Friday, March 29, 2024

Comau, advanced automation solutions to produce NIO’s e-drive systems

comau

Comau has implemented a high-performance turnkey solution to automate the production of NIO‘s next-generation electric drive systems.
The highly complex project ensures fast and reliable in-line co-production for the electric vehicle manufacturer’s third-generation induction and permanent magnet motors, both of which are an integral part of its proprietary electric drive systems (EDS).
The complete solution includes main lines, such as electric motor assembly lines, gearbox production lines and inverter assembly lines, as well as end-of-line (EOL) testing processes.
It is designed to support a large-scale annual production capacity of 1 million units for use in NIO’s electric sedans, coupes and SUVs, as well as selected models in its ALPS sub-brand.
Comau’s advanced automation solution offers optimal flexibility and scalability, allowing customers to adapt their production environment to the different process parameters required for new products.
To further increase the flexibility of the production line and enable in-line co-production of the two electric drive systems, Comau developed in collaboration with NIO’s e-drive team a new zero-point positioner adapter.
This innovative accessory effectively unifies design, process and control standards, allowing different assembly requirements to be met while maintaining maximum flexibility.

Controlling motor technology. An energy audit service to grant the smart management

Danfoss Drives, which produces intelligent inverters for the control of electric motors, has launched DrivePro® Life Cycle assistance services, a range of solutions that, customizable according to the different and specific applicative requirements, offer 24/7 spare part packages, predictive maintenance solutions, assistance for the plant start-up and guarantee extension up to 6 years. DrivePro® Site Assessment is an energy audit service studied to grant the smart management of the installed fleet of drives, not only by Danfoss brand but also by other brands, in view of operational efficiency and optimization of maintenance interventions.
Through the accurate analysis of the data collected from the field, it allows taking targeted decisions on the maintenance type, planning of interventions, retrofit and/or future drive upgrades.
Danfoss inverters are “motor and system independent”, that is to say they allow controlling any kind of motor technology: standard asynchronous motors, with permanent magnets (up to the efficiency class IE4) and reluctance synchronous ones. The customers that already use the service include Coca Cola Brazil, Rajarambapu sugar factory and Arla Foods.

Converting buses to electric

Equipmake presents the last generation of its Zero Emission Drivetrain (ZED), an advanced electric battery powertrain, designed and developed from scratch to offer a green and cost-effective urban mobility.
Fully scalable and modular, ZED can be applied to any bus, from the single to the double-decker bus. Due to the electric motor, to the inverter and the power electronics in-house developed by Equipmake and which maintain an optimal operational temperature, combined with the latest lithium-ion batteries, the advanced technology of ZED assures high efficiency.
The electric HTM 3500 motor by Equipmake is perfectly integrated into the transmission shaft, without needing a separate transmission, and it has been designed with precision to satisfy the challenging requirements of a bus at full load, producing a torque of 3,500 Nm at a motor speed of just 1,000 rpm and delivering a maximum power of 400 kW.
Already used by operators worldwide, from London to Buenos Aires, ZED by Equipmake can share in decreasing local emissions in urban environments, in improving the air quality and in decreasing management costs for users and operators.

EuroGroup Laminations takes over 100% of the share capital of DS4

ds4

EuroGroup Laminations, world protagonist in the design, production and distribution of stators and rotors for electric motors and generators has completed the closing of the 100% takeover of the share capital of DS4 spa.

It is a company operating in the design and implementation of software and hardware custom-made with applications in the industrial automation field, which ended the 2022 financial statement with 7.9 million Euros of revenues and 2.5 million Euros EBITDA, with an order portfolio of 18.4 million Euros in July 2023.

The operation value is equal to an enterprise value of about 16.5 million Euros.

“We are very satisfied with continuing this growth course with DS4, finally part of our Group since today. The operational synergies that this operation will generate will let us reach ambitious results. I thank the management of DS4 for the strong commitment demonstrated in working hard together in next years, finally as colleagues” Marco Arduini, CEO of EuroGroup Laminations, commented.

