Sectors

Jaguar Land Rover seek Saudi partnership

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 15:42:36 +0530

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), the UK's leading manufacturer of premium vehicles has signed a letter of intent which it is hoped will pave the way for an automotive partnership in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia's National Industrial Clusters Development Program (NICDP) Mr. Azzam Yaser Shalabi the President of the National Industrial Clusters Development Program (NICDP) and Dr Ralf Speth, JLR Chief Executive Officer formally signed a Letter of Intent yesterday, which could pave the way for an automotive partnership in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

According to a statement released by Jaguar, HRH Prince Faisal Bin Turki bin Abdul Azi Al Saud and the Saudi Arabian Government has expressed its intention to initiate, develop and support the automotive industries and see JLR as a potential partner to help strengthen their industrialisation plans.

One incentive for JLR’s movement into Saudi is the construction of the world's largest integrated aluminium complex, a joint venture between Saudi Arabian Mining Company and Alcoa of the US, is due to begin production in 2014 at the Ras Al Khair facility. The plant would offer opportunities in aluminium component production – an area in which Jaguar Land Rover is considered a leader.

A new plant in Saudi Arabia would follow add to JLR’s plans for overseas plants, after the company committed to a £1.1bn investment deal with Chery Automobile Company to manufacture vehicles at a new plant near Shanghai, China, and the separate expansion of the Jaguar Land Rover assembly at the company's plant at Pune, India.

JLR made a record £1.5bn profit in the year ending March 2012, despite the eurozone crisis which has hit many of the volume car makers

Dr Ralf Speth, Chief Executive of JLR, said: "We are committed to further international partnerships to meet record demand for our highly sought after vehicles. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is an attractive potential development option, complementing our existing advanced facilities in Britain and recent manufacturing plans to expand in other countries including India and China."

Pending agreement on development options in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Jaguar Land Rover would expect to announce further plans in 2013. Issues such as level of investment, potential capacity and job creation have not yet been discussed in detail between the parties.

Ford's China sales rise by 48 percent

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 20:45:51 +0530

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Car manufacturer Ford are enjoying a 14 percent rise in their yearly sales following record increases in demand from China.

The company sold 60,518 vehicles in October to the Chinese market, a 48 percent increase compared to October 2011. This growth has been led by strong sales of the Ford Focus, which has remained the best selling passenger car in China for the last three months.

Sales in the China, the world's biggest auto market rose 6.4 percent to 1.3 million vehicles in October, according to the government-sanctioned China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. That was a recovery from September's 0.3 percent contraction — the first monthly decline this year.

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"Together with our partners, we are delighted the Ford Focus has been the best-selling nameplate in China,” said Dave Schoch, chairman and CEO of Ford China. “Our aggressive expansion across China is entirely focused on delivering a full family of high quality, fuel efficient, safe and fun to drive cars and trucks that customers really want. We’re doubling our production and retail capacity in China, and in the next few months we’re launching two vehicles in the fast-growing SUV segment – the all new Kuga and EcoSport SUVs. It’s a great time to be at Ford in China and Asia Pacific.”

Demand for Ford passenger cars—which include vehicles produced at Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Ltd. (CFMA) and imported Ford Edge SUVs—continue to grow, up 66 percent in October with 44,489 wholesale cars sold.

Ford’s passenger car joint venture in China CFMA also had a record October. CFMA sold 43,555 wholesale Ford-brand cars in October, up 65 percent compared to October 2011 and 22 percent for the year.

BMW chooses flexibility over lean manufacturing

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 06:11:28 +0530

BMW believes the future belongs to flexible manufacturing. The German manufacturer has a long history of building cars to customer order. In 2008, 70 percent of its production was built to customer order. “We anticipate in the future that customers will want more individuality and more customer order flexibility,” said Rich Morris, Vice President, assembly, BMW. BMW offers a wide array of factory-installed options that can be ordered individually, while mass-market brands are cutting back on variety. It builds most of its vehicles with specific colours, features and options the way individual customers order them from a dealer. “Our processes are flexible enough to adjust to market or customer demand and efficient enough to maintain our cost competitiveness. What makes BMW different to other car companies across North America is that its production system is demand driven and flexible. “Demand is driven by paying customers and if someone does not order a car we do not build one,” says Morris. Most other automotive manufacturers build their cars the way dealers order them, to be retailed out of dealer inventory. This is effectively the dealers’ best guess at what customers will buy. By doing it this way, the factory saves on manufacturing costs and the complexity of the work is reduced. However, customers may have to compromise on the features and options that they really want. Therefore neither the lean nor flexibility principles are perfect ideologies. The most flexible plants are not the most ‘lean,’ for instance in terms of the inventory of parts the plant has to keep handy. On the flip side, the leanest plants that can build cars the fastest also need to become more flexible as customers are becoming increasingly demanding. Morris agrees. “The real battle is the race toward efficient flexibility,” he says.

Top motorcycle manufacturers in the world - Part 2

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 12:00:00 +0530

Honda
Honda first emerged in the late 1940’s as Japan struggled to rebuild following WWII. Company founder Soichiro Honda, had a passion for engineering and first began manufacturing piston rings before turning his attention to inexpensive motorcycles. By the 1960’s, the Honda Motor Corp had experienced soaring motorcycle sales and has remained a technological and innovative leader in the two-wheeled world ever since; this is a result of its extensive history on the racetrack. Today it is the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world. Honda maintains its edge with a vast product offering, which includes CBR sport bikes, touring mounts like the Gold Wing, CRF dirt bikes and a whole array of cruisers, ATVs and scooters. Its current range of machines include the Tricolour and Repsol-liveried Fireblades and the award-winning ’Sports Tourer of the Year’ VFR1200F. The company is set to release its new-for-2011 machines, CBR600F, CBR250R and CBR125R, in March.

