Features | Automotive Components

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Automotive Components

NCPC-SA to emphasise efficiency at Naacam show

By: Marleny Arnoldi 24th March 2017 The National Cleaner Production Centre of South Africa (NCPC-SA) will share its knowledge regarding resource efficiency and cleaner production methods to assist industry in lowering costs through reduced energy, water and material use during this year’s National Association of Automotive... →

Authorities help to curb counterfeit car part imports

By: Marleny Arnoldi 24th March 2017 The South African Police Service (SAPS), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the South African Revenue Service’s Customs offices are committed to reducing the number of imported counterfeit spare parts for motor vehicles, says law firm Spoor & Fisher. →

PAUL RAMARA Counterfeit components coould be tracked through market investigation by checking car part agents that import goods from Asia, the Middle East

Components packages in marketing stage

By: Aarifah Nosarka 30th September 2016 The Marken range label holder, used to hold documentation onto component boxes and stillage in the automotive sector, is actively being marketed, says custom designer and manufacturer of packaging systems Conceptainer MD Ken Mouritzen. He says it is a robust and durable pouchless label holder to... →

POUCHLESS HOLDER The product is designed for attaching control documentation to bins, crates and racking in diverse industries.

New components can grow automotive sector

By: Aarifah Nosarka 30th September 2016 The depth in component production capacity in South Africa’s automotive sector must be ratcheted up, and ways of attracting wider automotive value chain activities, as seen in competitor economies, need to be found, says the National Association of Automotive Component and Allied Manufacturers of... →

Components supply remains stable despite unstable industry

By: Aarifah Nosarka 30th September 2016 The availability and supply of imported automotive equipment components during the first quarter of 2016 remained stable despite continually being affected by exchange rate movements, says financial services provider Investec Import Solutions head Adam Orlin. In its May 2016 quarterly review of... →

ADAM ORLIN Belt tightening is a trend likely to continue

Healthy components industry needed to drive local content

By: Aarifah Nosarka 30th September 2016 The drive toward local content in respect of South Africa’s automotive industry production could support the components industry, says National Association of Automotive Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa) president and Nissan South Africa MD Mike Whitfield. “We have committed to support the... →

Scope for increased localisation of auto components

By: Mia Breytenbach 2nd October 2015 South Africa’s light vehicle production has increased only marginally in the past five years – 533 000 units were produced in 2014 – with local content of automotive components also stagnating at a low 35%, compared with levels of more than 80% in countries such as Thailand and Brazil, says the... →

LOCAL INITIATIVE
A developed local supply chain could enable component manufacturers to buy more reliable and cost-effective subcomponents and materials, locally

Photo by Bloomberg
LOCAL INITIATIVE A developed local supply chain could enable component manufacturers to buy more reliable and cost-effective subcomponents and materials, locally

French manufacturer receives International Engine of the Year award

2nd October 2015 French multinational automobile and motorcycle manufacturer PSA Peugeot Citroën received the International Engine of the Year Award for its three-cylinder Turbo PureTech engine, which ranked top in the 1-litre to 1.4-litre category, in June. PSA Peugeot Citroën notes the award “crown[ed] a... →

Photo by Bloomberg
FITTING PART The PureTech family of three-cylinder engines is fitted on several Peugeot models

Tyre brands awarded top spots in auto magazine tests

2nd October 2015 Three of tyre manufacturer Goodyear’s tyres, namely the Wrangler MT/R with Kevlar, the EfficientGrip SUV tyre and the Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2, were all awarded first place in their respective categories in recent motoring magazine tests. “Tested against several other brands, all three tyres came... →

TOP SPOT Goodyear’s premium EfficientGrip SUV tyre came out top across 15 wet and dry disciplines

Manufacturer ramps up automotive composites production

By: Mia Breytenbach 2nd October 2015 Western Cape-based aircraft and automotive composites products manufacturer AAT Composites is ramping up production of several automotive component composite parts for a UK-based, high-end automotive manufacturer. AAT Composites, which was awarded the contract of undisclosed value in April, will... →

LIGHTWEIGHT DESIGN The composite parts are made using laminate construction of advanced carbon weave-epoxy material

Market uncertainty drives need for efficient auto imports

By: Mia Breytenbach 2nd October 2015 As the volatile rand rate causes a flux in the logistics and import market, there has been a definite paradigm shift in the market as the industry moves towards a more integrated and, therefore, cost-effective solution for the automotive import process, reports import and working capital... →

Photo by Bloomberg
MARKET IMPERATIVE Automotive components imports remain vital as these parts are needed for the aftermarket sector

