In the history of the automobile, the car industry has been one of the one of the most receptive when it comes to emerging technologies. Since the beginning of the 20th century, when Henry Ford first opened the doors at the Ford manufacturing plan, technology has redefined how cars are made, maintained, and operated.
Are you interested in learning more about the automotive manufacturing industry now and what technologies are leading the way in innovation? If so, keep reading to learn about some of the latest and most impressive technologies being used today.
3D Printing
Called additive manufacturing, 3D printing involves printing a part, one layer at a time, from a digitally designed component. The technology moves to print bigger parts and do more printing with different metals, as you can see here.
For years, aerospace has been using additive manufacturing because with 3D printing; it is possible to integrate new designs with the promise of using metals considered more efficient, such as titanium.
One of the things that have prevented the integration of 3D printing in the auto industry is the larger production volumes they have. Until recently, the use of 3D printing by suppliers and automakers lagged behind those in aerospace manufacturing.
Right now, 3D printing is being used in auto manufacturing for the creation of low-volume parts, fixtures, jigs, molds, dies, and tools. Over time, this will expand as the cost of this is reduced.
Collaborative Robots
Automation on the factory floor in the automotive industry started with robots.
During the earliest stages of this, robots were tasked with repetitive or dangerous jobs. Some examples included welding truck and car bodies.
When robotic technology took off, it was possible to design vehicles uniquely and with more complex assemblies.
Today, though, robots are being used to subsidize labor and implement more automation in factories. With labor shortages occurring for many auto manufacturers, this represents an invaluable resource for these companies.
With the technology available today, you can have a single worker in charge of four to five collaborative robots. This leads to higher levels of efficiency.
Two of the top factors that have led to an interest in collaborative robots by the auto industry include cost and speed. These can be implemented quickly into pre-established environments.
They also can work within current manufacturing cells, which reduces or eliminates the need for more costs.
Understanding the Latest Technology in Automotive Manufacturing
As you can see, technology is helping to transform the automotive manufacturing industry in impressive ways. The information here represents just an example of what technology has done and how it continues to progress.
Understanding what technology is available and how it is being used will help you better understand where the automotive industry is headed.
If you are looking for more news and information on different industries, be sure to read some of the other blogs we have posted on our site.