Yamaha
Yamaha ranks second to Honda as the leader among Japanese motorcycle manufacturers, but is also well known for its musical instruments. It started producing simple and inexpensive motorcycles in 1955 and today offers some of the best sport bikes, cruisers and off-road bikes on the market.

Kawasaki
In the 1970’s Kawasaki built a reputation for creating the most powerful engines on two wheels. The Japanese manufacturer is responsible for producing legendary machines like the Ninja series as well as a line of championship-winning off-road bikes. The company produced its 10 millionth vehicle in 1996.

Harley-Davidson
With over 100 years of history, Harley-Davidson is the most iconic motorcycle manufacturer on the planet. Some may argue that the company sells its customers a lifestyle, offering riders not just a factory custom made motorcycle but a culture on two wheels too. Innovation has been an essential part of Harley-Davidson from its first ever motorcycle, which was built in 1903. This was essentially a bicycle with an engine but it became a huge success. The idea behind the business was to find a way that would ease the physical efforts needed to ride a bicycle. Today, the company’s product offering include Harley bobbers, Harley choppers and Harley cruisers.

Suzuki
Suzuki started manufacturing motorcycles in 1952 and is a well-known and respected brand worldwide. Its off-road bikes and road racers have won numerous world titles and its street machines include the cruiser Boulevard series to the legendary GSX-R series of sport bikes. Suzuki is a member of the ‘Big Four’ from Japan, which also includes Honda, Kawasaki and Yamaha.

Toyota - the most eco-friendly car manufacturer in the world?

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 08:10:53 +0530

Motor vehicles impact the environment from their initial design and the way they are manufactured, to their use on the road and eventually their disposal when no longer needed.

Toyota claims that building completely recyclable cars with zero emissions is on the top of its list of priorities. It says: “Toyota has long been aware of the relationship between vehicle exhaust emissions and carbon dioxide and global warming and urban air pollution.

“In response, Toyota launched the revolutionary Toyota D-CAT (Diesel Clean Advanced Technologies) concept, which takes emission levels well below Euro IV standards for diesel engines.”

Clean Green Cars, which is an independent authority on the eco-friendly automotive market, has compared the CO2 emissions of Toyota models with other car manufacturers and announced that 'Toyota is clearly the best performing car company'.

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Toyota Pruis
It was the first automotive manufacturer to pioneer hybrid (petrol/electric) technology and produced the world’s first mass produced eco-vehicle, the Toyota Pruis.

The Pruis offers Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive, which integrates all aspects of the Toyota Hybrid System, from the electric motor and petrol engine to electricity regeneration through the braking system.

Hybrid Synergy Drive generates up to 89 percent fewer tailpipe pollutants than conventional internal combustion engines, and 2.5 times the average fuel efficiency of conventional vehicles.

Toyota iQ
In recent years, car manufacturers have been under huge pressure to increase the fuel efficiency of their cars and cut CO2 emission rates.

In 2008, Toyota introduced the world to the iQ, which had a fuel consumption of 63mpg and CO2 emissions of 104 g/km (grams per kilometre).

The Environmental Transport Association (ETA) named the iQ Green Car of the Year 2010. Now Toyota has gone one step further and is set to release an electric version of the car.

The Toyota iQ EV, which was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show this month, is set to go into production in 2012.

The iQ EV comes with an all-electric powertrain that uses a new compact lithium-ion battery, located under the car’s floor. This can run for 65 miles on a single full charge.

Special Report: Fork-lift Truck Awards 2011

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 12:18:04 +0530

Now in its seventeenth year, the annual Fork Lift Truck Awards ceremony, took place on Saturday 12, February and was presented by BBC Radio 2’s Sally “Traffic” Boazman. The awards are hosted by the Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA), which maintains and raises standards in the materials handling industry. It is the most representative body of its kind in Europe.

There are currently 11 categories in the awards ceremony, which range from Apprentice of the Year to the Safety Site and Lifetime Achievement Awards. However, the ‘Pick of the Year’ product categories, which consist of Environment, Ergonomics, Safety and Innovation, are the most hotly contested awards and this year was no exception as a record number of finalists vied for the top spot. Martyn Fletcher, Chairman, FLTA said, “In responding to the real issues facing fork truck users, each of our ‘Pick of the Year’ finalists and winners represents a significant advance in ensuring materials are moved more safely, more efficiently and with less impact on the environment.” Manufacturing Digital takes a close look at this year’s ‘Pick of the Year’ winners.

Environment

With many fork lift trucks operating in confined spaces around employees, it is crucial that fumes and gases are kept to a minimum. There are also work horses lifting heavy loads every day and so fuel consumption is also increasingly important. “With regard to hybrid fuels and other environmental issues, such as regenerative braking systems, fork lift trucks manufacturers are amongst the front runners,” says David Ellison, Chief Executive, FLTA.

Hyster Europe - Tyre-saving drive

Hyster’s tyre saving technology was nominated in both the innovation and environmental categories of this year’s FLTA awards. Hyster missed out on the innovation award but emerged victorious in the environment category, fighting off stiff competition from Cooper SH Ltd, Jayline Products Ltd, Proventia Group Oy and STILL Materials Handling Ltd.

