Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • European Rubber Journal
  • Plastics News
web
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • ITEC
    • Automotive
    • Tire
    • Non-Tire
    • Suppliers
    • Silicone
    • Latex
    • Coronavirus
    • Executive Action
    • Government/Legal
    • Opinion
    • Technical Notebooks
    • International Elastomer Show
    • Women in Tire & Rubber
    • HEXPOL Sponsored Content
    • Goodyear recognized by Lockheed Martin as 'elite supplier'
      EV tire advancements to help secure future
      Lambillotte: Only question on AVs is timing
      CAR official says EV future brighter than autonomous
    • ETRMA: COVID-19 pummels European tire markets in 2020
      New systems solutions advance the sustainability of automotive weatherseals
      3D mapping, navigation from Conti, others on cusp of mainstream
      The new One: Nokian unveils all-season passenger tire
    • ETRMA: COVID-19 pummels European tire markets in 2020
      R&D, Group 1 oils shift keeps Nynas busy
      The new One: Nokian unveils all-season passenger tire
      USW opposes Taiwan tire makers' dumping counterproposal
    • 3D mapping, navigation from Conti, others on cusp of mainstream
      R&D, Group 1 oils shift keeps Nynas busy
      Motion Industries rebrands as 'Motion'
      Proto Labs to buy e-commerce company 3D Hubs for $280 million
    • New systems solutions advance the sustainability of automotive weatherseals
      Arburg: 2021 Technology Days in June will run for 6 days
      R&D, Group 1 oils shift keeps Nynas busy
      Arburg boosts electric machine business with AMK acquisition
    • Proto Labs to buy e-commerce company 3D Hubs for $280 million
      Ace Products & Consulting partners with Wallace Instruments
      Safic-Alcan extends distribution agreement with Momentive
      Momentive aims to grow silicone presence in Asia-Pacific region
    • WCCO task force navigates pandemic, expands communications
      ASTM cancels April meetings as COVID-19 continues impact
      Paycheck Protection Program funding reopens Jan. 15
      Detroit Auto Show canceled; alternative event being planned for September
    • Tero Peltomaki named Cimcorp CEO
      Synthomer CEO MacLean to step down by early 2022
      ARP Materials adds technical sales manager
      Jack Murphy joins Akron Dispersions
    • USW opposes Taiwan tire makers' dumping counterproposal
      India decides against extending carbon black duties
      Hot topics at virtual CES: AVs, air taxis and drones
      Paycheck Protection Program funding reopens Jan. 15
    • Editorial: Against a backdrop of turmoil, M&A deals give glimpse of normalcy
      Column: Pandemic looms over everything in life, business in 2020
      Column: Lessons from the 2020 Best Places to Work
      Editorial: Silicone hit hard by pandemic, expected to bounce back
    • Advancements in synchronous drive belt design for industrial and consumer markets
      Effects of multiple repurposed materials for reinforcements of standard rubber compounds
      Impact of peroxide blends on the cure rate and aged properties in HNBR
      Techniques to detect long chain branching in polymers
    • Rubber Division seeks abstracts for 200th Technical Meeting
      WORD panelists say evolution, authenticity keys to success
      IEC keynote: Communication key to logistics
      IEC speaker: Specialized elastomers may reduce spread of life-threatening pathogens
    • WORD panelists say evolution, authenticity keys to success
      New video celebrates women in rubber industry
      ITEC panelists say women can thrive in tire industry
      Rubber Division planning second Women of Rubber event
    • Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      Faster Access to Your Polymer Compounding Experts Around the World
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      Take a walk thru a HEXPOL Lab
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      HEXPOL offers a unique selection of High Performance Elastomers to match your application requirements
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      It’s what you can’t see that makes the Difference at HEXPOL
  • Blogs
    • Products
    • Wacky World of Rubber
    • New Products: Nova thinks outside the box with sealing tech
      New Products: MonTech introduces 1,500 kN lab press
      New products: 3M introduces new durable, pliable medical adhesive
      New Products: Lanxess launches energy-efficient PU elastomer
    • Wacky World of Rubber: How Trelleborg, teens sealed a spot in the world record book
      Wacky World of Rubber: Of chicken and feet, but not chicken feet
      Wacky World of Rubber: Time to go mattress shopping
      Wacky World of Rubber: Because nothing says football like 'frunk' shrimp
  • Newsletters
    • Rubber in Automotive
    • Silicone News
    • Latex News
    • Sign Up for Newsletters
    • ETRMA: COVID-19 pummels European tire markets in 2020
      New systems solutions advance the sustainability of automotive weatherseals
      3D mapping, navigation from Conti, others on cusp of mainstream
      The new One: Nokian unveils all-season passenger tire
    • Proto Labs to buy e-commerce company 3D Hubs for $280 million
      Ace Products & Consulting partners with Wallace Instruments
      Safic-Alcan extends distribution agreement with Momentive
      Momentive aims to grow silicone presence in Asia-Pacific region
    • Bridgestone bets on guayule as alternative natural rubber source
      Synthomer CEO MacLean to step down by early 2022
      Jack Murphy joins Akron Dispersions
      Synthomer optimistic, raises earnings forecast
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Photo Galleries
  • Directory
  • Resources
    • Classifieds & Mold Mart
    • Sponsored Content
    • White Papers
    • Sponsored By HB Chemical
      The Company Behind the Inventory
      Sponsored By French Oil Mill Machinery
      Process Improvement, Cost Reduction with Custom Press Systems
    • Sponsored By Uncountable Inc.
      Cooper Standard deploys lab informatics platform to synchronize R&D
      Sponsored By Elkem
      LSR Selectâ„¢: A solution to improve your financial impact in molding applications
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      Peroxide Cureable Silicone Injection Molding
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      Understanding and Selecting Performance Additives for Rubber Compounding
  • Data
  • Events
    • RPN Events
    • RPN Livestreams/Webinars
    • Industry Events
    • Past Events
    • ITEC Library
    • International Silicone Conference Library
    • 2021 Healthcare Elastomers Virtual Edition
      2021 Rubber in Automotive Virtual Edition
      2020 International Silicone Conference Virtual Edition
      2020 ITEC Virtual Edition
  • Advertise
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
January 03, 2014 01:00 AM

