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. Each week the Power & Motion team collects some of the latest industry news to help keep our readers up to date on what's happening in the industries in which they work.
Bosch Rexroth Expanding Factory Automation Capabilities in North America
Bosch Rexroth has announced plans to expand its operations in Charlotte, NC, by moving production for its linear and assembly technology to a new manufacturing facility in the area. The new leased space will be built-to-suit and help the company meet the growing demand it has experienced for its factory automation solutions in the North American market.
The new facility will encompass a footprint of 227,500 sq. ft., increasing the company's manufacturing footprint over 25%. There will also be space available for future expansion needs if necessary. Bosch Rexroth plans to dedicate about 200,000 sq. ft. to lean manufacturing and logistics to help optimize the flexibility of its manufacturing operations.
Within the remaining 27,500 sq. ft. the company will have a customer showroom and innovation center as well as training facilities, collaboration and office spaces, and an additional area that can be used for meetings and other activities.
"We are eager to grow our capabilities and reaffirm our commitment to the success of our distribution and end customers in North America," said Geert van der Zalm, vice president of sales for factory automation in North America, in the company's press release announcing the new facility. "It is not often that a company gets to build its factory environment from scratch, and we are in the unique position to do just that, while creating a showcase environment of what a factory of the future can be today."
This is the second new manufacturing facility in the North American market the company has announced in recent weeks; in September it announced plans to build a new plant in Mexico to manufacture components for mobile equipment as well as factory automation.
CASE Introduces New Excavators with Enhanced Hydraulics
CASE Construction Equipment has introduced seven new models of its E Series excavators. According to the company, a highlight of these new machines is their enhanced hydraulics.
While the company has utilized its Intelligent Hydraulic System in many of its machines to provide smooth and responsive hydraulics operation, the new E Series excavators' hydraulics have been enhanced to help provide further power and performance the company said in its press release announcing the launch of the new excavators.
These enhancements come through the inclusion of new hydraulic priority capabilities which enable machine operators to set machine performance and responsiveness to their liking said CASE in its press release. The company refers to this as Hydraulic Flow Control Balance; it enables operators to set arm in, boom up and swinging flow to their personal preferences which can help them improve their experience, leading to improved performance and efficiency.
Per CASE, attachment use has also been dialed in even further with the ability to adjust hydraulic flows based on specific attachment types through the excavators' new display, and to set maximum overflow for each attachment for optimal attachment performance.
READ MORE: Hydraulics Bring Precision and Versatility to CASE Compact Dozer Loader
igus Acquires Majority Stake in Robotics Technology Company
After several years of collaborating, igus has acquired a majority stake in Commonplace Robotics. The company is a technology integrator specializing in control systems, software and power electronics for robotics. Robotics is one of several areas igus is working, and the two companies have worked together on several projects over the years in this market.
Both companies have developed technologies which help to make robotics cost-effective and simple to deploy as a means of increasing their uptake. The companies plan to continue their collaborative efforts to develop new technologies and ease the installation of robots in various industries.
"We are very pleased that, following intensive collaboration over the last 6 years, an even more focused approach to Low-Cost Automation is now possible," said Frank Blase, CEO of igus GmbH, in the company's press release announcing the acquisition.
READ MORE: Robots Improve Cleanliness in Manufacturing Operations
Exro Signs Development Agreement with Off-Highway OEM for Hybrid Powertrain
Clean technology company Exro Technologies Inc. has formed an agreement with a global equipment manufacturer to develop technology for a new hybrid diesel-electric powertrain. The system will utilize Exro's Coil-Driver inverter which aids performance of electric vehicle components. Mobile off-highway machinery applications are the target for this technology, such as construction equipment.
Per Exro, its Coil Driver technology provides the high starting torque necessary to get large engines and other power sources running. As the company explains in its press release announcing the development agreement: The Coil Driver takes the prior-art physics of coil-switching and provides the ability to control an electric motor at the individual coil-level through the power electronics embedded in the inverter. This coil-level control provides the ability to switch motor profiles in real-time to deliver two separate speed-torque profiles from the same motor, effectively expanding the operating range of the motor by functioning like an electronic gear.
According to the company, this technology allows performance to be increased up to 50% while reducing weight and system complexity.
"The reality is that due to certain performance requirements, not all applications can easily flip to fully electric today. Moving to a hybrid set-up is a logical next-generation step. The Coil Driver is perfect for this type of application, easily providing the high torque required for starting diesel engines without sacrificing motoring and generating capability once the engine is running. Utilizing the unique features native to the Coil Driver, the customer can operate the diesel-electric powertrain at optimal efficiency for better performance and lower emissions, while experiencing significant fuel savings versus straight diesel," said Eric Hustedt, Chief Technology Officer at Exro, in the company's press release.
Molex Expanding Manufacturing Facility in Vietnam
Electronics component developer Molex is expanding its existing manufacturing facility in Hanoi, Vietnam, with the addition of a new 16,000 sq. m facility. The company said in a press release announcing the expansion that the new facility will help it meet growing demand for its products used in a variety of industries.
Molex's new facility will feature advanced manufacturing technology. The company said in its press release these will include robotics, high-speed injection molding, stamping, plating and automated assembly processes as well as tooling fabrication and reliability lab testing capabilities.
In addition, an on-site solar installation will aid energy needs and emissions reduction efforts.
