NEWS


BMW consolidates 3D printing on new campus


The BMW Group has opened its new €15m Additive Manufacturing Campus at Oberschleis- sheim near Munich in Germany. This brings together production of prototype and series parts under one roof, along with research into new 3D printing technologies and employee training for the roll-out of toolless production. The campus currently employs up to 80 people and operates about 50 industrial systems working with metals and plastics. Another 50 systems are in operation at production sites around the world. As well as a pre-develop- ment unit optimising new technologies and materials, a production line replicates the entire process chain. The team from the IDAM project, which involves BMW and 12 other partners, is now


steps and developing a consistent QA methodology for series production of plastic parts. The aim is to develop and test a future- proof, fully linked, automat- ed production line for plastic components at the campus and the findings could help reduce manufacturing costs by up to 50%, BMW said. Additive manufacturing is


Above: Prototype, series and spare parts will be made at the campus near Munich


preparing it for the specific requirements of series, individual and spare-part production. Output is expected to total at least 50,000 series components a year, with over 10,000 individual and spare parts. The campus will also carry out work for the Polyline pro- ject, which focuses on digitally linking process


already an integral part of BMW’s worldwide produc- tion system and part of its digitalisation strategy. The group first used it in 1991 to make prototype parts for concept vehicles. Last year, it produced about 300,000 parts this way. In recent years, it has invested in and formed collaborations with multiple technology specialists to advance aspects of the technology and rapid component manufacture in general. � www.bmwgroup.com


Faurecia sales suffer during H1


French automotive supplier Faurecia saw a 19.7% fall in year-on-year sales in Q1 2020 and this is expected to have worsened to around 50% in Q2, according to CEO Patrick Koller, who spoke at the company’s latest shareholder meeting. Full first half results will be given on 27 July. April was a particular low point, where Faurecia was “severely affected by the lockdowns in Europe and North America, at a time when China was only just beginning its recov- ery”, according to Koller. Overall, it is expected that first half turnover was down by about 35% from €8.972bn in first half 2019. Koller also reviewed


Faurecia’s ‘transformation strategy’ and presented its priorities for 2020-21. � www.faurecia.com


Hella in automotive radome JV in China


Automotive parts supplier Hella of Germany has formed a 50-50 joint venture with China’s Minth Group. This is due to begin opera- tions in Q3, subject to regulatory approval. Hella Minth Jiaxing Automotive Parts, as the JV will be called, will make radomes – permeable covers for radar systems – and illuminated logos at a facility in Jiaxing in Zhejiang province, near Shanghai in China. The domestic market


8


will be the initial target. Both companies are


already active in the field of customisable radomes,


Hella noted. Minth will contribute its existing production capacities, including series produc-


tions, to the JV, which will employ about 80 people. Capacity will be raised within the next year in order to meet the expected growth in radome demand. “With the increasing


market penetration of radar-based driver assis- tance systems, the demand for radomes will also continue to rise,” said Frank Huber, Managing Director with responsibility for Hella’s Lighting Division. � www.hella.com


INJECTION WORLD | July/August 2020 www.injectionworld.com


IMAGE: BMW


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