Commercial Vehicle Manufacturer Research Articles

Integrated levelling system for the cabin suspension of commercial vehicles

In the development of passenger vehicles, there is a clear tendency towards combining functions into modules. The same is increasingly true for commercial vehicles. Using the CALM (Cabin Air Levelling Module) air spring/damper module with integrated level control valve, this article describes how the development partners Mannesmann Sachs AG, chassis division, and Wabco Vehicle Control Systems have achieved a modular combination of components from different suppliers, and how this product can benefit commercial vehicle manufacturers as customers.

TELCO's Small Car

TELCO is the leading manufacturer of commercial vehicles (trucks) in India. In 1998, TELCO succeeded in manufacturing a small car of international standards without financial or technological collaboration with any leading foreign car manufacturer. This case deals with TELCO's success in its small car project and the challenges that lie ahead. It highlights the role played by creative resource leverage in the success of firms from developing countries in a global environment.

Competitive and technology management strategy: a case study of TELCO

TELCO has become the largest commercial motor vehicle manufacturer in India using a long-term competitive and technology management strategy. The paper analyses the competitive strategy of TELCO in terms of productivity improvement, distribution network, manufacturing automation, strategic alliances and human resource development. The major focus of technology management at TELCO has been intensive R&D, concurrent engineering, standardisation, and integration of manufacturing and design. The technology management involves intensive knowledge engineering, organisational learning and intensive R&D. TELCO has aligned its business strategy in such a way that it has been able to leverage its technological capability for realising its vision, which, together with continuity of leadership, has facilitated the implementation of its strategic programme.

The use of survey techniques in the review and evaluation of manufacturing projects

Abstract Leyland DAF arc commercial vehicle manufacturers based in Leyland, Lancashire. The commercial vehicle industry is characterized by a requirement for regular model changes to support both marketing and legislative developments. The industry is continually striving for improvements in the processes com rolling these changes. This paper explains how a project review procedure, utilizing surveying techniques, was established to evaluate the effectiveness of existing product introduction/modification procedures and hence highlight areas for improvement. The system is now in regular use on new vehicle projects of all types, including both the introduction of new models and product transfers between assembly plants. Potential areas for improvement, identified by surveys that have been completed to date, have been included as objectives for the next generation of new model introductions. These process improvement initiatives can now be investigated pro-actively and the potential risks removed before the ...

Manufacturing flexibility in a build‐to‐order environment

Leyland trucks is the largest British‐owned commercial vehicle manufacturer producing rigid and tractor vehicles over 6 tonnes GVW. Describes the flexibility required in supplier delivery, assembly capacity and labour utilization in a build‐to‐order environment while ensuring the quality of the product.

An independent description of standard and repetitive parts for CAD systems

Abstract This paper describes the various stages in the development of CAD libraries of standard and repeat parts, which, when implemented, enable users to load the geometry models of standardized pieceparts directly into their drawing models. The development culminated in the elaboration of a solution which can be applied in any given CAD system and this is discussed in detail. References to possible extended applications of this concept and to its incorporation in international standardization indicate the current state of the art. The way in which the concept is put into actual practice at a European manufacturer of commercial vehicles, IVECO, is used to illustrate the requirements that a CAD standard parts library must typically meet in this sector of industry

Some aspects of commercial vehicle noise

Some of the problems that face the commercial vehicle manufacturer in the quest to reduce both internal and external noise are discussed. The various sources of noise in the diesel-engined commercial vehicle are discussed, and methods of noise reduction by the use of high transmission-loss enclosures and sound-absorbent and panel-damping materials are described. Examples are given of the practical application of acoustical treatments to the reduction of noise within and emitted by typical road haulage vehicles. It is demonstrated that useful reductions can be achieved by palliative treatments, but attention is drawn to the practical and economic difficulties associated with the incorporation of sound reducing treatments in production vehicles.

Wear of Motor-Car Engine Cylinders

THE problem of cylinder wear has now become very serious in commercial and public service vehicles, according to an article in the January issue of the Nickel Bulletin. This is due to the new designs giving higher efficiency, and also the use of aluminium pistons. Wear is considered to be due to a combination of two causes: mechanical abrasion and the corrosive attack of the cylinder walls by the products of combustion. The former predominates in vehicles running for long periods with a hot engine such as motor-buses used for long-distance runs in daily service. The latter effect is the more important for vehicles which run intermittently with long waits between runs, like delivery vehicles. In these the engines never get properly warm. The development of nickel cast iron has provided a satisfactory solution. The addition of one or two per cent of nickel to a suitable composition of base iron has produced cylinder castings which are readily machinable and yet have a high Brinell hardness. Recently the manufacturers of many commercial vehicles have obtained excellent results by using heavily alloyed iron. The cylinders of both petrol and Diesel vehicles are now being regularly made of irons containing 4-5 per cent of nickel with or without proportions of chromium and molybdenum. Improved machinability is obtained by slowly cooling the castings from a temperature of about 650 ° C. When this course is followed, the original hardness is restored after machining by air-cooling the material from a temperature of about 850 ° C. In France, this hard type of iron has been used for several years with satisfactory results for air-cooled motor-cycle cylinders.