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Ridiculously Fast, Amazingly Precise: Inside an Automotive Electronics Leader

In Season 3, Episode 2 of the IMTS+ Original Series of 鈥淢anufacturing Explorers,鈥 brought to you by Mazak, father-son duo Max and Travis Egan visit Magna, which can make a staggering 185,000 electronic products each week.
Oct 31, 2023

Vehicle manufacturers tout advanced electronic amenities such as cruise control, parking assist, vision systems, and object detection through cameras and other products. Such electronics not only add convenience, but they also make driving safer. Given the dominance of Asian companies in consumer electronics, you might think auto manufacturers with North American operations turn to overseas suppliers. However, the reality is that many keep operations domestic with companies like , a Holly, Michigan-based automotive supplier that can produce more than 185,000 electronic products per week.  

Magna might not be a household name, but it is one of the world鈥檚 largest tier one suppliers in the automotive space, with 174,000 employees across 351 manufacturing operations in 30 countries. In Season 3, of the of 鈥,鈥 brought to you by Mazak, my son Max and I meet another father-son duo, Magna General Manager John Cunningham and Manufacturing Engineer Alex Cunningham, who give us an inside look at some of the company鈥檚 products and electronic manufacturing capabilities. 

The episode starts with Max in the driver鈥檚 seat of a 2022 Toyota Tundra, where he tries to back up a trailer with and without the 鈥渢railer assist鈥 function developed by Magna. By feeding sensor information into a microprocessor, the trailer assist function automatically backs up a trailer, which is a godsend for those who do not back up trailers on a regular basis.  

John and Alex then take us on a tour of the facility, starting with the surface mount technology (SMT) line that produces printed circuit boards (PCBs). This automated system places hundreds of miniscule electronic components with pinpoint accuracy at a 鈥渞idiculously high speed鈥 of up to 140,000 components an hour. Combining speed, accuracy, consistency, and manufacturing quality has enabled Magna to become a market leader.  

The final stop on the tour was the manufacturing cell where Magna produces LiDAR components. Faster and more accurate than radar, LiDAR will be an essential component of autonomous driving. While the Manufacturing Explorers cameras were not allowed to show details, we walked away revved up about the future of automotive technology.  

  Buckle up and join us as we tour other innovative companies that provide high-tech parts and ideas to automotive giants鈥痠n the third season of the IMTS+ Original Series 鈥淢anufacturing Explorers,鈥 brought to you by Mazak, at .鈥疘n the鈥, we visit to learn about lean design,鈥痑nd in the鈥, we get to know , which developed a green process that enables a diverse and reliable supply chain for EV battery components.

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Author
Travis Egan
Chief Revenue Officer
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Manufacturing is the process of transforming raw materials into something with value. When you add a fervor for art, a keenness for progress, or a desire to help, you get a passion project.
It is the quintessential event that brings our industry together 鈥 whether it鈥檚 the moment they walk into the Grand Concourse, captivated by the energy of the vibrant crowd, or the enduring relationships they build.
IMTS 2024 brought the manufacturing technology community together for six exhilarating days filled with opportunities to explore new solutions and build meaningful connections.
From industry icons to next-generation innovators, presenters on the IMTS+ Main Stage shared a common conviction that the future of the manufacturing industry is limited only by imagination 鈥 and there is no shortage of that.
IMTS is the exclusive North American event to discover the latest technologies, hear new ideas, and connect with the best and brightest in the industry. If you couldn鈥檛 make this time, or to get a refresher on the highlights, read on鈥
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