Hyster is the first big truck manufacturer to develop and offer tyre preserving technology in Europe.
With tyre wear a major cost for port and terminal operations, Hyster’s new axle prevents tyre scrub and extends tyre life by a factor of up to three times. The differential is mounted in the wheel ends at each side of the axle, an innovation that allows the wheels to rotate independently, while providing full acceleration and braking power.

The new ‘tyre saving’ drive axle, which took seven years to develop, can significantly save time on the overall cost of running empty container handling operations by reducing the cost of buying tyres and decreasing the time it takes to change tyres. The new technology also results in less rubber waste, which means a better environmental footprint.

Ergonomics

This award recognises theergonomic development of fork lift trucks, which is important because operators are often sitting in these machines for eight hours every day and constantly travelling over long distances and collecting or positioning pallets. “A comfortable operator is a safe and efficient operator,” says Ellison.

Caterpillar Lift Trucks – Order picker Active Sway Control (ASC)

For the operator of a high level order picker, mast sway is a common discomfort and frustration and causes an array of problems. Caterpillar’s new Active Sway Control (ASC), features hydraulic pressure sensors and specially developed software, which calculates and applies the necessary counter-movement to minimise sway and increase ergonomics. This eliminates the uncomfortable feeling of the mast swinging excessively whenever the driver brakes or accelerates. Results show this typically results in workers wasting 25 minutes of every single shift. With the application of Cat’s ASC, delays are halved.

Safety

With a considerable number of people killed or seriously injured in fork lift truck accidents every year, operator safety in the industry is paramount. “Safety award winners have been instrumental in developing new ideas and concepts which often get picked up by other manufacturers and become industry standards,” says Ellison.

Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks - GRENDIA overhead guard

Mitsubishi has became the first manufacturer to make a clean sweep of every product category in the Fork Lift Truck Awards, having previously won ‘Archie’s’ in the Environment, Innovation and Ergonomics categories. This year, Mitsubishi scooped the award for its hi-vis overhead guard roof, which is part of the VersaCab range of panel cabin options that was introduced with its new GRENDIA range of 1.5 to 5.5 tonne IC engine counterbalance trucks. Previous roof overheads have shielded operators from larger falling objects but have resulted in poor visibility. Mitsubishi’s hi-vis roof does not only shield against large and small falling objects but has no bars to spoil the operator’s view. It is made from a unique tough polycarbonate with a special coating that resists the scratching, weathering and deterioration with age that affects Perspex roofs. This material is generally around 250 times stronger than glass or 30 times than acrylic (PMMA).

Innovation

Innovation is key to how the industry progresses. Ellison says: “This is a catch all category that ensures that new ideas and concepts across the board are brought to the public eye.”

Linde Material Handling UK Ltd - CiTi Truck

The futuristic Linde CiTi Truck is packed full of innovation and is designed for the growing number of deliveries direct to city centres. It can negotiate uneven surfaces up to 70mm high thanks to its unique and innovative curved shape of the load wheels, which rotate on crossing obstacles and provide greater mobility. The CiTi Truck’s load wheels are covered with a moulded plastic protection that leaves no scratches or marks on customer floors and entrances. Its tyres are made from a cushioning rubber that dampens down and minimises noise while crossing tiled floors, pavements and cobbled streets. This is ideal for early morning deliveries. The truck is also environmentally friendly. Ninety-five percent of it is recyclable and designers have opted for a mechanical lifting device that does not require any oil, which means no pollution.

Ferrari: F1 for the road

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 11:34:50 +0530

Enzo Ferrari established Scuderia Ferrari in Italy in 1929 with the intention of sponsoring amateur race car drivers and inventing racing cars. However it took until the late 1940s - more than 15 years - before Ferrari began to create its own road cars. Today, Ferrari is one of the biggest brands on the planet and its journey is one of astounding and unique worldwide success. Manufacturing Digital takes a close look at how Ferrari has brought technology from the race track to the road by highlighting its key innovations of the past six decades.

1947-1957

12-cylinder 1.5 litre engine - Ferrari 125 S

When the first Ferrari was designed, 12-cylinder engines as small as 1.5 litres, were extraordinarily rare. In August 1945, Enzo Ferrari and Gioachino Colombo met at Modena to discuss the design of a new car that should be adaptable to the 1.5 litre supercharged category of Formula 1 and should also serve as the basis of a production sports car. “This choice of a 12-cylinder layout for such a small engine ultimately endowed the first Ferrari with demonstrable advantages in both performance and reliability,” says Karl Ludvigsen in his book, Ferrari: 60 years of technological innovation. Enzo Ferrari was heavily criticised for this decision but his 12-cylinder engine was completely innovative for its category. In sports racing it was capable of reaching 6,800 rpm. The Ferrari 125 engine was enlarged for sports and road use to the 166 2.0 litre, which reached a peak power of 7,200 rpm. “Even in this larger form the V12 Ferrari engine was unusual, indeed unique, among its contemporaries,” adds Ludvigsen.

1958-1968

Mid-Engined V12 Closed Sports Car – 250 LM

1963 saw the creation of the highly innovative 250 LM coupe, which scooped first prize at the Le Mans 24 hour race in 1965. The 250 LM coupe had an engine of 3,288cc producing 330 bhp at 7,700 rpm. The compact automobile had a multi-tubular space frame and all-independent suspension by coil springs and parallel wishbones.

