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Plant Documentation 4.0: An ‘essential enabler’ for Industry 4.0

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LiveDOK software suite from Rösberg makes plant data available digitally to engineers and plant operators, and can be administered, searched and corrected in real time.

Specialist articles on Industry 4.0 generally emphasise the feasibility of consistent, intelligent networking of machines, processes and personnel.

However, one aspect that is often overlooked is that digitalised plants can only be reliably managed if available documentation reflects the current status of the production processes. [Read more…] about Plant Documentation 4.0: An ‘essential enabler’ for Industry 4.0

Thomson moves Swedish manufacturing operations to larger facility to ‘make room for continued business growth’

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Thomson Industries, a provider of linear motion control solutions, is moving its Kristianstad, Sweden, operations into a larger space to meet what it says is “growing demand” for its motion control technology.

The Kristianstad plant has been a steadily growing supplier of Thomson electric linear actuators and linear motion systems to European customers and is on track for further growth. The new facility is larger, more advanced and will effectively support future business growth.

Peter Swahn, site manager, Thomson Industries, says: “Strict adherence to safety, quality, delivery, inventory management and productivity excellence has fuelled our success, so much so that we have outgrown our facilities. [Read more…] about Thomson moves Swedish manufacturing operations to larger facility to ‘make room for continued business growth’

BMW unveils first battery cell coating line at Leipzig factory

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BMW Group Plant Leipzig’s first cell coating line has gone into series operation as e-component production at the site continues to gain momentum.

By 2024 the two existing module assembly lines will be complemented by a third, as well as four more cell coating lines and two more high-voltage battery assembly lines. The four coating lines will enter series operation during the course of this year at roughly two-month intervals.

Markus Fallböhmer, head of battery production at the BMW Group, says: “From 2024 our plant here in Leipzig will be able to run the entire process chain for high-voltage battery production. [Read more…] about BMW unveils first battery cell coating line at Leipzig factory

Manufactured in the metaverse: Mercedes-Benz designs virtual factories with Nvidia Omniverse

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Building state-of-the-art factories requires a state-of-the art planning system.

Mercedes-Benz is taking the next step in digitizing its production process, using the Nvidia Omniverse platform to design and plan manufacturing and assembly facilities.

By tapping into Nvidia AI and metaverse technologies, the automaker can create feedback loops to reduce waste, decrease energy consumption and continuously enhance quality. [Read more…] about Manufactured in the metaverse: Mercedes-Benz designs virtual factories with Nvidia Omniverse

Forvia increases logistics productivity with fleet of MiR robots

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Forvia, an automotive technology company, says it has increased its logistics productivity, strengthened stability of production processes and decreased safety risks with a fleet of robots from Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR).

The return of investment from the 14 autonomous mobile robots (AMR) working in the Faurecia Clean Mobility plant in Písek, Czech Republic, was less than two years.

Seven of Forvia’s heavy duty MiR robots, mainly MiR600s, work in finished goods, bringing empty pallets to the assembly lines and picking up full pallets to transport to the logistics area. The second area, where MiR250 robots operate, moves components from the warehouse to assembly lines. The robots in the plant work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, covering all three operation shifts. [Read more…] about Forvia increases logistics productivity with fleet of MiR robots

Unigel installs first industrial-scale green hydrogen production site in Brazil using ThyssenKrupp technology

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Unigel has built the first industrial-scale green hydrogen plant in Brazil.

The company, which is one of the largest chemical companies in Latin America and the largest manufacturer of nitrogen fertilizers in Brazil, has invested a total of $120 million in the development of the production site for green hydrogen.

In the first phase of the project, Unigel installed three 20 MW standard electrolyzers from ThyssenKrupp Nucera, adding up to a total capacity of 60 MW. The plant will feed one of the largest green ammonia plants by capacity when it starts its production. [Read more…] about Unigel installs first industrial-scale green hydrogen production site in Brazil using ThyssenKrupp technology

Volvo Group to establish battery production plant in Sweden

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The Volvo Group has initiated the process to establish a large-scale production plant for battery cells in Sweden.

The company says the initiative is designed to meet “the growing demand for battery electric heavy-duty vehicles and machines”.

Martin Lundstedt, president and CEO of the Volvo Group, says: “We aim to lead the transition to a decarbonized transport system and have the long-term ambition to offer our customers solutions that are 100 percent fossil free. [Read more…] about Volvo Group to establish battery production plant in Sweden

AGCO’s Massey Ferguson plant produces one-millionth tractor

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AGCO, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of agricultural machinery, is celebrating the production of the one-millionth tractor at its Massey Ferguson Beauvais plant.

The company says this “significant milestone” coincides with the company’s 175th anniversary. Massey Ferguson has been manufacturing tractors in Beauvais, France since November 20, 1960.

Darren Parker, vice president of Massey Ferguson, North America, says: “2022 is a year of milestone celebrations for Massey Ferguson. We applaud the hard work and dedication of our colleagues in Beauvais to produce our one-millionth tractor. [Read more…] about AGCO’s Massey Ferguson plant produces one-millionth tractor

DMG MORI building Africa’s first machine tool factory

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DMG MORI, a manufacturing technology company with 12,000 employees in 87 countries and $2 billion in annual sales revenues, is building what it says is “Africa’s first machine tool factory” in Cairo, Egypt.

The decision was formally made at a meeting with Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. In the presence of Prime Minister Dr Mostafa Madbouly, the company’s chairman, Christian Thönes, and AOI President Lt Gen Abdel Moneam Al Tarras signed the “pioneering cooperation agreement”.

Christian Thönes, chairman of DMG MORI Aktiengesellschaft, says:“Egypt is the door to Africa – a continent full of potential and high demand for future technologies. [Read more…] about DMG MORI building Africa’s first machine tool factory

Honda begins construction of new electric vehicle production plant

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Honda has started the construction of its new electric vehicle production plant in China. Honda, originally a Japanese company, was wholly acquired by Guangzhou Automobile Group in 2017.

Honda Motor (China) Investment, a wholly-owned Honda subsidiary in China, announced that GAC Honda Automobile, (GAC Honda), a Honda automobile production and sales joint venture in China, began construction of its new EV plant, taking a forward step in establishing a suitable EV production system and capability in preparation for an increase in the number of EV models in its product lineup.

GAC Honda’s dedicated EV production plant will be newly constructed on a lot with the size of 400,000 sq m within the Guangzhou Economic and Technological Development District, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, China. The plant is targeted to begin operation in 2024 with an annual production capacity of 120,000 units. [Read more…] about Honda begins construction of new electric vehicle production plant