Aluminium auto panel production expected to accelerate

By: Mia Breytenbach 2nd October 2015 The automotive industry’s shift from manufacturing vehicle body panels in steel to manufacturing them in aluminium is a trend that is expected to significantly accelerate, says aluminium industry representative body the Aluminium Federation of South Africa (Afsa). Afsa executive director Mark... →

ACCELERATING TREND
The amount of aluminium used in vehicles is expected to increase by about 100% or more in North America and globally

Photo by Bloomberg
ACCELERATING TREND The amount of aluminium used in vehicles is expected to increase by about 100% or more in North America and globally

First auto incubation centre programme participant graduates

2nd October 2015 Broad-based black economic-empowerment (BBBEE) automotive supplier Zig Enterprise owner Caiphus Mokotedi met the minimum criteria required to graduate from the Automotive Industry Development Centre’s (AIDC’s) automotive incubation centre, making him the first graduate of the programme. The... →

CAIPHUS MOKOTEDI Mokotedi is one of the first black economic-empowerment entrepreneurs who joined the incubation programme in 2011

Brake reduces vehicle stopping distance by up to 40%

2nd October 2015 Sweden-based automotive safety systems manufacturer Autoliv is showcasing a new vacuum braking system – the Torricelli brake – developed to significantly reduce the stopping distance for autonomous emergency braking (AEB) in vehicles. The Torricelli brake is a vacuum-induced plate below a... →

FUTURE INNOVATION The brake’s patented solution uses a 0.3 m2 vacuum plate below the vehicle, which activates in 0.1 seconds and produces a downforce of 15 000 N

Tandem axle lift enables enhanced road traction, fuel savings

2nd October 2015 The new tandem axle lift function of Swedish vehicle manufacturer Volvo Trucks’ vehicles makes it possible for a truck to disengage and raise the second driven axle during operation, thereby providing a better road grip and lowering fuel consumption when a truck is driven without a load. “Volvo... →

NEW FUNCTION Volvo Trucks’ tyres can now be lifted 140 mm off the road surface when the second driven axle is disengaged

Possible labour issues a challenge for automotive industry

By: Mia Breytenbach 2nd October 2015 In addition to mitigating rising manufacturing input costs, a potential prolonged strike in 2016 is the most significant challenge the automotive components sector could face, avers professional services firm KPMG. “The previous strike created considerable negative sentiment towards South Africa.... →

RISK FACTOR
South Africa’s automotive industry, government and labour are continuously engaging to avoid another strike to protect the industry and retain employment

Photo by Duane Daws
RISK FACTOR South Africa’s automotive industry, government and labour are continuously engaging to avoid another strike to protect the industry and retain employment

Auto production needs to be streamlined, says control specialist

By: Mia Breytenbach 2nd October 2015 As the timeframe needed to produce automotive vehicles is becoming increasingly shorter and the process significantly more efficient, the design and implementation of automotive components and assembly production equipment must also be completed in shorter timeframes, says motion-control... →

Industry committed to green development

By: Donna Slater 20th June 2014 Owing to significant increases in the cost of energy over the past four years, some sectors, such as the automotive component manufacturers and high-intensity energy users, have made a commitment to improving energy efficiency at plants, according to government programme the National Cleaner... →

SAVINGS INCURRED Feltex is reaping the rewards of an NCPC resource efficiency and cleaner production assessment done in 2011

Exports drive local manufacturing capabilities

By: Donna Slater 20th June 2014 Hot-forge-based components manufacturer SP Metal Forgings currently has a large contract to supply South African commercial vehicle manufacturers with more than 500 000 vehicle components a year, including drive-train parts, the company reports. →

KEN MANNERS The local development and manufacturing of automotive components is the primary driving force behind the success of SP Metal Forgings

Counterfeit parts threaten motorists’ safety

By: Donna Slater 20th June 2014 The greatest risk for the automotive components industry is counterfeit critical parts, such as brake pads and shoes, fuel pumps and suspension components, which put the lives of drivers and passengers at risk, says legal firm Spoor & Fisher. →

PAUL RAMARA Counterfeiters are constantly becoming more skilled in copying genuine parts

Advanced gearbox for compact segment

20th June 2014 An advanced gearbox, featuring manual and automatic options for gear shifting will soon be introduced to Japanese vehicle manufacturer Suzuki’s compact range of cars. →

AUTO SHIFTING The gearbox offers both fully automatic and manual shift modes

Touch screen to replace dashboard buttons

20th June 2014 A large tablet-like touch screen is set to replace buttons in Swedish vehicle manufacturer Volvo’s newly updated sports utility vehicle (SUV), the XC90. →

CONNECTED DRIVING The in-car control system is designed to keep eyes on the road and hands on the wheel as much as possible