1969-1979

Flat-12 Engines for Production Cars – 365 GT4 BB

The ‘boxer’ engine that performed so well for Ferrari in earlier years on the race track was destined to have a road application. This made Ferrari the first auto manufacturer to offer a series-produced car with a flat-opposed 12 cylinder engine. A new 4.4 litre flat-12 engine was designed for this purpose and was placed longitudinally behind the driver and passenger of the new 365 GT4 BB, which stood for Berlinetta Boxer. “Like the Dino’s, the BB’s transmission was contained in a light alloy casting that also formed the engine’s wet sump,” explains Ludvigsen. “A similar three great train took the drive downward from the clutch to fivespeed transmission.” Power output was quoted at 380 bhp at 7,200 rpm in a road sports car that was capable of more than 180 mph. “This was and remains a remarkable innovation,” notes Ludvigsen.

1980-1990

Kevlar body panels - GTO

Innovation by Ferrari in the field of car body composite panels commenced in 1984 with its introduction of the GTO. Major skin panels of the GTO were made of glass fibre that was reinforced by a new strong synthetic fibre produced by Du Pont called Kevlar. “Its increased strength allowed Kevlar-reinforced panels to be significantly thinner and lighter,” explains Ludvigsen. “In the GTO the reinforcement used was a blend of Kevlar with Nomex, another Du Pont synthetic fibre.” Panels with Kevlar-Nomex fibres were used for the front deck lid of the GTO. “The firewall behind the cockpit of this mid-engined car was made of aluminium honeycomb with a skin of Kevlar-based composite. These were pioneering applications of advanced materials in a series-built car,” concludes Ludvigsen.

1991-2001

Air Inlet Nostrils - 360 Modena

A distinctive feature of the Ferrari competition cars that appeared in the years 1961-62 was their use of air-inlet nostrils for engine cooling. Ferrari opened a wind tunnel at Maranello in 1991, which could perform aerodynamic evaluations and assess a cars cooling efficiency. According to Ludvigsen, this wind tunnel was capable of accepting full-sized cars and could tether them on rollers so that they could be ‘driven’ to carry out a full evaluation of their cooling systems. This took place under variable climate conditions at top speeds of 110mph (180 km/h). The distinctive nostrils made a reappearance on the nose of the 360 Modena in 1999. “The 360 Modena married the concept of twin nostrils to an ultra-modern sports car in a felicitous manner that established a new idiom for the mid-engined Ferrari’s of the 21st Century,” says Ludvigsen.

2000-2010

F1-Trac Control System - 599 GTB Fiorano

The 599 GTB Fiorano of 2006 was the first car to bring traction control of Formula 1 quality to a road car. F1-Trac, which uses predictive software to give more refined control of drive-wheel spin, was adapted from the Formula 1 Ferrari to the 599. “The system approaches the limit of grip most closely when the car’s manettino is set in ‘Race’ position,” says Ludvigsen. “Coming out of corners, probing the limits of the friction circle, F1-Tract can improve exit acceleration by 20 percent, giving a 1.5 second lap-time advantage of Fiorano over conventional traction control.”

2011

4RM - FF

The FF - an acronym for Ferrari Four (four seats and four-wheel drive) - ushers in an entirely new GT sports car concept. Its new drive-train, which is called 4RM, weighs 50 percent less than conventional four-wheel drive systems. Thanks to this system, the new Ferrari FF offers maximum performance regardless of weather conditions.The FF, which replacement for the 612 Scaglietti model, is paired with a 6.3-litre V12 engine producing 660 horsepower at 8,000 rpm; the gearbox is a transaxle dual-clutch type. The model is equipped with a new generation of SCM3 electromagnetic dampers and a braking system, with carbon and ceramic items made by Brembo.

Ultimate guide to IKEA's contemporary flat-pack furniture

Thu, 03 Mar 2011 06:52:16 +0530

Flat-pack furniture is a modern-day phenomenon. Flat packed products on the market range from CD/DVD storage racks to patio sets and living room furniture. These are bought ready boxed and the customer provides the last part of the production line by building the unit at home. Flat pack houses are the latest addition to the market. There is a growing interest in these products as manufacturers are coming up with increasingly sophisticated designs.

The idea of flat-pack furniture came about in 1956, when Swedish draughtsman and designer Gills Lundgren needed to fit a table in his car. In order to do this he broke the legs off the table to fit it in its car and reassembled it at home. He pitched the idea to his employer Ikea, who today has built a global empire based on this concept.

Flat-pack furniture, also known as ready to assemble, is usually made from chipboard, MDF, or solid wood. The chipboard and MDF board are finished with a number of materials to give them a consisted finish or a wood-like effect.

Materials
Chipboard is made from wood particles, wood shavings and saw dust, which are bound together with resin or ‘binder.’ It is cheaper, more consistent and denser than solid wood but it is badly affected by moisture and needs to be covered and sealed to avoid warping. However, if it is kept dry, particleboard is much more stable and less likely to warp or split than solid wood. A piece of chipboard furniture with a high quality finish can often look better than a cheap wood product.

Solid wood is still a popular choice with for making flatpack furniture due to its availability and strength. Its natural and unique appearance is a selling point. It is a versatile material in the sense that wood can be polished, lacquered, waxed, painted or left bare for the customer to finish themselves.

Medium-density fibreboard, which is made from wood fibres bound together with wax and resin, is another popular material. MDF is much denser than solid wood and chipboard. The advantages of MDF are cost (cheaper than solid wood), easier to machine than chipboard and it is consistant in both strength and size.

