Operations: Page 244

SAE recycling ... System identifies plastics in a flash

The biggest hurdle to economical recycling of automotive plastics is that they can't be properly sorted and identified. Most plastics on new vehicles now are labeled, but it's an impossible guessing game with older models heading to the salvage yard. At SAE the American Plastics Council introduces a prototype machine that can distinguish between 23 different types of automotive plastics after scanning

April 1, 1995

Budd says goodbye to wheel & brakes

The Budd Co. is selling its Wheel & Brake Div., which represents less than 15% of the company's 1994 sales, to AlliedSignal for undisclosed terms. Later, Budd buys Cobourg, Ont.-based Complax Components Corp. (CCC).

April 1, 1995

Explore the Trendline➔

Automotive Manufacturing

Production strategies are changing rapidly as tariffs and shifts in consumer buying patterns affect the industry.

By WardsAuto staff

Utilase expanding blanking line

Utilase Inc., a division of DCT Inc., plans to spend $12 million on a new facility with a new sheet-metal blanking line and additional laser welding systems to produce tailored blanks, sheets of metal bonded together to allow stamped panels to have more strength in specific areas. In addition to a 6.00-ton (544 t) press with a 144- by 84-in. (3.6-by 2.1-m) bed and coil reel for 72-in. (183-cm) coils.

April 1, 1995

Transplant export pipeline to grow

Look for the North American transplants to hike exports this year, as they add more destinations to the shipping roster, according to assemblers surveyed by our sister publication, Ward's Automotive Reports. Economists expect total U.S. exports to continue expanding due to improved U.S. competitiveness, a weak dollar and rising global economy, says the American international Automobile Dealers Assn.

April 1, 1995

New tires keep rolling longer: advances in compounds end performance compromises.

Some say the entire U.S. tire industry was the beneficiary of a divisive mid-1980's takeover bid for Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. In repelling that takeover play, Goodyear was forced to close three plants and sell off a couple more. The resulting global restructuring (and expensive buyback of its own stock) drained the corporate war chest and cost thousands of jobs.In the end, though, Goodyear emerged

By Bill Visnic • March 1, 1995

Let the good times roll: supplier sales, profits continue to rise at torrid pace

With plants at full capacity due to high demand for their products from strong automaker production, several suppliers end 1994 with record sales and profits.A.O. Smith Corp. announces that its 1994 per share earnings of $2.08 are a corporate record stemming from $1.36 billion in sales and net income of $57 million."The economy and excellent performance has had a positive impact on our business, especially

By Tim Keenan • March 1, 1995

The snickering has stopped

The robots are coming." It was a sure-fire joke at the manufacturing trade journal I worked at 12 years ago. We'd sit around the conference table brainstorming new story ideas when the inevitable lull would settle in. Then somebody would blurt out "I know! How about `The Robots are Coming!'" and everyone would laugh. Then someone else would chirp up "The Lasers are Coming!" Someone else, "The Waterjets

By Drew Winter • March 1, 1995

Varity Japan names chairman

Varity Corp. announces the appointment of Keiichiro Shiojias as chairman of its Tokyo-based subsidiary Varity (Japan) KK. Mr. Shiojias retired in 1993 as general manager of Fuji Zerox Co. Ltd.Other major promotions include:* Rosemary Younts is vice president of GenCorp. She also is vice president of communications.* Alan Best becomes vice president-North American truck components operations at Eaton

March 1, 1995

Delphi Thermal, Calsonic join forces in Europe

Delphi Harrison Thermal Systems and Calsonic Corp. announce plans to form a joint venture in Douai, France, to manufacture an enhanced variable displacement automotive air-conditioning compressor for European customers. Production is slated to begin at the end of 1996.

March 1, 1995

Copper radiators not dead

If you've been following installation rates of aluminum radiators lately, you'd think copper was doomed as a long-term radiator material.Not so, argues the International Copper Association (ICA), which says copper/brass radiators are superior to aluminum in life-cycle energy consumption. "Copper combined with brass may once again be the metal of choice for new-car radiators," it says, basing this

By Drew Winter • March 1, 1995

They’re spinning used fiberglass into gold

Just last summer 30-year-old Bryan Sims was knocking on the doors of auto companies begging for leftovers. "I've got a plan," he told them. "My company can spin used fiberglass into `gold.'"The "gold" would be made by recycling the waste fiberglass back into body panels and other components at great savings - up to 30% less than the cost of virgin fiberglass, he told them.Mr. Sims' four-year-old company,

By Sorge, Marjorie • March 1, 1995

Two nylon giants

Although it has a low profile in the auto motive industry, AlliedSignal Plastics dominates the nylon 6 market in automotive. It is the largest North American producer of nylon 6 resin, and is planning to increase capacity as much as 40% during 1995, primarily through changes in its existing production control systems. Future gains will result from the addition of new production lines and capital expansions

March 1, 1995

GMI runs counter to U.S. trends

GMI President James E. A. John says GMI's enrollment trends run counter to national trends. Statistics show, he says, that there's a smaller pool of qualified high school graduates and fewer students entering technical and scientific fields of study. GMI is located in Flint, MI.

