By Xinhuanet| 2021-04-23 21:22:09

Volkswagen Group's global deliveries rose 21.2 percent year-on-year to 2.43 million vehicles between January and March, Germany's largest carmaker announced.The result was driven by the carmaker's performance in China where 990,600 vehicles were delivered during that period, up by 61.4 percent year-on-year. Of Volkswagen Group's vehicles delivered in the first quarter, almost 41 percent were in China.Volkswagen Group deliveries in North America and South America from January to March also recovered, up by 16.1 percent and 10.3 percent respectively.In the Western Europe region, however, deliveries fell by 4.6 percent year-on-year to 735,000 vehicles during the period.The Volkswagen Group's sports car brand Porsche and its luxury brand Audi performed the best, and increased their total deliveries from January to March by 35.5 percent and 31.1 percent respectively. Enditem

By Xinhuanet| 2021-04-09 21:09:48

SAIC-GM-Wuling (SGMW), a major Chinese automobile manufacturer, reported strong vehicle sales in the first quarter of 2021, the company said.SGMW, a joint venture between SAIC Motor, General Motors and Liuzhou Wuling Motors, sold 457,164 vehicles during the January-March period, up 75 percent year on year.Its exports gained 50 percent year on year to 31,055 units during the period.Among the total sales, SGMW sold 103,932 small electric vehicles in the quarter, including 93,814 units of its Hongguang MINI EV.SGMW is based in Liuzhou, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Enditem

By Fastener+Fixing| 2021-03-23 20:27:18

Eurotec GmbH is able to supply a wide range of wood construction screws that can be used for a number of different applications including load-bearing timber frame joints, timber engineering, multiple hall constructions or renovation of ceilings.The company points out its range of wood construction screws feature high corrosion resistance; applicability in service classes 1 to 3; as well as a good resistance to mechanical loading. The screws can also be utilised for carpentry work. Eurotec’s range of wood construction screws includes the Paneltwistec range, which Eurotec mentions is known for being an ‘all rounder’ among screws. It is available in different steel grades, head shapes, and screw tips, and each screw has special properties that are suitable and necessary according to the application. In load-bearing timber constructions, for connecting timber wood or steel wood joints, Eurotec offers its KonstruX screws. They are characterised by a full thread that increases the thread extraction resistance in the components. Also available is the Topduo roofing screw, which can be used for fastening all kinds of above rafter insulation systems. 

By Fastener+Fixing| 2021-03-22 23:50:49

Howmet Fastening Systems has developed the Huck® Range Force™ battery Tool, which it states is a portable powerhouse for multiple applications and industries including aerospace, solar, transportation, and construction. The Huck® Range Force™ battery tool has an electronically adjustable pull force and long stroke of 1.18 inch (30mm) to enable installation of structural and non-structural blind rivets, as well as two piece lockbolts up to ¼ inch (6.4mm) in diameter. The tool, produced for Howmet Fastening Systems by Makita®, has an electronic control that easily changes the pull force to install the fastener. With a quick nosepiece change and a simple one finger pull force adjustment, the tool is ready for the next style of fastener. Using a 18V lithium-ion 5.0Ah battery, the Huck Range Force industrial strength tool is highly portable, reliable and versatile. The tool is also lightweight weighing between 4.8lbs - 5.5lbs depending on battery used, as well as being ergonomic. Battery recharge time is approximately 45 minutes. There are currently two versions available with different pull force and installation speed limitations. Several accessories are also offered such as extra batteries, chargers and carrying cases. 

By Fastener+Fixing| 2021-03-19 21:27:09

Nord-Lock Group has made a large investment in its pivot business, Expander, to better serve the needs of its global customer base. The newly expanded facility in Åtvidaberg, Sweden, has increased by 130 percent to 3,500m² - making room for modern manufacturing, a premium echnical centre, as well as high-volume order handling.  Expander is the original solution for expanding pivot axles – supplying both ’first fit’ and aftermarket. The innovative pivot solutions are installed directly into the existing machine mounting without the need for welding or line boring -providing a permanent solution to lug wear. The company’s production flow is completely digitised, enabling high quantities of customer-unique orders to leave the factory within 48 hours. Expander System has over 35 years of knowledge and experience as the original inventor of pivot pins with expanded sleeves. These pivot pioneers have now delivered over 1.5 million Expander Systems worldwide. “Taking our market leading position to the next level requires us to invest heavily in production to meet customer demands. Over the years we have continued to build on our ability to provide tailor made solutions quickly and efficiently – our R&D department designs over 3,000 new systems every year and our webshop includes over 80,000 pivot positions for different machine makes and models,” explained Thomas Persson, director of Expander System. The factory expansion will allow Expander to increase its order volume by eight and the new Pivot Performance Technical Centre will further accelerate product development and support customer needs. The site will also become more sustainable due to the factory’s reduced energy consumption, improved worker environment and lower carbon footprint.  “This unique Swedish innovation has had highly favourable sales development since joining Nord-Lock Group in 2016. We are now ready for the next chapter on its journey and the enlarged and upgraded Åtvidaberg facility enables us to make that happen, in a more efficient, safe, and sustainable manner,” commented Fredrik Meuller, CEO of Expander System ”I am very proud of what we have achieved – to manage an investment of this magnitude, together with two other factory expansion projects in other parts of our Group, in the middle of the pandemic, is nothing but impressive and a sign of strength. Nord-Lock Group now enjoys a very solid operational platform from which we can continue our profitable growth development and offer a better service to our customers.”

