There is much going on in the world of fluid power and motion control from technology introductions and industry advancements to new trends and industry leaders. To keep our readers as informed as possible, the Power & Motion team has collected some of the latest industry news.
Keep an eye out for a new edition each week to ensure you stay up to date on what's happening in the world of fluid power and motion control.
ARGO-HYTOS to be Acquired by Voith
Technology company Voith has signed an agreement to acquire ARGO-HYTOS, a developer of hydraulics and systems focused on the off-highway equipment sector. Voith will acquire 79.5% of the shares of ARGO-HYTOS.
The previous owners of ARGO-HYTOS Christian Kienzle and FSP CAPCELLENCE will continue to be engaged with the company to ensure a successful transition.
In a press release announcing the acquisition, Cornelius Weitzmann, member of the Voith Corporate Board of Management and president and CEO of Voith Turbo—the intelligent drive technology division of Voith Group—said the company has determined the off-highway equipment industry to be a growth sector. As such, the acquisition of ARGO-HYTOS will aid with further developments in this market.
The off-highway equipment market which includes construction, agriculture, mining and more is expected to remain positive in the coming years due to infrastructure projects around the world as well as a growing global population continually needing food and other supplies.
"By combining the competencies and resources of ARGO-HYTOS and Voith, we want to offer our customers significant added value. In addition to the successful continuation of the previous growth strategy of ARGO-HYTOS, our primary focus is on the joint development of customer solutions in the megatrend areas of electrification, digitalization and sustainability," added Erich Hofer, CEO of ARGO-HYTOS. Per the press release, the company will operate as an independent brand with the addition "a Voith Company."
SKF Launches New Condition Monitoring Solution
SKF has partnered with Amazon Web Services Inc. (AWS) to launch a new predictive maintenance solution for industrial machinery, SKF Axios. The automated solution is designed to provide manufacturers with a simple, wireless technology which enables them to better monitor equipment, and more of it, within their facilities.
SKF Axios is comprised of sensors, gateways and machine learning which work together to detect anomalies during machine operation. Alerts are sent to the facility's personnel so appropriate action can be taken to minimize potential downtime.
The company's experience and knowledge with rotating equipment in industrial applications is built into the solution, enabling it to quickly and easily detect any possible issues that may occur. Predictive maintenance tools like SKF Axios help manufacturers be more proactive with their maintenance processes and help to reduce downtime, which can be costly while improving productivity.
Availability of SKF Axios is planned for July 2022 in North America and other regions following at other points during the year.
Denso Appoints VP of North America Production Innovation Center
Mobility supplier Denso announces the appointment of Sujit Kulkarni to the position of vice president for the company's North America Production Innovation Center (NAPIC). In this role he will work to further the company's efforts in digital transformation, advanced manufacturing, sustainability and smart productivity, states Denso in its press release announcing Kulkarni's appointment.
These initiatives are part of the company's two key business strategies:
- Green – achieving carbon neutrality by 2035
- Peace of Mind – creating a safe and seamless world for all.
As vice president of NAPIC, Kulkarni will be responsible for teams developing products related to:
- Internet of Things (IoT),
- Machinery and Tools (M&T),
- Additive Design Manufacturing,
- Materials Engineering and
- Production Engineering.
Denso says in its press release that Kulkarni brings over 25 years of experience in IoT and smart manufacturing. He has held leadership roles with Wipro, ABB and GE, which will aid his work at Denso.
Festo Forms Distribution Agreement with PennAir
Festo has formed an agreement with distributor PennAir which will now sell Festo's range of pneumatic and electric automation components and systems. Festo products will be available from PennAir for customers in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia and West Virginia.
"PennAir’s business acumen and culture have resulted in sustained growth with its industrial and commercial end use customers as well as original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The company has an amazing ‘can-do’ attitude," said Mark Snyder, channel director, Festo Corporation, in the company's press release announcing the distribution agreement.
According to Festo's press release, PennAir has expertise in aluminum extrusion, automatic lubrication, conveyors, compressed air, electro-mechanical products, robotics and support services. In addition, services provided by PennAir such as panel building and assembly operations can expand customers' own manufacturing capabilities.
Off-Road Machinery OEMs Make New Business Moves
Several heavy-duty mobile equipment manufacturers made major announcements this past week which will not only be important to their own businesses but also how they continue to work with hydraulics, electronics and other component manufacturers and suppliers.
Caterpillar Moving Headquarters
One of the biggest, and potentially most shocking, announcements made this past week in the heavy equipment world was that Caterpillar Inc. will be moving its global headquarters to Texas. The company has been located in Illinois for almost 100 years, chiefly in Peoria.
In 2018, the company announced it would move its headquarters to Deerfield, Ill.—with some operations still at the Peoria site—to be closer to major airports like O'Hare as well as potentially improve the ability to attract workforce talent by locating itself in a more populated area.
Caterpillar already has an office in Irving, Tex., which is where it plans to move its headquarters. The transition is taking place in 2022. It will not impact existing manufacturing facilities in Illinois or other states. Caterpillar states in its press release announcing the move that Illinois remains the largest concentration of Caterpillar employees anywhere in the world.
"We believe it’s in the best strategic interest of the company to make this move, which supports Caterpillar’s strategy for profitable growth as we help our customers build a better, more sustainable world," said chairman and CEO Jim Umpleby in the company's press release.
John Deere Expands Partnership with Wacker Neuson
Construction machinery OEMs John Deere and Wacker Neuson are slated to partner on development of compact equipment which will include those for customers in North America. Excavators in the 0- to 9-ton range will be the main focus of their development partnership.
Per John Deere's press release announcing the partnership, the companies will collaborate on development of excavators weighing less then 5 metric tons which includes battery-electric versions—an area in which Wacker Neuson already has a strong development presence. These smaller machines will be manufactured by Wacker Neuson.
Machines in the 5 to 9 metric ton range developed by the companies will have their design, manufacturing and technology innovation controlled by John Deere with foundational input from Wacker Neuson.
John Deere says in its press release the partnership will provide greater flexibility to the expansion of its excavator lineup as well as enable faster innovation and development of more customer-focused features.
GM Defense Forms International Business
Military vehicle and power systems manufacturer GM Defense—a division of General Motors (GM)—is expanding its international presence with the formation of a new entity, GM Defense International. Doing so will enable the company to offer its products in other markets around the world to support U.S. allies and partners.
A key aspect of this is aiding the move to electric, autonomous and connected vehicles, an initiative of many defense organizations and related manufacturers and suppliers.
"Forming GM Defense International will drive our continued expansion as we leverage GM’s rich legacy of innovation in support of global defense and government customers," said Steve duMont, president of GM Defense, in the company's press release announcing the new business entity. "As a non-traditional entrant to the defense market, we continue to receive positive feedback on our ability to bring commercial technologies forward at the speed that our customers require in these complex times. As we continue to explore opportunities across North America, Europe, the Middle East, the Indo Pacific region and beyond, we look forward to leveraging commercial technology to modernize the mobility capabilities of allied armed forces around the world."