The drawbacks are that it is heavy, needs painting or covering with a finish and is badly affected by moisture which causes warping and swelling.

Finishing touches
Manufacturers use a number of materials to finish their flat-pack furniture. These include foil (paper with a wood effect pattern), melamine, veneer (very thin strips of wood joined together) and high gloss (glossy plastic look finish giving a high shine). The quality of finish depends on the quality of each finishing material. All materials are then finished with a lacquer to improve their appearance. The choice of finish is usually dependent upon cost, resistance to staining, moisture & heat and capabilities of the factory.

Bentley Mulsanne - how is it made?

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 05:50:45 +0530

Bentley new luxury flagship is not the most attractive from the onset. However, looks can be deceiving. Weighing in at an outstanding 5,700 pounds, the Mulsanne sedan spares no expense for luxury, tech, and craftsmanship. It a far superior model to the Rolls Royce Phantom.

Manufacturing Digital takes a look at how the Bentley Mulsanne is made.

Attention to fine detail
Bentley still uses ancient cabinet-making techniques, its cross-branding is still cut by hand and it is the only car manufacturer to use ‘mirror matching’ when applying veneer.

This means that the company place successive leaves end-to-end to make a perfect, symmetrical pattern down the centre line of the car.

Bentley sources and uses renewable materials world-wide It refuses to bleach wood for use in its cars interiors. Instead the company undertakes a veneering process that takes up to two weeks for each car.

The curing process alone takes three days, followed by sanding and polishing to achieve a flawless finish on the leaves.

Only then can a final coat of wax be applied and buffed to create that clear-glass shine.

The carpets, which feature an extra thick pile for added comfort, can be specified to match a specific shade of leather.

In order to keep that rich leather smell Bentley reverted to a traditional tanning process, which is originally used in making fine furniture.

Craftsmanship
The Mulsanne also retains classic Bentley craftsmanship. A solid ‘ring of wood’ encases the entire cabin, while all-new glass-like switchgear is inspired by the classic Bentley interiors of previous models.

Mulsanne’s engineers considered a variety of engine configurations before settling on a radically re-engineered version of Bentley’s classic 6¾-litre V8.

The new V8 engine, which has been completely redeveloped to be more refined, is more efficient and lighter than its predecessor. This took 30 hours to build.

In terms of performance, the V8 produces 505 bhp (377 kW / 512 PS) and 1020 Nm (752 lb-ft) of torque. This enables the Mulsanne to rocket from 0-60 mph in 5.1 seconds (0-100 km/h in 5.3 seconds), before hitting a top speed of 184 mph (296 km/h).

Bentley has also ensured its new engine is eco-friendly with fuel-economy estimated at a combined 14 mpg.

Bentley has used lightweight materials throughout the manufacturing process of the Mulsanne.

The hand brazing of different thicknesses of steel was required to create a more seamless and exclusive finish. It takes engineers around 45 minutes to braze one lengthy section of metal behind the rear doors.

The rear windscreen involves a complex hand-brazing process to create perfect joins along its curved surfaces.

Its large round LED headlamps are set close to the grille while the running lights are staggered. This echoes the configuration favoured on its 8 litre car of 1930.

“To achieve this look, we spent a lot of time studying iconic Bentleys over time - the Bentley 8 Litre, Flying Spur of the 1950s, Brooklands, Azure and Arnage were all touch points,” says Chief Exterior Designer Raul Pires.

“We wanted a more sporting and distinctive Bentley look,” he adds.

Interiors
The Bentley features advanced electronic systems, four-zone air conditioning and is completely soundproof.

This is handy since the Mulsanne is fitted with Bentley’s latest premium audio system, designed exclusively for this model by British company Naim. It can fill the interior with up to 2200 watts of rich sound. One music journalist likened the experience to a ‘mobile concert hall.’

Specifications
Vehicle type: Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan
Engine type: twin-turbocharged and intercooled V-8, aluminum block and heads
Transmission: 8-speed automatic with manumatic shifting
Dimensions:
Wheelbase: 128.6 in Length: 219.5 in
Width: 74.8 in Height: 59.9 in
Curb weight: 6036 lb
Fuel economy: EPA city/highway driving: 11/16 mpg

Alfa Romeo unveils 4C sports car concept at Geneva

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 09:38:32 +0530

Alfa Romeo has revealed its 4C sports car concept at the Geneva Motor Show 2011.

The 4C concept is a classic two-seat, mid-engined, rear-wheel drive compact sports car with a length measuring just four metres and a wheelbase of under 2.4-metres.

The 4C showcases a lightweight construction that promises a curb weight of less than 850kg. This is thanks to the fact that its entire body is crafted from carbon fibre, and the rear frame structure is made of aluminium.

It is powered by a 1.7-litre turbocharged petrol engine, as used in the Guilietta, and features a twin dry-clutch transmission.

The automotive manufacturer is not revealing a precise horsepower figure for the motor at present but it uses 232bhp in others.

This is powerful enough to take the 4C Concept from 0-62mph in under five seconds, reaching top speeds of over 155mph.

The 4C will feature its ‘DNA’ technology, which controls throttle response, steering and suspension settings.

The company has confirmed that a production version of the 4C will hit the streets next year.