Consumers affected by escalated component prices

20th June 2014 Vehicle owners and operators are increasingly feeling the pinch as a direct result of inflated prices of vehicle components, reports trade body, the Motor Industry Workshop Association (MIWA). →

LES MCMASTER Vehicle workshop owners are finding it increasingly difficult to source good quality parts at an affordable price

Wiper clip system enhances compatibility

20th June 2014 A ‘retro clip’ system incorporated into two flat-blade models of windscreen wipers ensures both models are compatible on 95% of South African light and commerical vehicles, reports powertrain and vehicle safety technology company Federal-Mogul. →

BETTER VISION Flat blades provide a more uniform contact with windscreens, with evenly distributed pressure along the length of the wiper

Components on display at expo

20th June 2014 Automotive components will be on display during the 2014 Global Automotive Components and Suppliers Expo, running from June 24 to 26, in Messe Stuttgart, Germany. →

Imports made easy with one point of contact

By: Donna Slater 20th June 2014 Import and working capital company Blue Strata reports that importing automotive components can be easier if one point of contact is used, as it eliminates the need to deal with five or more services providers, including banks, overseas suppliers, freight forwarders, clearing agents and local... →

GREG CLINE Dealing with one point of contact means reduced administrative overheads and better transparency in monitoring inbound supply chain logistics

Close eye on automotive component demands

By: Ilan Solomons 21st June 2013 New steel grades are continuously being developed and manufactured, especially higher strength steels that are thinner and lighter, to keep up with the constantly evolving nature of the automotive industry, says local steel, tube and pipe manufacturer Robor. However, South Africa’s steel mills do... →

South African-made automotive products take top awards at Automechanika Johannesburg

By: Ilan Solomons 21st June 2013 Five South African-manufactured products reached the final round of this year's Automechanika Johannesburg's 2013 Innovation Awards, highlighting the ingenuity of South African automotive manufacturers. These products reached the top ten out of 25 products and included Durban-based designer and... →

New shock absorber tester does away with questionable results

By: Ilan Solomons 21st June 2013 South African shock absorber manufacturer Control Instruments Automotive's (CI-A's) flagship brand, Gabriel, launched a new, internationally recognised shock tester tailored to the South African automotive market in late 2012. "Gabriel spent 2011/12 developing and adopting an internationally... →

Improving Chinese quality weakens demand for local automotive components

By: Ilan Solomons 21st June 2013 South Africa's declining manufacturing sector, coupled with the improving quality of automotive components being manufactured in China, has resulted in a greater demand for the cheaper Chinese automotive components, import and working capital specialist Blue Strata Trading sales head Greg Cline... →

New gear train and series wound motors designs add power to winch

By: Ilan Solomons 21st June 2013 Off-road equipment and accessories manufacturer Warn Industries’ new range of re-engineered Zeon winches, which are powered by a redesigned planetary gear train and series wound motor, was launched in April. The new automotive transmission system enables the winch to have faster, quieter and... →

The Challenges of Today’s Fleet Management

21st June 2013 In the not too distant past, fleet management concerns were about the nuts and bolts around maintenance. While those issues are still relevant today, there are now more ‘advanced technological’ issues to address. Against this backdrop Creamer Media and Standard Bank recently co-hosted a Fleet... →

Discussion at the Standard Bank Fleet Management Forum, held at the Melrose Arch Hotel

Automotive friction products include security seals

By: Ilan Solomons 21st June 2013 A new range of Textar automotive friction products that prevent the use of fraudulent parts - mainly brake pads and break shoes on light and medium commercial vehicles - was launched last month in South Africa. "The Textar range, which is manufactured by brake friction material original-equipment... →

EC continues to experience growth in automotive sector

By: Ilan Solomons 21st June 2013 State-owned Coega Development Corporation (CDC) intends to attract two additional automotive original-equipment manufacturers (OEMs), to the Coega Industrial Development Zone (IDZ) and to continue attracting tier-one, -two and -three automotive component suppliers to the Nelson Mandela Bay... →

Centre makes headway in greening local automotive component industry

By: Ilan Solomons 21st June 2013 A combined saving of R13-million, between July 2011 and June 2012, by all participating suppliers has been achieved as a result of the National Cleaner Production Centre of South Africa (NCPC-SA) and Automotive Industry Development Centre (AIDC) partnership, says NCPC-SA automotive sector... →

Developments in Coega IDZ create opportunities for SA company

By: Leandi Kolver 22nd June 2012 Current developments in the Coega industrial development zone (IDZ) in the Eastern Cape will create opportunities for coil and leafspring manufacturers Springwell to supply its products to large multinational clients, technical director Andrew Ogden tells Engineering News. →

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