Auto suppliers aim to make more complete modules

By Rhoda Miel, Plastics News
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    Magna makes complete tailgates for the Nissan Rogue, which is assembled in Smyrna, Tenn.

    The booming North American auto industry is generating a lot of activity for both auto makers and suppliers, but an official for one company said the rapid regrowth of the industry from the depths of recession opens the potential for suppliers to make more complete modules.

    Auto suppliers have sought the opportunity to make complete systems—such as front-end modules, entire cockpits and roof systems—for years in North America, but the auto makers have been hesitant to hand over major parts of the car.

    In 2013, however, Magna International Inc. began producing complete tailgates for Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.'s Rogue crossover, made in Smyrna, Tenn.

    The all olefin liftgate, with a polypropylene inner and thermoplastic polyolefin outer panel produced together with lighting, electronics and an integrated spoiler, took the top prize at this year's Society of Plastics Engineers' Automotive Innovations competition for the year.

    Magna had been in talks with Nissan about making a tailgate for more than 10 years, said Tom Pilette, vice president of product and process development for Magna, an Aurora, Ontario-based company. It finally won the business by offering not only a weight savings over the steel system, but because moving the module to Magna could help free up steel stamping capacity within Nissan.

    Because Nissan would not longer need that stamping production for the tailgate in-house, it could dedicate that capacity to other needed parts. At the same time, Pilette said, Nissan could improve efficiency on the assembly line because it no longer needed the space or the people to do full assembly on the Rogue liftgate as it went down the line. Instead, it attaches a complete gate delivered by Magna, which requires fewer people.

    "There are several hundred operations on an assembly line, and if you can reduce the number of inches needed between cars, that's big," Pilette said.

