All articles by Steve Garnsey – Page 22
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FeatureToyota accelerates use of hydrogen at Motomachi
Toyota has deployed 20 more fuel cell forklifts at its Motomachi assembly plant in Japan, along with a hydrogen station for refuelling.Used to move parts and goods around the factory, the lift trucks join two older fuel cell forklifts with a lift capacity of 2.5 tonnes that were introduced 14 ...
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FeatureACEA warns of assembly line stoppages after Brexit
Whole production lines could come to halt in the automotive industry, if customs checks are introduced after Britain leaves the EU, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) has warned.The sector body issued its warning ahead of a summit on March 22nd at which EU leaders (minus the UK), are expected ...
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FeatureGM starts producing self-driving Cruise in Michigan
General Motors is beginning to manufacture production versions of its Cruise autonomous vehicle (AV) after building more than 200 test vehicles in the past 15 months to develop self-driving technology.The bulk of the assembly will take place in GM’s Orion Township factory in Michigan, which also makes the Chevrolet Bolt ...
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FeatureKerry appoints commercial director for Europe
Birte Schulz (pictured) has joined third-party logistics provider Kerry Logistics as commercial director Europe, with responsibility for managing sales and key account management in ten countries.Based at the company’s head office in Hamburg, Germany, she will also be instrumental in strategic planning of customer development in line with the 3PL’s ...
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FeatureDana and GKN to combine powertrain operations
US tier one supplier Dana and British engineering company GKN have agreed to bring their two powertrain businesses together in a $6.1 billion deal.Dana and GKN said the combined business, which had pro forma sales of $13.4 billion last year, would be the global leader in vehicle drive systems across ...
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FeatureSeko announces major expansion in Mexico
Automotive logistics services provider Seko Logistics is enlarging its presence in Mexico by setting up operations in six locations alongside its new distribution centre in the country.As a first phase of expansion, the company is establishing offices in Mexico City, Monterrey city, Toluca city and Queretaro state, as well as ...
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FeatureTrump’s tariffs draw further fire
Further criticism has been voiced over President Donald Trump’s plans to impose import tariffs of 25% on steel and 10% on aluminium from other countries, except Nafta partners Canada and Mexico.Following widespread condemnation of the plans last week – which saw concerns raised by groups such as the Motor & ...
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FeaturePenske speaks out on maintenance issues
Penske Truck Leasing has implemented a new voice-directed digital maintenance system for its North American fleet of more than 266,000 vehicles.The move will help it improve accuracy and consistency, reduce paperwork and ensure regulatory compliance, according to the Pennsylvania-based third-party logistics provider.The new approach also allows it to care for ...
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FeatureMazda and Toyota set up JV for Huntsville car plant
Japanese carmakers Mazda and Toyota have formally established a 50:50 joint venture (JV) company, Mazda Toyota Manufacturing USA (MTMUS), which will be the legal entity behind an assembly plant to be built at a site in Huntsville, Alabama (pictured).The two OEMs are spending $1.6 billion on a factory that will ...
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FeatureKuehne + Nagel launches sea freight platforms
Logistics services provider Kuehne + Nagel (KN) has launched two new platforms this month that is said would let its customers manage their global ocean-bound supply chains more effectively.The KN ESP supply chain management system lets customers connect with their own vendors, buyers and sellers, and cargo flows, as well ...
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FeatureArconic-Köfém starts work on new wheel plant
Arconic-Köfém has broken ground on a €105m ($130m) truck wheel factory in Székesfehérvár, Hungary. Operations are scheduled to begin at the end of 2019 and the new factory should create around 200 jobs.The new plant will allow parent company Arconic to double its production capacity, over time, of European-made forged ...
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FeatureVollmer takes production and logistics role at Seat
From July 1st, Christian Vollmer will be the OEM’s new vice-president for production and logistics, leading the management of its three factories at Martorell, El Prat de Llobregat and Barcelona in Spain. He will also promote strategies relating to environmental sustainability and the challenges of future mobility, as part of ...
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FeatureTrump’s tariffs condemned at home and abroad
Automotive industry players, from parts makers through OEMs to dealers, have been unanimous in their condemnation of President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on steel and aluminium.If implemented, the duties could lead to more expensive components and vehicles, less investment in new products and car plants, and the loss of jobs ...
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FeatureCarmakers oppose Thai cuts to car import tariffs
Thailand’s automotive manufacturers have said that a suggested cut to duties on imports of cars from 80% to 40% threatens the industry’s slow recovery of recent years.Implementation would put jobs at risk and could disrupt Thailand’s drive to become a regional carmaking centre, according to the Federation of Thai Industries’ ...
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FeatureContinental to build seventh factory in Hungary
Tier one parts manufacturer Continental is to construct a plant in Hungary to expand its presence in the country and its overall production of sensors, actuators and transmission control units.The ground-breaking ceremony at a greenfield site in Debrecen is scheduled for the third quarter of this year, with the German ...
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FeatureArcelorMittal opens $83m blanking plant in US
The factory in Detroit, Michigan, will produce laser-welded steel blanks. These will be stamped and assembled into a variety of auto parts, such as structural rails, door rings, door pillars, door inners and cowl sides.By combining previously separate steel sheet parts, usually of differing thicknesses, a hot-stamped laser-welded blank is ...
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FeatureThyssenkrupp unveils Hungarian plant
The automotive components manufacturer has opened a €100m ($123m) factory in Jászfényszaru, 70km east of Budapest, to meet growing demand for electric power steering and valve train systems from German and international OEMs. As production is ramped up in the coming months, up to 500 new jobs will be created.The ...
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Feature"No gain" from Brexit for UK automotive says government committee
Divergence from the EU’s regulatory regime post-Brexit will only bring extra costs and no potential benefits for the UK’s export-led automotive industry, said a British Parliament committee.“The automotive sector in Europe is heavily integrated, with highly complex and efficient supply chains relying on the friction-free transfer of components across the ...
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FeatureGM looks to expand volumes at Rosario
General Motors (GM) is working on plans to increase imports and exports of cars through the port of Rosario in Santa Fe, Argentina, following a successful trial late last year.During the trial, the carmaker imported 1,162 Chevrolets, comprising Onix, its sedan variant, and Prisma from Brazil, as well as the ...
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FeatureKrone opens new spare parts DC in Germany
Krone Commercial Vehicle Group has opened a central logistics centre in Herzlake, about 35km from the Dutch border in north-west Germany, to meet current and future demand for spare parts from the commercial vehicle sector.The new distribution centre (DC) expands the service offering to customers throughout Europe and is a ...