This Week in Power & Motion: HydraForce and AEM Host Event Promoting Importance of U.S. Manufacturing
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.
Over this past week we saw company news from Poclain and ZF aimed at helping these technology companies with their further growth efforts and expansions into additional technology areas. The importance of manufacturing to the U.S. economy was highlighted at HydraForce's facility in Illinois during an event hosted in partnership with the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. This continues to be an important topic for many manufacturers and industries due to the need to attract more people, particularly younger generations, to the workforce as well as rebuild U.S. manufacturing to help overcome some of the supply chain challenges faced recently and aid the economy.
Event news this week included further details on bauma 2022—the world's largest construction and mining equipment show which will be taking place just six months prior to CONEXPO and IFPE—and manufacturers beginning to provide details on the technologies they plan to exhibit.
The National Fluid Power Association (NFPA) has also announced a high level of interest and registrants for its upcoming Industry & Economic Outlook Conference (IEOC). Economic and industry insights provided during this event will aid the fluid power and related industries in the coming year with their business planning.
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.
Poclain Reorganizes Capital and Reasserts Independence
Poclain Group has restructured its capital which it says will strengthen the company's financial resources. This also helps keep it a family-run company. To achieve this, the company has received investments from Crédit Mutuel Equity, Picardie Investissement, and FE2T fund (Regional Transformation Fund for Entrepreneurs).
With this reorganization, Poclain can implement necessary policies for continued growth in the hydraulics market as well as those which are complementary such as electrification. The company typically puts 7% of its turnover toward R&D efforts, and looks to continue doing so as it branches out into the growing areas of electrification, the Internet of Things (IoT) and connectivity for hydraulic systems, and other related services and technology areas.
"The Bataille family’s vision for the company is that it should be an industrial, technological, international and innovative business," said Laurent Bataille, CEO of the Poclain Group, in the company's press release announcing the financial restructuring. "It should be the market leader, recognized and appreciated by its customers for its ability to offer and implement tailor-made, expert, high-performance solutions. This vision is based on core human values that can only be conveyed as part of a long-term approach that is unique to a family business. In Crédit Mutuel Equity, Picardie Investissement and the FE2T, we have found partners who share this vision and who will help us put it into practice."
ZF Names New CEO
ZF Friedrichshafen has announced the appointment of Dr. Holger Klein as the new CEO of the company, succeeding Wolf-Henning Scheider. Klein joined ZF in 2014 and was instrumental in helping with the early completion of integrating TRW Automotive after its acquisition. He has held several management roles with the company during his tenure.
"As a board member, Dr. Holger Klein was intimately involved in the strategic planning process for the coming years. Therefore, he will dynamically continue the successful transformation at ZF and add his own impulses," said Supervisory Board Chairman Dr. Heinrich Hiesinger in ZF's press release announcing the new position appointment.
As of Oct. 1, 2022, Klein will initially assume the role of deputy chairman of the ZF Board of Management before taking over as chairman of the Board of Management and CEO as of Jan. 1, 2023 from Scheider, who is leaving ZF.
"Wolf-Henning Scheider has set the strategic direction for the transformation of the company, achieved significant milestones, and will continue on this path with ZF through the end of the year to enable a transition focused on continuity," said Hiesinger.
ZF has also announced additional company management changes. Dr. Peter Laier is set to join the Board of Management and lead the Commercial Vehicle Solutions and Industrial Technology divisions. He succeeds Wilhelm Rehm. The company's CFO Dr. Konstantin Sauer is also leaving the company at the end of 2022; a successor will be named in the future.
HydraForce Hosts Event to Emphasize Importance of U.S. Manufacturing
HydraForce and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) recently hosted an event at HydraForce's facility in Vernon Hills, Ill., emphasizing the importance of manufacturing in the U.S. United States Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL) was on site as part of the event which was in conjunction with AEM's I Make America campaign.
The event provided Schneider the chance to tour the facility and learn more about the importance of manufacturing, particularly for heavy equipment and related components, to the economy and the Bipartisan Innovation Act—legislation which aims to increase technology use and development for U.S. manufacturing to help the country be more competitive in the global economy.
During the visit Schneider, who represents Illinois' 10th district, held a town hall with HydraForce employees and discussed the pro-manufacturing policies he supports.
"Touring Hydraforce’s facility and meeting their incredibly talented team made it abundantly clear that innovation is alive and well in the Tenth District," said Congressman Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), quoted in a press release from AEM about the event. "Still, there is no doubt that the manufacturing industry is currently facing obstacles, from supply chain issues to the tight labor market to inflation. To help address these issues, I introduced the Supply Chain Resiliency Act and helped pass the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the America COMPETES Act. These pieces of legislation put manufacturing in America front and center and invest in the long-term fiscal strength of our country, communities, and families. I am proud to represent manufacturers in the Tenth District and will continue to support policies that invest in domestic manufacturing and advance our global competitiveness."
"HydraForce would like to extend our gratitude to Congressman Schneider for visiting our facility, and sharing his insights on the progress being made on Capitol Hill. During these uncertain times, it’s important for us to hear that Congress is hard at work addressing the issues our industry is currently facing — namely labor shortages, logistics, inflation and infrastructure," said Mike Terzich, president and CEO of HydraForce, in AEM's press release. "Our industry will greatly benefit from the action plan being set in motion by the Bipartisan Innovation, and the America Competes Acts."
Expanded Zero-Emissions Mining Partnership for Anglo American
Alternative energy mobility company First Mode is expanding upon its partnership with mining company Anglo American to accelerate development of zero-emissions solutions. Anglo American's nuGen Zero Emissions Haulage Solution (ZEHS) will now be under First Mode's branding to advance its development and commercialization.
The companies recently integrated the technology into a mining truck, and have plans to convert Anglo American's 400 vehicle fleet with the system. According to a press release on the technology acquisition, converting the 400 ultra-class haul trucks to use of the nuGen ZEHS equates to taking 280,000 CO2 emitting cars off the road.
READ MORE: Hydrogen-Battery Hybrid System Drives World's Largest Mine Haul Truck
As part of the conversion partnership, First Mode will also provide infrastructure for hydrogen refueling and battery recharging as well as hydrogen production.
igus Self-Lubricating Rod Ends Aid Safety in Food Industry
igus has released a new version of its igubal spherical bearing for use with higher loads which is self-lubricating, enabling its use in the food industry and other applications where constant relubrication would be prohibitive. The bearing features a stainless-steel housing, self-lubricating polymer inner ring and stainless-steel spherical ball.
With the self-lubricating design, time spent to keep the head of rod ends lubricated is minimized. The potential for contamination during the relubrication process is reduced as well.
"To ease the burden on food-processing plants while improving hygiene in their moving applications, we have expanded our range of igubal rod end bearings," explained igus Product Manager Thomas Preißner in the company's press release announcing the launch of the new spherical bearing. "The new plastic-metal hybrid consists of a steel housing and spherical ball, and an inner ring made of the high-performance plastic iglide A160, which meets the requirements of both the FDA and EU 10/2011."
A solid lubricant is integrated into the iglide A160 which gets released over time in small amounts to help low-friction, dry operation between the inner ring and the stainless-steel spherical ball, explained igus in its press release.
Additional features include a higher degree of cleanliness due to the lack of lubricant, robust design and resistance to moisture, acids and more.
