All articles by Steve Garnsey – Page 23
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FeatureHella plans mini-load facility in China
Automotive lighting system and electronic equipment producer Hella has announced it will be adding a warehouse to its base in Shanghai to bolster operations in China.The new unit will be an automated, six-aisle mini-load based facility with seven workstations and around 120,000 storage locations for inbound and outbound small parts, ...
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FeatureVW opens new base in California
Volkswagen Group of America has officially opened a second finished vehicle distribution centre in California, at the port of Benicia in San Francisco Bay.Vehicles will be staged there for 81 VW, Audi, Bentley and Porsche dealers in northern California, enhancing customer service and delivery times, the company said.Among the vehicles ...
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FeatureSchenker adds to automotive services
DB Schenker has announced plans to introduce 3D printing as well as storage and transport of lithium batteries to its core services for the automotive industry.The German logistics provider said it wanted to devote its energy to meeting the technological requirements of additive production and maintaining progress in the field ...
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FeatureRyder expands cross-border network in Texas
Third-party logistics provider Ryder System has opened a crossdock facility in Laredo, Texas. The new operation will primarily support cross-border shipments between the US and Mexico and automotive products will account for around 70% of its throughput.Situated less than 8km from the World Trade Bridge border crossing, the site incorporates ...
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FeatureBMW Spartanburg remains top US car exporter
BMW’s Spartanburg vehicle assembly plant in South Carolina remained the largest US automotive exporter by value last year, even though production there decreased.The factory turned out more than 371,280 cars during the year, 9.7% fewer than in 2016 because the X5/X6 assembly hall was shut down for four weeks during ...
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FeatureFaurecia to set up third plant in Missouri
French automotive parts maker Faurecia is building a new interiors production factory in Blue Springs, Missouri. Production of door panels and instrument panels is slated to begin later this year, ramping up to full production by the end of 2020.The new US plant will cost more than $60m to establish ...
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FeatureGestamp plans joint venture plant in Morocco
Spanish automotive parts manufacturer Gestamp has signed a joint venture agreement with Moroccan components manufacturer Tuyauto to set up a factory in the north African country.The companies plan to build the plant in the Kenitra free trade zone, next to the car assembly factory PSA is building there. Other key ...
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FeatureBMW to train technicians on US military base
BMW of North America will next week become the first premium automotive manufacturer to start training technicians on a US military base, according to partner Universal Technical Institute.The new BMW MSTEP (Military Service Technician Education Program) course on the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in California is intended for military ...
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FeaturePorsche turns to 3D printing
The division of German luxury car manufacturer Porsche dedicated to classic vehicles has started using 3D printers to produce rare parts that are only required in small quantities.With the Porsche Classic range consisting of around 52,000 parts, the potential for saving storage space and cost is huge, stated the OEM. ...
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FeatureKamaz to make its own fuel tanks
Russian truck manufacturer Kamaz is to start producing its own aluminium fuel tanks. The first vehicles fitted with them are expected to be on the road next year.The company will make the tanks on an automated line at its press and stamping plant in Naberezhnye Chelny, Republic of Tatarstan. The ...
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FeatureBridgestone launches sustainable procurement policy
Tyre manufacturer Bridgestone has introduced a global sustainable procurement policy to ensure compliance with environmental laws and regulations, respect for human rights and other considerations.The guidelines, announced on February 5th, are applicable to all purchased materials and services and to all suppliers globally, the Japanese company said. The policy will ...
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FeatureDaimler Trucks goes digital on spot freight
Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) is launching a digital platform for contracted freight carriers in the US to match them with the company’s spot loads.“To manufacture trucks, we need carriers to deliver components and parts to our plants,” said Lori Heino-Royer, director of business innovation at Daimler Trucks North America. ...
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FeatureScania and Northvolt partner on electrification
Truck and bus manufacturer Scania and battery technology developer Northvolt have agreed to work together to make batteries for heavy commercial vehicles.Scania is investing €10 m ($12.4m) to help Northvolt establish a demonstration line and research centre at Vaästerås, in Sweden. The companies will also form a joint team to ...
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FeatureEddie Aston takes over as MD of UKIN at Ceva
Eddie Aston (pictured) has been appointed managing director for the UK, Ireland and Nordic (UKIN) region at Ceva Logistics. He joins the supply chain management company from commercial van hire and leasing organisation Northgate, where he was UK managing director.He will be based at Ashby-de-la-Zouch and replaces Michael O’Donoghue, who ...
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FeatureMercedes automates tool selection for CLS
Mercedes-Benz has begun using an automated system to provide operation-specific screwdrivers to workers assembling the new, third-generation CLS at its Sindelfingen plant in Germany.The move is designed to provide staff with optimal support by supplying tools automatically along with the right order data and process parameters for the assigned vehicle, ...
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FeatureGroupe Cat appoints two new directors
Jean-Michel Floret has been made director of the vehicle logistics division at French finished vehicle logistics provider, Groupe Cat.His promotion to the executive committee follows the Paris-based company’s acquisition last year of STVA, the finished vehicle transport arm of French state-owned rail operator SNCF.Floret began his career at SNCF and ...
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FeatureToyota opts for digital planning
Toyota Motor Corporation is to switch to a cloud-based supply chain management system from a manual set-up, to manage its automotive demand and supply chain processes.The system, called RapidResponse, will unify the company’s global demand and supply planning between its sales and production divisions and help better manage vehicle and ...
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FeatureJapan trials truck platooning
Hino Motors, Isuzu Motors, Volvo group-owned UD Trucks and Daimler subsidiary Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus have begun highway testing of truck platooning in Japan, under a project backed by the government.Each platoon consists of three 12-metre trucks, spaced about 35 metres apart and driving at 80km/h on motorways near ...
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FeatureThird-party logistics: Future fields of opportunity?
As with most things in life, change is a constant in automotive logistics, but in finished vehicle distribution that doesn’t seem to hold as true. As one observer wryly comments about vehicle logistics: “The way of doing things is cemented because that’s how it’s always been done.”Being asset heavy, fewer ...
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FeatureSCH sees marked rise in throughput at Southampton
Southampton Cargo Handling (SCH) has reported processing 280,000 vehicles through the UK port of Southampton last year, up 27% on approximately 220,000 moved in 2016 when it exceeded 200,000 units for the first time.The company said 80% of vehicles handled there last year were for export.High and heavy ro-ro cargo ...