A US report predicts the cost of logistics as a percentage of sales will fall by 1995 as new technology will improve productivity. John Mortimer of IFS Publications reports.

The prospect of a single European market by 1992 will force manufacturers to examine their logistics chains in great detail. The result, according to Andrew Cardle of Network Distribution, could be a complete shake‐up in both manufacturing and distribution strategies. John Mortimer went along...

Jaguar Cars, the luxury UK automaker, is developing a new car, the X350. For the first time, the company is to use aluminium body panels for the body shell. Aluminium can be difficult to weld so self‐piercing rivets are used for metal joining. The rivets are used in place of spot welding, but...

A new manufacturing plant has been installed in Solihull, UK, to manufacture the new Range Rover sports utility vehicle. An important aspect of the £80 million investment at the site is a body‐in‐white assembly shop containing 123 robots, many of which are employed in multi‐tasking roles.

Certain models of the new Vauxhall Vectra passenger car are being manufactured at Ellesmere Port where there is a completely new bodyshop with an installed population of some 660 Fanuc robots.

Two models of the Vauxhall Vectra passenger car are now manufactured at Ellesmere Port, UK where there is a completely new bodyshop with over 600 Fanuc robots. John Mortimer reports.