For related articles, read our stories, Nissan LEAF: How it's made, Nanotechnology in automotive manufacturing and BMW set to unveil new Minicar Rocketman concept

Boston Dynamics set to build robot cheetah for US Department of Defence

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 04:53:31 +0530

Engineering firm Boston Dynamics has won a multi-million dollar contract to develop two futuristic battlefield bots, a robotic cheetah and a human-like robot, for the Department of Defence. Boston Dynamics have said that its Terminator-like robot robot, Atlas, will have two arms and legs, but no head, and be able to walk and jog upright, climb and squeeze through narrow alleyways and use its hands. Meanwhile, its robotic Cheetah will be able to outrun any human being and in addition to walking and sprinting on four legs will be designed to turn corners, zig-zag and start and stop on command. The robo-cat, which is currently being manufactured, is hoping to be ready in 20 months. Engineers believe the prototype will be able to run 30mph. However, it believes it will eventually be able to reach speeds of 70mph. The robotic Cheetah will seems to be suited for chasing down enemy prey but the company said it was more interested in advancing the technology of the robo-cat, than developing its battlefield responsibilities. Boston Dynamics the latest company to develop robotic animals for use during warfare. Manufacturing Digital recently reported on the nano-hummingbird, a tiny spy plane resembling a hummingbird, which has been developed by AeroVironment.

Volvo create pedestrian detection braking system

Sat, 26 Feb 2011 08:13:06 +0530

Statistics show that 14 percent of all those killed in car accidents in Europe are pedestrians. This figure is slightly lower in the US at 11 percent.

Volvo’s goal by 2020 is that nobody should be killed or seriously injured in or by one of it’s cars.

The Swedish automaker is hoping its new Collision Warning with Full Auto Brake and Pedestrian Detection system, which has been fitted in the 2011 model S60, will help it achieve this.

Volvo’s pedestrian detection system automatically brakes a car to a halt, if someone steps out in front of it.

The system, which works at speeds over 22mph, uses radar and camera technology to look ahead for other vehicles and pedestrians.

If a collision is likely, the system will audibly warn the driver and if this is ignored it will immediately perform an emergency stop.

Volvo estimates that its detection system would reduce the number of pedestrians killed by more than 20 percent, while the number of those seriously injured would fall by almost 30 percent.

Watch a YouTube video clip of the system in action.

For more stories, read our articles, BMW set to release its Minicar Rocketman concept and Nanotechnology and automotive manufacturing

Frito-Lay set to release greener and quieter Sunchips packaging

Fri, 25 Feb 2011 07:43:59 +0530

Frito-Lay has unveiled a greener and quieter packaging for its popular Sunchips, which it is hoping will silence critics.

In 2010 Frito-Lay was forced to withdraw a new biodegradable crisps bag after customers claimed it was too loud.

The traditional packaging of Sunchips was constructed of multiple layers of polyolefin materials, which are derived from petroleum by-products.

After four years of research and field trials in emerging packaging film technologies, Frito-Lay discovered polyactic acid or polyactide (PLA), which it has adopted for its new crisp packaging.

This versatile polymer is made from plants that grow annually instead of petroleum, which takes millions of years to form.

However, the stiffer material, created a noise that registered at roughly 80 to 85 decibels. This is as loud as a busy street.

With some likening the noise to a ‘revving motorcycle’, a huge Facebook campaign was launched, urging the company to drop the new bags.

The firm has been researching a re-engineered compostable bag ever since and has now developed a different adhesive to put together the two layers of its crisp bags. Its packaging experts have said this will help to insulate sound from the bag.

Reports suggest that the new bags will be around 15 percent quieter than the old ones.

BMW set to unveil new Minicar Rocketman concept

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 05:57:43 +0530

When the original Mini was first released more than 50 years ago people were struck with designer, Alec Issigonis’ creative use of space.

However, the most common complaint about recent Mini models is that they are just too big.

Now BMW has addressed this with its Rocketman concept, which is set to be unveiled at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show next week.

The Rocketman is a 3+1-seater with three doors and at 3.419m long, which is only a few centimetres longer than an original Mini. However, it is considerably wider than the original at 1.907m, and 1.398m tall.

BMW’s latest Mini has a carbon-fibre frame for maximum interior space. According to the manufacturer, this light-weight design will enable the car to retain performance while travelling at an average of 94mpg.

Its signature woven texture is visible at the front, around the doors and inside the cabin. The gadget-filled concept car is packed with a range of great features.

Key features of the Rocketman:
• The roof is made entirely of glass and has illuminated braces, which recreate the look of Britain’s Union Jack. Integrated fibre optics gives the interior ambient illumination.
• The concept has double-hinged side doors, which pivot open outward, complete with their sills. This is particularly useful in tight parking spaces
• A split tailgate has a drawer and integrated rear carrier. The upper gate opens up. The lower section extends 14 inches in the form of a drawer for luggage space and also can be left open as a luggage rack.
• Navigation, entertainment and communications controls are all on the steering wheel.
• Above the steering wheel is tachometer and on-board computer display and in the middle of these is a big Mini speedometer, sporting a trendy 3-D display.
• The trapezoidal LED rear lights uses technology to project the rear and brake lights and light for the turn signals onto the car body.
• Lightweight seats can be arranged for maximum comfort for two. However, there is space for three or even four passengers at a squeeze.

Top 10 manufacturing CEOs: Steve Jobs ranked number one

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 04:09:07 +0530

1. STEVE JOBS
Apple
Steve Jobs co-founded technology giant Apple in 1976. With iPods, iPhones, iPads and MacBooks being the most sought-after gadgets on the market, Apple is dominating the consumer technology world.

