port terminal operations. Pieper replaces Dr Ulrich Wieland, who has moved to a new role in strategy ...
-
Feature
JLR gets real about recycled aluminium loops
Jaguar Land Rover is taking steps to increase the amount of recycled aluminium it uses. Automotive Logistics finds out more… JLR's target is to use 75% recycled aluminium in its body structures by 2020Recycled material is playing a growing role in Jaguar Land Rover’s use of aluminium in its ...
-
Feature
Volkswagen & Audi in Mexico part 2: Everything in its right place
Audi Mexico’s upcoming plant at San José Chiapa has had logistics efficiency built into its core. Automotive Logistics talks to head of logistics and production control, Peter Koltai, about the evolution of the OEM’s first standalone factory outside Europe The 70km drive from Puebla to San José Chiapa takes ...
-
Feature
Russia conference: Light at the end of a long tunnel
We've seen a lot of changes at the Automotive Logistics Russia conferences over the years. Currently, it's less a case of 'winter is coming', more 'winter is here'. However, despite the bleak outlook, if automotive companies can weather the storm, the country is eventually expected to recover, write Christopher Ludwig ...
-
Feature
Ford Mexico part 1: A landmark investment gradually coming into focus
Aiming to double its engine and transmission capacity by 2018 and with ground to be broken on a $1.6 billion assembly plant, Ford Mexico is counting on a localised supply chain, closer logistics and reduced currency exposure to smooth its explosive growth plan By the second half of this year, ...