    Reducing the space and personnel on the line means getting more cars per hour down that line, which leads to a higher production capacity with the same number of workers and assembly stations.

    "It might only be 10,000 or 15,000 more vehicles (per year), but what if 15,000 vehicles could be the break-even point on your investment," he said.

    Nissan spokesman Justin Saia agreed that there were some assembly line efficiencies in Smyrna with the new tailgate, but noted that the module is only part of the improvements on site there to improve production.

    Saia noted that the Smyrna plant is capable of producing six different products, while the assembly plant in Canton, Miss., can turn out nine different vehicles. That combination allows it to faster respond to changes in demand.

    New assembly plants like Nissan's in both Tennessee and Mississippi—along with those of its competitors—make it possible to produce more complex modules like the tailgate, Pilette said.

    Suppliers are interested in pursuing complete systems because they can add more value on those parts, and they can take part in development far earlier.

    "We're involved on a modular level a year before we would be on a component level," he said.

    For the Rogue, early involvement also leads to an improved product. Magna engineers were able to design a system that would allow for a tight fit and finish with the steel panels—even with the thermal expansion issues that are typically a problem for thermoplastics. The Rogue's liftgate expands and contracts out, so rather than contracting and leaving a wider gap between body panels, the gate expands outward, very slightly increasing the wheelbase of the car.

    Producing more modules off-site in supplier facilities increases the complexity for suppliers, but Pilette noted that suppliers including Magna have been making front-end modules, instrument panels, doors panels and other systems that require a variety of parts for years. Something like a tailgate just extends the logistics to another part.

    "For the most part, almost all of the hurdles to (modular production) have been handled," he said.

    And the North American auto market simply must adapt production to keep up with the growing demand. During the recession, Pilette said, auto makers shut down unneeded facilities and cut back production.

    The North American auto industry is expected to top production levels of 15 million vehicles for 2013, recovering from less than 10 million just four years ago.

    "You think about how much net capacity was taken out in 2009, and how we're back at some of those same numbers in terms of vehicle production now. We're getting the same number of vehicles out, but with more efficient capacity."

    Related Articles
    Auto suppliers eye presence in Russian market
    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Rubber & Plastics News wants to hear from its readers. If you want to express your opinion on a story or issue, email your letter to Editor Bruce Meyer at [email protected].

    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Get our newsletters

    Staying current is easy with Rubber & Plastics News delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge.

    Subscribe Today

    Subscribe to Rubber & Plastics News to get the best coverage and leading insights in the industry.

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    MISSION

    To serve companies in the global rubber product industry by delivering news, industry insights, opinions and technical information.

    web
    Contact Us

    2291 Riverfront Pkwy, Suite 1000
    Cuyahoga Falls,
    OH 44221

    Customer Service:
    877-320-1726

    Resources
    • About Us
    • Digital Edition
    • Contact the Staff
    • Advertise
    • Order Reprints
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Partner Sites
    • Tire Business
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Plastics News
    • Plastics News China
    • Urethanes Technology
    • Automotive News
    • Crain Brands
    Copyright © 1996-2021. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • ITEC
      • Automotive
      • Tire
      • Non-Tire
      • Suppliers
      • Silicone
      • Latex
      • Coronavirus
      • Executive Action
      • Government/Legal
      • Opinion
      • Technical Notebooks
      • International Elastomer Show
      • Women in Tire & Rubber
      • HEXPOL Sponsored Content
    • Blogs
      • Products
      • Wacky World of Rubber
    • Newsletters
      • Rubber in Automotive
      • Silicone News
      • Latex News
      • Sign Up for Newsletters
    • Multimedia
      • Videos
      • Photo Galleries
    • Directory
    • Resources
      • Classifieds & Mold Mart
      • Sponsored Content
      • White Papers
    • Data
    • Events
      • RPN Events
      • RPN Livestreams/Webinars
      • Industry Events
      • Past Events
      • ITEC Library
      • International Silicone Conference Library
    • Advertise
    • DIGITAL EDITION