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The plant in Słupsk, Poland, plays a central role in the restructuring plans of the Swedish bus manufacturer. Here, drivetrains will primarily be manufactured in the future. (© Surplex).

New directions in bus production: Auction following restructuring of Swedish city bus manufacturer’s plant in Słupsk, Poland

Due to technological advancements and the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, bus manufacturing faces significant challenges, necessitating a realignment of business strategies. A leading Swedish manufacturer has ceased the production of complete buses and instead focuses on producing chassis with various drivetrains at its plant in Słupsk, Poland. As part of this restructuring, around 1,150

In the automotive sector, almost 140,000 new robot units were installed worldwide in 2022 – an 14% increase.  (© Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock.com).

From Europe to Asia: global trends, supply chains and the role of used industrial robots

The robotics industry is experiencing sustained growth worldwide, with China in the lead. Germany ranks fourth. Pandemic-induced supply chain bottlenecks for established manufacturers are leading to a slow clearing of full order books – one of the reasons why Chinese robot manufacturers are in higher demand than ever before. Another option is purchasing used units.
The World Robotics Report rec

HUD technology in the car: an advance in driver information that provides greater safety and keeps your eyes on the road. (© MONOPOLY919/Shutterstock.com).

From the cockpit into the car: the technology behind head-up displays

The technology of head-up displays (HUDs) originated in aviation and is now mainly used in cars. Through the interaction of imaging unit, optics module and projection surface, important information is projected directly into the driver’s field of vision. How does this work exactly? And how are the individual components manufactured?
A head-up display (HUD) is a display projected into the user’s

From the initial idea to the finished race car: In Formula 1, vehicles are continuously developed and optimized. (© jamesteohart / Shutterstock.com).

From concept to racetrack: Which machines assist in upgrading a Formula 1 car?

Technology, skill, and speed - that's the fascinating world of Formula 1. How is a Formula 1 car developed from the initial concept to the racetrack? And which high-tech machines enable this process? Four of these high-end machining centers are currently up for sale on Surplex.com.
Formula 1 captivates millions of viewers worldwide. But behind this spectacle of speed and precision lies a profou

In the automotive industry, numerous plastics are processed into various components. This is done through the injection moulding process.  (© Superstar/Shutterstock.com).

From ivory substitute to LFT injection moulding: the history of plastics in automotive engineering

Plastics are a popular material in automotive engineering due to their lightweight and lower cost. The lower strength compared to metals can be compensated for by using high-performance polymers or combining plastics with glass or carbon fibres. The components are manufactured using injection moulding.
Plastics have been around for longer than cars. The first thermoplastic, called Parkesine, wa

Working round the clock: Industrial rotary transfer machines are widespread in industry wherever metal parts need to be manufactured in large quantities, with the highest precision, and in several process steps. (© Surplex).

Make the world go round: 7 facts about rotary transfer machines

Hundreds of thousands of throttle valves for diesel injection systems are manufactured every year. The same applies to the cylinders and keys of a locking system or plugs in the electronics industry. All these metal parts must be manufactured to the nearest micrometre, and various machining processes are required to achieve this. Here are seven facts about why rotary transfer machines are the pref

The lighter, the faster: the choice of materials in the F1 car combines maximum weight reduction and maximum safety. (© Avigator Fortuner/Shutterstock.com).

Fascination Formula 1: Which metals are used in the world’s best cars?


Super fast and super safe, that's what Formula 1 cars are. To achieve this, the component materials are selected based of their mechanical properties and density. Because the lighter the car, the faster it is. Carbon fibre is the material of choice. But which metals are used in the car? As advanced as the material is, F1 components are often manufactured on standard CNC machines. Some used la

Fully automatic production lines are already standard in automotive engineering. Suppliers now need to catch up. After all, the drive transition will require maximum flexibility. (© Jenson/Shutterstock.com).

Suppliers: Achieving the drive transition with used industrial robots

Switching to electromobility is among the greatest challenges facing automotive suppliers. They currently lack certainty about investments, which are nevertheless necessary. Used automation systems can be purchased in order to minimise expenditure during the transitional phase from conventional to alternative drive systems.
Still a long way to go for climate-neutral vehicles
It will take qui

Industrial robots can also be retrofitted in current machinery. A robot can take charge of placement and workpiece handling for automated production with CNC machines. (© Alexander Tolstykh / Shutterstock.com).

Over to you, robots!

Will robots save production? Five current trends outline how the use of robots can advance digitalisation and prevent a shortage of skilled workers.
“The factory of the future will have only two employees, a man and a dog. The man will be there to feed the dog. The dog will be there to keep the man from touching the equipment.”
Warren G. Bennis, US economist (1925–2014)
Increased installa

Used machines for your success

Surplex has been one of Europe’s leading industrial auction houses for 25 years and trades worldwide in used machines and factory equipment. The 18-language auction platform Surplex.com has over 125,000 registered customers. The company is based in Düsseldorf and has offices in many European countries, including Spain, Italy, and CEE. More than 200 provide a full service in 20 languages.
Surplex became part of TBAuctions in August 2024, Europe’s leading multi-brand (Troostwijk Auctions, Klaravik, Auksjonen, PS Auction, British Medical Auctions, Vavato, and Auktionshuset dab), digital auction platform for B2B used goods. The TBAuctions group reach nearly 200 million annual site visits, sell over 1.6 million assets, receiving bids from 750k bidders in 175 countries, generating hammersales of more than €1.6 billion, and employing nearly 1,200 team members.