March 1, 1995

Worst case for 1995: a sideways slide. Trio of analysts see auto sales sitting level for the rest of the year.

NEW YORK - Is the party over?Outside of Kirk Kerkorian's takeover attempt of Chrysler Corp. (see story p.70), that was the major topic of conversation at the New York Auto Show.Several analysts concluded that there will be no calamitous industry collapse within the next six months. Despite all the pessimistic news circulating this year, Scott Merlis of Morgan Stanley, Stephen J. Girsky of Paine Webber

March 1, 1995

Aerospace comes down to earth

You wouldn't think that combat pilots on precision bombing sorties in the Middle East would have much in common with people fighting rush-hour traffic, or that space-shuttle astronauts navigating in orbit share much with a traveling salesman looking for his next stop.Think again. When a mother hits the brakes of her child-filled van and the antilock braking system (ABS) keeps her out of harm's way,

By Tim Keenan • March 1, 1995

Big Three recycling efforts go for the ‘Green.’

Imagine a day when environmentalists hold the automobile up as a shining example of a "green" product.It's beginning to happen. In fact, solid-waste problems could be reduced greatly if other materials were as easy to recycle and reuse as the aluminum and steel from vehicles.Every year, approximately 10 million vehicles are scrapped, and about 75% of the material by weight from those vehicles is recycled.That's

By Labana, Sandy • Feb. 1, 1995

Cheap peso threatens trade

The devaluation of the Mexican peso is more than just a blip on the trade radar screen. How quickly it can be righted will decide the economic landscape of that nation and the look of its auto industry.Down nearly 40% against the dollar since Dec. 20, the plunging Mexican peso means spiraling inflation, expensive imports and a decline in living standards.The emerging middle class -- already hooked

By Sorge, Marjorie, David Zoia • Feb. 1, 1995

Emissions showdown: electronic emissions controls just keep growing and growing and....

Imagine: You need to renew your license plates and suddenly you discover you can't just go to your corner gas station to have your car's tailpipe tested for that all-important certificate giving your car its tailpipe exhaust a clean bill of health.Nope, you have to drive across town to a new state-run centralized facility to have several sophisticated tests performed that analyze not only tailpipe

By Drew Winter • Feb. 1, 1995

Coining a new cat: clad-metal tech promises lower-cost metal converters.

Pull a silver coin out of your pocket. Look at the edge. You'll notice a thin copper line running through the middle. That's because the "silver" coin isn't silver at all. It's actually a metal composite comprised of a layer of copper sandwiched between two layers of nickel alloy, but vending machines and telephones can't tell the difference.The U.S. Treasury saved a mint by replacing a precious metal

By Drew Winter • Feb. 1, 1995

Composites wary of Newt moves.

House Speaker Newt Gingrich is accused of being mean and nasty to a lot of people: the poor, Hillary Clinton, even his ex-wife. Many don't care, or think it's all a media conspiracy to "get" him. But here's a potential victim you won't hear about on the evening news or even Inside Edition that hits closer to home: advanced composites.It didn't get much publicity, but late last year the U.S. Dept.

By Drew Winter • Feb. 1, 1995

3Rs of lead-acid batteries: reclaiming, recycling, reusing

Lead-acid batteries are the most recycled domestic commodity in the U.S.For the past 60 years, the lead-acid battery industry has been in the forefront of our nation's recycling effort. Delco Battery has taken a leadership role in designing a product that is over 99% recyclable, while also developing a complete system to guarantee that virtually all batteries returned are completely recycled.The battery

By Steinbrunner, William L. • Jan. 1, 1995

SMC: lowest cost solution to saving weight; how sheet molding composite satisfies your customers

SMC'S Low Program CostFast, frequent, low-cost styling changes keep customers coming backSMC takes center stage as an economical quick-change artist. Its ability to play any number of roles -- and play them well -- is a major reason it continues to rise above the challenges of other plastics, steel and aluminum.Its strengths include:* Simpler, less capital-intensive tooling.* Greater parts consolidation.*

Jan. 1, 1995

Record robot sales

Strong demand for industrial robots led U.S.-based robotics companies to their best 9-month sales totals ever, says the Robotic industries Assn. Through September, new orders totaled 6,218 robots valued at $548 million, a 12% jump in units and 13% increase in dollar volume compared with the same period last year. Shipments climbed 30% in units and 26% in dollars over last year. The greatest demand

Jan. 1, 1995

U.S. approves GATT industry to benefit

Meantime, the auto industry's plans to go global get an extra boost as Congress passes GATT (the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade), which will reduce tariffs around the world by more than $700 billion over the next 10 years, eliminate limits on imports and end the local-content requirements on goods. "GATT has the same benefits as NAFTA, only on a wider basis," says Richard A. Snell, president

Jan. 1, 1995