Articles Tagged with ''Ford Motor Co.''

DETROIT—Ford is recalling more than 953,000 vehicles worldwide to replace Takata passenger air bag inflators that can explode and hurl shrapnel. The move includes more than 782,000 vehicles in the United States, and is part of the largest series of recalls in U.S. history.

REDFORD, MI—Ford Motor Co. announced last week that its new Mustang Shelby GT500 will have two 3D-printed brake components. The announcement was made at the automaker's new $45 million Advanced Manufacturing Center here.

DEARBORN, MI—Engineers at Ford Motor Co. are developing car parts made out of graphene, a two-dimensional nanomaterial. Graphene is 200 times stronger than steel and one of the most conductive materials in the world.

VALENCIA, Spain—Advanced body tracking technology commonly used by athletes to improve their performance is now being deployed at a Ford engine assembly facility here. In collaboration with the Instituto Biomecánica de Valencia, Ford developed sensor-embedded suits that are designed to improve worker posture and enhance safety.

COLOGNE, Germany—At Ford’s new state-of-the-art Environmental Test Centre at John Andrews Product Development Centre here, the company can simulate a variety of testing conditions on 10 cars simultaneously on an area the size of a football field. It allows for conditions akin to the Sahara desert in December and snow in July, as well as having the capability of generating up to 95 percent humidity.

DEARBORN, MI--The Associated Press reported last week that Ford Motor Co. will shed most of its North American car lineup as part of broad plan to save money and make the company more competitive in a fast-changing marketplace. The changes include getting rid of all cars in the region during the next four years except for the Mustang sports car and a compact Focus crossover vehicle, CEO Jim Hackett said as the company released first-quarter earnings.

On some assembly lines, today's MVP is a robotic tool that was originally developed for use on the battlefield. It's called an exoskeleton. The wearable device enables operators to perform a variety of overhead tasks. It minimizes physical strain and boosts efficiency.

As automakers and suppliers search for new ways to reduce vehicle weight, some engineers are experimenting with natural fibers. Bamboo, cotton, hemp, jute, kenaf, rice and other crops can be used to produce high-strength composite structures for automotive applications.

DETROIT——Ford Motor Co. last month announced that it was canceling plans to build a $1.6-billion small-car assembly plant in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. But, the automaker is still going ahead with plans to open two other new plants in the country: a $1.1-billion engine plant in Chihuahua, and a $1.2-billion transmission facility in Guanajuato. Both are planned to become operational later this year, supplying engines and transmissions for the US, South America, Europe and Asia.