The Koenigsegg Jesko Has An Amazing Engine
It is hard to believe that this is a vehicle in “serial” production with such extraordinary powertrain performance
Gary S. Vasilash
Editor-in-Chief, Automotive Design & Production
VIEWPOINT | ADVANCED POLYMERS IN AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATIONS
The quest among automobile manufacturers to reduce vehicle weight is driving an expanding use of advanced plastics in increasingly harsh and demanding environments, says DSM Engineering Plastics Inc.
Detroit Manufacturing Founder Sells Stake in Company
Andra Rush, who founded Detroit Manufacturing Systems LLC (DMS) in 2012, has sold her majority stake in the firm to Bruce Smith, the co-owner and CEO of Marysville, Ohio-based tooling maker BTM Co.
UPDATE: VW Investor Groups Want Independent Probe of Diesel Scandal
German’s largest investor advisory association, DSW, is calling for an independent investigation into diesel emission test cheating at Volkswagen AG.
Additive @ Ford
Here’s a look at how additive technology is being thought of—and used— at Ford.
Advanced Polymers in Automotive Applications
The key to using new thermoplastics to demanding automotive applications is backing up the material with performance metrics, says Jud Gibson at DSM Engineering Plastics Inc. in Troy, Mich.
A-Class Looks Good in Green
Chances are, when you think of “green” technology, your mind goes to something that has a resemblance, if not a direct connection, to something that’s a cross between granola and cardboard.
Parts Integration & Performance Achieved with PA-Based Part
Air intake manifold with an integrated liquid charged air cooler developed by Volkswagen and Röchling Automotive uses Akulon polyamide from DSM.
Dutch Students Ride Bike at Nearly 80 mph
In light of all of the depressing news related to Lance Armstrong, here’s some rather interesting news from the world of human power transport, the development of the velomobile that won the 2012 World Human Powered Speed Challenge last month.
Lightening Up CNG Systems
If you take a conventional Honda Civic DX with its 1.8-liter engine and put it on a scale, you’ll find that it weighs 2,672 lb.
Fewer Layers for Fuel Tanks
Although the approval from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the U.S. EPA for the barrier material from Solvay Advanced Polymers for three-layer fuel tank systems specifies applicability for lawnmowers, snow blowers, weed trimmers, generators, and other small off-road equipment, it is probably worth noting that Ixef BXT 2000-0203 polyarylamide (PARA) blow molding resin has gotten the OK.
Rallying for Safety; Plug-and-Play Wheelsets; Testable 3D; Self-healing Brakes
Rallying for Safety; Plug-and-Play Wheelsets; Testable 3D; Self-healing Brakes
Scott Anderson
Contributing Editor
A Case for Plastics: GM/Delphi Audio Unit Takes Top Award
The Society of Plastics Engineers has announced its Automotive Innovation Awards, which are given to new plastic applications on production vehicles.
Props for Plastics!
The Automotive Division of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) International has announced the winners of its 39th annual Automotive Innovation Awards Competition. (Full disclosure: a member of the Automotive Design & Production team was one of the judges.) General Motors and Ford both did well, and while Chrysler per se was not a winner, its new owner-operator, Fiat (not the U.S.
DSM Injects Innovation into Elastomer Market
Door seals, gaskets and hoses may not be the sexiest part of the automobile, but don’t tell that to the folks at Netherlands-based DSM Elastomers (www.dsm.com) as they embark on plans to produce a line of specialty EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) rubbers that are more durable and, more importantly, less costly to produce.
Plastic Tensioners For The Cayenne
The timing change tensioner for the Porsche Cayenne is actually a plastic assembly, not metal as is often the case.
Rapid Prototyping: Rapidly Getting Stronger
When it comes to rapid prototyping (RP), there are a variety of available systems, but one statement holds true across them: “Materials are critical,” says Mervyn Rudgley, senior director for product development at 3D Systems (Valencia, CA). And when it comes to equipment, size matters, and for some, smaller is better.
Additive, Here and Now
Some people insist that 3D printers and other additive manufacturing will remove metal cutting and injection molding from the manufacturing industry. Manufacturers wonder how long until they are able to 3D-print high-volume production parts. Capabilities exist right now that may be surprising.
Michael Anderson
Senior Technical Editor, Automotive Design & Production
Trends, Developments & Tools: A Sampling From This Year's SAE Congress
Richard Smith, director, Climate Control Engineering, Denso International America, Inc., says that serious work is underway at Denso in developing a more environmentally benign air-conditioning system, one that will make use of CO2 in place of the R-134a refrigerant.
Mini Cooper: Package Delivery
The original Mini, introduced in 1959, brought transverse front- wheel drive to the auto industry, and stayed in production virtually unchanged for 41 years.
