As the second-largest producer of automobiles in the world, second to China, we saw the U.S. auto industry post the “…fourth-biggest year on record thanks to December gains” (rubbernews.com); worldwide, there were some 70.5 million cars produced (statista.com).This year’s overview article by Kevin Tynan of Bloomberg Intelligence contends that “…the global automobile Read More
Fail-Safe Door Latch
An auto supplier discusses digitizing the door latch Despite increasing levels of digitalization, cars are still equipped with lock cylinders to ensure the door can be unlocked at any given time. Kiekert’s ReactiWake locking system guarantees this on a purely electronic level, thus creating new opportunities in vehicle design and operating concept. Besides reduction in Read More
Designing the Semi-Truck of the Future
An emerging design revolution is profoundly affecting the look and feel of one of the most iconic manufactured products on the American scene – the semi-truck.Few products have more economic importance than commercial trucks, which carry approximately 70 percent of the goods delivered in the United States. Yet until recently, few products have evolved as slowly – in both Read More
Software: The Road to Zero Defects
Reducing the risk of automotive defects is one of the most critical issues facing manufacturers today – to protect the well-being of consumers, as well as their own reputations and financial health. Leading automotive companies are intensifying their efforts toward achieving a “zero defects” goal, an extraordinarily ambitious objective given the rapidly growing diversity and Read More
Leak Testing: Key to Future
Why leak testing is vital to an EV future The future belongs to electromobility. The number of EV / HEV (electric / hybrid electric) vehicles is growing continuously. The heart of an electric vehicle is its battery. In the manufacture of traction batteries, special attention is given to quality assurance because the batteries contain combustible electrolytes and must also Read More
Plan to Expand
Major shifts inside Jenoptik include automation hub in North America ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. -- German metrology developer Jenoptik is shifting "from focusing on metrology and laser processing standalone equipment to integrated automation solutions for the automotive industry and other new applications, including aerospace," so it recently bought Prodomax Automation in Barrie, Read More