Assembly - November 2008 - (Page 14) Assembly Lines annually, the plant will increase the company’s total North America production capacity to some 100 megawatts per year. Active in amorphous solar cell research and development since the mid-1970s, Sanyo began commercial production of amorphous-type solar cells in 1980. In addition to manufacturing photovoltaic ingots and wafers in the United States and Japan, the company also assembles complete solar panels in Mexico and Hungary. PHD Inc. Acquires Yamaha Robotics FORT WAYNE, IN—Automated systems equipment manufacturer PHD Inc. has acquired Rankin Corp., the North American distributor for Yamaha Robotics. According to PHD, the acquisition will allow the company to expand its presence in the electromechanical actuator and robot market, providing “immediate access to additional automation opportunities.” “This is an exciting milestone for our company,” says PHD chief executive Harry Neff. “With the addition of Yamaha Robotics, we look forward to providing a broader range of automation products, services and capabilities to an expanded customer base.” Airbus Begins Assembling Jets in China TOULOUSE, France—After years of preparation, Airbus has opened its first final assembly plant outside of Europe, in Tianjin, China. The new facility, which is being used to manufacture the company’s popular A320 singleaisle line of jets, is scheduled to deliver its first completed aircraft in mid-2009. ~ XYZO Robotic System Automatically Identifies, Locates, Registers, and Drives GM Installing 1.2 Megawatt ‘Solar Rooftop’ DETROIT—General Motors Corp. is installing a 1.2 megawatt solar power system on the roof of its transmission plant in White Marsh, MD, as part of an ongoing effort to increase the environmental sustainability of its manufacturing operations. The system is being installed in cooperation with SunEdison (Beltsville, MD), North America’s largest solar energy services provider. When completed in late 2009, it will consist of about 8,700 solar panels spread out over some 300,000 square feet of roof space. SunEdison estimates the solar panel array will produce enough power to cover approximately 20 percent of the plant’s total electrical needs. GM currently has two of the largest solar power installations in the United States, on the roofs of its Rancho Cucamonga and Airbus is now assembling airplanes in China, the first time it has done so outside of Europe. o sales@visumatic.com www.visumatic.com 859.255.7907 “The opening of this plant is a historic event for Airbus and for the aviation industry,” says Airbus CEO Tom Enders. “The first Airbus final assembly line outside Europe highlights the importance we attach to our growing partnership with China, one of the most important aviation markets today and certainly tomorrow.” At full production, the plant will have an annual production capacity of approximately 48 airplanes, the majority of which will go to Chinese airline companies. 14 ASSEMBLY / November 2008 www.assemblymag.com http://www.visumatic.com http://www.visumatic.com http://www.assemblymag.com
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