Assembly Planbook - April 2008 - (Page 14) GANTRIES Proven by the world’s most successful manufacturers AEROTECH Assembly Lines Environmental Stress Screening (ESS); and life cycle support. Lean manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies are central to the plant’s culture and key enablers to its success. For more information on this year’s Quality Measurement Conference, visit www.qualitymag. com/qmc. BMW Group, as a global player, to increase production capacity in its largest market.” Since ramping up in 1994, BMW Group’s North America manufacturing operations have grown to where they now employ about 5,400 people. BMW Expanding U.S. Plant SPARTANBURG, SC—BMW Group (Munich, Germany) is spending $750 million to expand and upgrade the plant where it builds its X5 and X6 sport utility vehicles, and the Z4 roadster. The 3-year project calls for construction of a new 1.2-millionsquare foot assembly facility north of the company’s existing plant to accommodate production of the new X3 Sports Activity Vehicle. In addition, the company will enlarge its existing paint shop and renovate its existing body shops. By 2012, the company hopes to increase total U.S. production capacity from 160,000 units to 240,000 units annually. “Centralizing our know-how… in Spartanburg will enable us to work more efficiently, thus supporting our long-range corporate strategy,” says BMW board member Frank-Peter Arndt. “In addition, it was a logical step for the Honda to Stop Building Cycles in U.S. MARYSVILLE, OH—Almost 30 years after it began building motorcyles in the United States, Honda is moving production back to a new facility in Kumamoto, Japan. “This move allows us to improve the competitiveness and appeal of our products by applying the latest technologies and production systems at one efficient location,” says Honda America CEO Akio Hamada. “This was a complex decision tied to the important role that Honda in Ohio plays within our North American automobile operations…. Our motorcycle plant associates in Marysville are dedicated and focused on customer satisfaction. They will strengthen the rest of Honda of America with their knowledge, experience and tremendous spirit.” The Marysville motorcycle plant opened in 1979 as the first Honda plant in the United States. Customer Top-five semiconductor and electronics metrology and inspection equipment manufacturer Specifications · · · · Velocity to 3 m/s and acceleration to 5 g Dual Y-axis brushless linear servomotors Dual Y-axis linear encoders Optimized mechanical structure for high servo bandwidth · Travel up to 1 m x 1 m Aerotech designs and manufactures gantries for many of the largest manufacturers in the world. These systems are perfectly engineered to provide superior performance in applications as varied as pick-and-place, automated assembly, vision inspection, dispensing stations, and packaging applications. With our extensive experience and broad line of linear and rotary motors, linear-motor-driven and ball-screw stages, controllers, and drives, Aerotech can deliver the ideal gantry for your application. Whether you require hundreds of highperformance gantries or a one-of-a-kind system, Aerotech is the gantry manufacturer of choice. We look forward to discussing your application. Aerotech, Inc. 101 Zeta Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15238 Phone: 412-963-7470 Fax: 412-963-7459 Email: sales@aerotech.com Get Automation Solutions for Electronic Manufacturing, Test and Inspection, and Data Storage at www.aerotech.com Dedicated to the Science of Motion AHV0108A BMW Group is investing $750 million to expand production at its plant in Spartanburg, SC. 14 ASSEMBLY / April 2008 www.assemblymag.com http://www.aerotech.com http://www.aerotech.com http://www.assemblymag.com
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