According to a report conducted by the prestigious Harvard Business Review, Apple’s market value has increased by $150 billion since Jobs’ return to the company in 1997. Upon his return, he reversed the company’s failing fortunes with three key innovations - Mac computers, iPhones, and iPods.

In 2009, Fortune magazine listed Jobs as ‘CEO of the decade’. His radical and lucrative reordering of the music, mobile technology, and movie markets and his continued impact on the computing industry over the past 10 years has been truly phenomenal.

Jobs is also the co-founder and former CEO of Pixar Animation Studios, the creator of such wonderful and successful animated films like Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Monsters, Inc and Finding Nemo.

Jobs has recently announced that he is taking a two-year medical leave of absence to focus on his flailing health.

2. INDRA NOOYI
PepsiCo
PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi was recognised as the most powerful woman in US business for the fifth year in a row by Fortune magazine in September 2010. PepsiCo has the world's largest portfolio of billion-dollar food and beverage brands, including 19 different product lines that each generate more than $1 billion in annual retail sales. With nearly $60 billion in revenue, PepsiCo employs 285,000 people worldwide. Nooyi heads this vast empire and is considered as the chief architect of PepsiCo's multi-year growth strategy.

3. CHUNG MONG-KOO
Hyundai
From the year 2000 and onwards, Chung Mong-Koo turned the Hyundai brand into a superpower, boosting global sales and share in the midst of a turbulent world economy that had its rivals struggling for survival. The Korean boss pushed his company into new segments, built on steady and dramatic improvements in quality and handed US executives more autonomy.

4. LASHMI MITTAL
ArcelorMittal
ArcelorMittal is the largest steel company in the world and has operations in more than 60 countries. A regular fixture on Forbes’ rich list, Lakshmi Mittal built his empire on a bet that steel had a great future for someone who could achieve sufficient scale.

5. ALAN MULALLY
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, which came close to bankruptcy five years ago, is now highly profitable. In fact, it witnessed the biggest increase in US market share of any company in Year 2010. Under Alan Mulally, the company cut brands, simplified its mission, and put in place a management team that meets weekly to review all aspects of the business.

6. IRENE ROSENFELD
Kraft Foods
Irene Rosenfeld frequently makes an appearance on world’s most powerful women lists – usually behind Michelle Obama. Her empire incorporates some of the world’s best-known brands: Philadelphia, Ritz, Dairylea, Oreo, Kenco, Toblerone, Capri Sun and now Cadbury.

7. ELON MUSK
Tesla Motors
South African-American entrepreneur Elon Musk is the co-founder of PayPal. He is currently Chairman of Solar City and CEO of Tesla Motors and SpaceX. Several mainstream publications have compared him with Henry Ford for his revolutionary work on advanced vehicle power trains.

8. MARK PARKER
Nike
Mark Parker has been the CEO of Nike since 2006. He has extensive knowledge and experience regarding company operations, sports marketing, manufacturing, research, design, development, and management besides being an effective leader for Nike, of course.

9. CARLOS GHOSN
Nissan
In 2009, Ghosn executed the Nissan Revival Plan (NRP) by cutting costs and increasing revenues at the same time. He turned around Nissan to profitability in less than 18 months and achieved the best financial performance in the company’s history. Nissan became the car manufacturer that grew the most, not only in growth rate but in absolute numbers too.

10. SAMUEL J. PALMISANO
IBM
Samuel J. Palmisano joined IBM in 1973. After undertaking a range of roles within the company he finally became President and Chief Operating Officer in 2000, CEO in 2002 and Chairman of the Board in 2003. He played a key role in creating and leading IBM’s Global Services, rising to senior vice president, and building the largest and most diversified IT services organisation in the industry.

‘Help for Husbands' wristband detects wives menstrual cycle

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 06:09:10 +0530

A 43-year-old plasterer from Southend, Essex has designed a wristband to help husbands keep track of when their wives are suffering from PMT.

The device, which is still in its design stage, works by monitoring subtle changes in a woman's body temperature during her monthly cycle.

The PMT band has an inbuilt thermometer that responds to these variations in temperature by changing colour.

“It's a visual aid for men so they can be a little bit more understanding at certain times of the month,” said inventor, Karl Dorn.

“It's a very taboo issue - I was a bit concerned about putting it forward - but if you can help couples understand each other and communicate better that's got to be a good thing.”

The gadget has reached the final stage of a competition in the UK run by theme park entrepreneur, Phillip Miller, who is offering 100,000 pounds for money-spinning inventions.

The wristband is one of 160 inventions that took part in the competition and is up against a GPS toddler tracking monitor and an above-ground eco-friendly burial system in the final.

For related news stories, read our article Chastity garter texts hubby if wife cheats

Top Three: Most bizarre Prince William and Kate wedding merchandise

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 04:08:01 +0530

Unofficial merchandise marking the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton is saturating the market, with manufacturers and retailers cashing in at every opportunity. The Centre for Retail Research estimates the royal wedding will provide a £515.5 million boost to retailers, with souvenirs bringing in £222 million.

Manufacturing Digital recently reported on a rather different kind of royal wedding souvenir – Crown Jewel condoms. If you think that was weird, check out the list below featuring a special edition sick bag and royal wedding garden gnomes. Here is a run-down of the tackiest and most inappropriate Royal Wedding memorabilia on the market.

Royal wedding gnomes
B&Q-owner Kingfisher is manufacturing commemorative royal wedding gnomes, which are set to go on sale from mid-April and will be priced at £12.98 each or £20 for the pair. "We expect demand for the gnomes to be very high as royal items are always sought after as a collectible item," said Tom Kuhr, Garden Equipment Buyer at B&Q.