By Fastener+Fixing| 2021-03-17 20:15:51

SFS Group achieved organic growth of 3.7% in the second half of 2020, driven by a distinct recovery in demand and seasonal effects. Sales for the 2020 financial year amounted to CHF 1.705 billion (€1.57 billion). SFS reports that higher production capacity utilisation and strict cost management as well as mix effects supported profitability in the second half of the year. For the 2020 financial year an operating profit of approximately CHF 227 million was realised, which corresponds to an EBIT margin of 13.3%.While demand in the first half of the year fell sharply in some areas due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there was a clear and sustained recovery in demand in various end markets and regions from the summer months onward. For instance, the automotive-related business areas, which had been heavily impacted by the collapse in demand and factory shutdowns at key customers during the first half of the year, showed a strong recovery. In the second half of the year, sales momentum also profited from successful product launches with customers from the electronics industry. Sales grew organically by 3.7% in the second half of the year compared to the previous year period. In the first half of the year, sales showed a decline of –10.4% in organic terms. For the full year, organic sales growth was -3.2%. Consolidation effects contributed 3% to full-year sales, while currency translation had a negative effect of -4.1%. Gross sales for the 2020 financial year amounted to CHF 1.7 billion.

By Fastener+Fixing| 2021-03-16 00:00:00

According to its preliminary annual financial statement, Würth Group has reported a sales volume of €14.41 billion in 2020 – slightly above 2019, which was €14.27 billion.Würth Group has maintained its performance at a stable level thanks to its multi-channel strategy, enabling it to spread risks through its international positioning and diversification across various business segments. The development of sales in 2020 reflects the different effects of the pandemic on individual sectors and markets: While the construction division (+12.3%) and also the German electrical wholesale unit (+10.8%) performed very well with sales growth in the double-digit range. However, sales in the units that directly supply the automotive and mechanical engineering industries declined.Robert Friedmann, chairman of the central managing board of the Würth Group, commented: "The trades, which we supply with fastening and assembly materials in our core business, are of systemic relevance, which had a positive impact on our business. With our multi-channel strategy, we offer our customers the procurement options they need for a supply of materials under pandemic conditions. With the consistent expansion of our digital offering, we also have the right strategy for us and our customers."E-business sales for Würth showed above-average growth of 5.8%, climbing to €2.8 billion in 2020. This increased the share of this contact point in total Group sales by one percentage point to 19%. Due to contact restrictions and lockdowns, business has shifted increasingly to digital sales channels as a result of the Covid-19 crisis.Würth commented: Be it online shop, Würth App or e-procurement solutions, thanks to the consistent pursuit of our digitisation strategy and our financial stability, we remain a reliable partner and supplier to our customers even during the pandemic. E-business as part of the multi-channel strategy has once again gained in importance.”

By Xinhuanet| 2021-03-08 19:35:32

FAW Jiefang, a truck subsidiary of China's leading automaker FAW Group, sold 120,772 trucks in the first two months of this year, up 60.93 percent year on year, the company said.The company sold 41,690 vehicles in February alone, up 215.86 percent year on year.Founded in 1953 and headquartered in the northeastern province of Jilin, the state-owned FAW Group is known as the cradle of China's auto industry.FAW Jiefang said it will soon see the 8 millionth Jiefang truck roll off its production line. It has taken effective measures to offset the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and guarantee the timely delivery of vehicles. Enditem

By Xinhuanet| 2021-03-02 22:18:05

Hongqi, a car brand under China's leading automaker FAW Group Co. Ltd., registered over 45,500 units in vehicle sales in the first two months of 2021, an increase of 178 percent year on year.According to FAW Group, the production and marketing of its new energy vehicles will be prioritized this year. Meanwhile, the Hongqi brand plans to sell 400,000 units, achieving a year-on-year increase of 100 percent.Hongqi, meaning "red flag," is China's iconic sedan brand. Established in 1958, the brand has been used as the vehicle for parades during national celebrations. It registered a new sales record in 2020, with the number of vehicles manufactured and sold both exceeding 200,000 units. Enditem

By Xinhuanet| 2021-02-19 22:06:37

A satellite factory of Chinese automaker Geely Holding Group will start production this year after authorities approved the commercial satellite-manufacturing project.Owned by Geely's subsidiary, Geely Technology Group, in Taizhou in east China's Zhejiang Province, the satellite factory was approved by the National Development and Reform Commission on Thursday. It is the country's first company-led commercial satellite production facility with aerospace manufacturing and automobile manufacturing capabilities.The first equipment parts have arrived in the factory and will go into production in October. It will have an annual output of more than 500 satellites, according to the company.Geely said it established an industrial chain of satellite development, production, launch, and market applications. Enditem