Manufacturing

Mazda Motor Corporation has said it will build its next midsize automobile entirely in Japan, rather than the United States.

Its current midsize model Mazda6 (known as Atenza in Japan) is produced in three locations, the Hofu Plant in Japan, AutoAlliance International (AAI) in Michigan, USA, and at FAW Car Co., Ltd. in Changchun, Jilin province, China.

The company said it would continue to make the Mazda6 in the US “until the end of its current cycle plan” but that its successor would be made in Hofu.

Greek company Raycap has announced the completion of its new photovoltaic power generation facility in Drama, north-eastern Greece.

The new plant, one of the largest solar power plants in northern Greece, is equipped with 18,200 high-efficiency thin-film solar panels, while two 800kW central inverters ensure efficient and reliable power distribution to the grid. The plant is expected to generate two million KWh per annum.

Thomas R. Cutler investigates the role of automated guided vehicles and the need for independent experts to facilitate their implementation in food and consumer packaged goods.

Suppliers of end-of-line automation and material handling in the food sector have a distinct scope of technology to consider, including various types of palletizing robots, stretch wrapping equipment, labeling systems, pallet control systems, and laser-guided automatic vehicles.

John Shook, Chairman and CEO of the Lean Enterprise Institute, says we need to rethink the way we manage our supply chains after the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Henry Ford could get the customer any type of Model T as long as it was black, but the Ford Motor Company now finds itself in the strange position of being able to supply vehicles in any color except (metallic) black as a result of the catastrophe in Japan.

The mining equipment division of Timberland Equipment manufactures custom-engineered equipment capable of giving reliable service for 50 years. The company therefore relies on new markets and new mines for expansion.

Established in Woodstock, Ontario in 1947 to manufacture lifting equipment for the lumber industry, Timberland Equipment has since diversified into a number of complementary industries and has become recognized as an expert in each.

Netherlands-based Doedijns Group has announced the opening of its new premises in Dubai, UAE.

The company, which specializes in hydraulics, instrumentation, pneumatics and controls, carries out customer-specific system engineering, manufacture, procurement, installation, commissioning and maintenance to clients in the energy, petrochemical, and maritime and dredging sectors.

UK-based drinks giant Diageo has agreed to purchase a 20 per cent share in Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL) from SABMiller, through its subsidiary East African Breweries Limited (EABL).

The sale, announced today, is subject to KBL agreeing to terminate a brewing and distribution agreement with SABMiller, which will also see it ceasing to distribute SABMiller's brands in Kenya after a short transitional period.

Seattle-based clean water technology company HaloSource has established a wholly owned Brazilian subsidiary to manufacture, import and distribute its products for partners in Brazil.  

HaloSource Water Purification Importacoes Ltda will deal in the company’s HaloPure powered components, cartridges and devices.

French electrical group Schneider Electric has acquired 74 per cent of Indian manufacturer Luminous, it has been announced.

Japanese auto manufacturer Honda has said that North American production should return to normal in August—ahead of the original recovery plan—for all models except the new Honda Civic.

North American production was cut by half last month because of parts shortages from Japanese manufacturers whose production had been interrupted by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.