"While some people may turn their nose up at gnomes thinking they're a little kitsch we feel there is room for humour in everyone's lives, and the garden should be no exception. However, with the interest in the royal wedding and the number of collectors of royal memorabilia I wouldn't be surprised to see our gnomes popping up on Antiques Roadshow in the future."

Special edition sick bag
Lydia Leith, a graduate from the Edinburgh College of Art has designed a sick bag, similar to those used on airlines, to mark the upcoming royal wedding. The bags, which cost £3, come in a choice of red or blue, are decorated with a crown, a drawing of Prince William and Kate Middleton and the slogan, ‘Throne Up’. Even more bizarrely, the limited edition sick bag has completely sold out in its first week of release and Leith is currently in the process of designing more.

Unofficial wedding plates
Design agency KK Outlet has been overwhelmed with orders for their unofficial royal wedding plates. There are five plates on sale with one of the more popular designs sporting the logo ‘Thanks For The Extra Day Off’. This is referring to the wedding day being declared as an official national public holiday. The company believe the plates represent a more modern Britain and gently puncture the sense of reverence around the royal engagement of William and Kate. Interest in the plates has gone global, with a surge in sales from Canada, America, Germany and Japan.

Dave Bell, Managing Director, KK Outlet said: "We felt that sometimes Buckingham Palace are a bit straight-laced. They don't have much humour in their announcements or how they treat themselves. They are very reverential so we wanted to treat the royal wedding with a bit of irreverence. We felt that it would engage a little bit with the British population if we had a little bit of fun with it.”

UAE set to sign $7 billion missile deal with Lockheed Martin

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 08:27:02 +0530

The United Arab Emirates are close to finalising an estimated $7 billion deal with Lockheed Martin to buy an advanced missile defence system. It will be the first such export by the US firm. The UAE has been negotiating the acquisition of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), since late 2008, when the US defence department first announced the proposed sale. The Terminal High Altitude Area Defence system, which is a key element of the Ballistic Missile Defence System (BMDS), designed to defend troops, allied forces, population centres and critical infrastructure. The weapon system is fully integrated and comprises five major components. These are launchers, interceptors, a radar, Thaad fire control and communications and specific support equipment. “We are very close to finalising documentation necessary to have a successful program for the UAE. This spring, the U.S. government will make an announcement," said Dennis Cavin, Vice-President, International Air & Missile Defence Strategic Initiatives for Lockheed Martin. The UAE is also currently considering a series of bids, including one from Lockheed Martin, on an integrated solution for air missile defence. For related stories, read our articles, Learjet 85: An innovation in aviation, US army unveil $4m Hummingbird spy plane and NASA reveals concept airliner designs for 2025

US army unveil $4m Hummingbird spy plane

Fri, 18 Feb 2011 04:24:05 +0530

Army chiefs have unveiled a mini spy plane that is disguised as a hummingbird and can fly up to 11 miles an hour.

The pocket-sized drone, which has cost $4 million to develop, measures in at just 16 centimetres and weighs less than an AA battery.

The army is hoping to use the drone’s tiny camera to spy on enemy positions in war zones without arousing detection and eventually deploy it into both rural and urban environments.

The device is manufactured by AeroVironment, one of the world’s leading drone suppliers, which produces a number of different drones for the US Army.

In its early prototype stage, the drone managed a total flight time of just 20 seconds. This was two years ago.

Its latest flight lasted eight minutes and engineers expect longer flights as development continues.

Chris Fisher, Project Manager at AeroVironment explained: “It gives the guy on the ground the opportunity to see what’s on the other side of the hill. There’s only so much you can see with binoculars. A small [drone] can get up and go over the hill. That gives the ground soldier a capability that is huge.

“One of the things we benefit from is the average young person in the military has hours and hours of video games experience. They are attuned to holding these things in their hands; moving the joysticks around with their thumbs and that’s how our planes are flown. To an 18-year-old it’s extremely simple.”

Watch a YouTube video of the drone in action.

For related stories, read our articles, US Military explores idea of flying car, US Army Unveil Futuristic XM25 Rifles and Scientists create 'bullet-proof custard' for British troops

FDA under pressure to ban cancer-causing caramel flavouring

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 07:14:20 +0530

The US-based Center for Science in the Public Interest has urged the FDA to ban chemically enhanced caramel food colorings, which is used widely by manufacturers in the food and drink industry. The CSPI believe that the artificial colouring, which is found in products like beer, soy sauce, Pepsi and Coca-Cola, is made by reacting sugars and ammonia sulphites under high pressure. The CSPI health group said: “In contrast to the caramel one might make at home by melting sugar in a saucepan, the artificial brown colouring in colas and some other products is made by reacting sugars with ammonia and sulphites under high pressure and temperatures. “Chemical reactions result in the formation of two substances known as 2-MI and 4-MI which in government-conducted studies caused lung, liver, or thyroid cancer or leukaemia in laboratory mice or rats.” America’s National Toxicology Program says that there is ‘clear evidence’ that both 2-MI and 4-MI are animal carcinogens, and therefore likely to pose a risk to humans. Michael F Jacobson, Executive Director of the CSPI said: ‘Carcinogenic colourings have no place in the food supply, especially considering that their only function is a cosmetic one.’ The organisation is placing increased pressure on the FDA to completely ban the caramel substances.