Over 500,000 battery chargers and 1 million of users

Wallbox, top player in the sector of the charges for electric vehicles and other devices for the energy management, has announced the achievement of two important goals: the sale of over 500,000 battery chargers for electric vehicles and the attainment of 1 million of users on its software platforms worldwide.
The products that have driven this important commercial phase include the company’s whole range of smart battery chargers for electric vehicles (EV), intended for household, semi-public and public uses. Among them, stands out Supernova, the fast DC battery charger that, just in Italy, has scored the sale of around 400 units, sharing in the enhancement of the Country’s public charge infrastructure.
“In six years only, Wallbox has carried out 45 million recharge sessions and managed 681 GWh of energy. These numbers result in 4 billion kilometres travelled by car, equivalent to about 10 return trips to Mars. Considering that we have installed only 3% of the necessary battery chargers to reach the company’s energy transition targets, it is clear that we are just grazing the surface of the potential of electric vehicles’ charge in the energy management”, stated Enric Asunción, CEO and co-founder of Wallbox.

Awarded the electric motor for RemigoOne boats

DesignEuropa Awards, organized by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), are an important acknowledgement for the excellence in the field of design and of registered models.
These prizes, subdivided into three categories (Small and rising enterprises, Industry and Carrer), highlight the importance of design as fundamental resource for innovative enterprises in Europe.
Among the winners of the fourth edition, which has been recently held in Berlin, RemigoOne has won for the category of small and emerging Enterprises. The award was assigned to the outboard electric motor, ideated by the Slovenian designer Ajda Bertok; it has a power of 1,000W and is suitable for boats up to 1,500 kg. RemigoOne weighs just 12 kg without the attachment hook, it is easily transported in a bag and it is compact, due to an aluminium bodywork that integrates a lithium-ion battery. It is charged in 3/6 hours depending on the available provisioning system and relies on a maximum autonomy of 14 marine miles at the average speed of 3 knots, while the maximum speed reaches 5 knots.

Equipmake, advanced electric propulsion unit for Vertical Aerospace’s prototype eVTOL aircraft

The British Equipmake has provided an advanced electric propulsion unit (EPU) for Vertical Aerospace’s prototype eVTOL aircraft.
Recently completing the first-ever full-scale untethered eVTOL flights in the UK, the VX4 prototype features a totally bespoke EPU from Equipmake, combining a lightweight, power dense electric motor with a high-performance inverter, designed, developed and manufactured by Equipmake at its base in Snetterton, UK.
“Each motor uses Equipmake’s proprietary rotor design, with the magnets forming a Halbach array to maximise torque and minimise mass to deliver, while the inverter is matched to the motor for optimum power density”, the company explained in its press release.
The aircraft has been designed to transport a pilot and four passengers and it is expected to have a maximum autonomy of 100 miles, with the capability of flying at a speed of about 150 miles/hour.
“ Congratulations to Vertical Aerospace on achieving this milestone. Through our advanced, lightweight, power dense electric propulsion unit, which combines both our e-motor and inverter technology, we’re delighted to be supporting the company on its journey and are looking forward to further assisting in accelerating prototype vehicle development”, they are the words by Ian Foley, Equipmake CEO.

Italian electric motors for the Chinese NIO

The Italian manufacturer Mavel will supply the Chinese NIO with electric drive systems consisting of motor, controller and transmission.
Furthermore: NIO Capital has led a new round of funding that should convey tens of millions of dollars into the Italian company’s coffers to supply the components to NIO’s electric cars. The choice fell on the Italian Mavel because the motors developed by the Italian company feature an innovative structural and engineering design and offer significant highlights in terms of power density and efficiency.
For the Italian company, the investment by NIO represents the umpteenth confirmation of the validity of the work it is carrying out in the development of electric powertrains. At present, we do not know the details about what electric drives it will develop for NIO, but we can remind the collaborations already undertaken with other prestigious brands such as Aston Martin, Ducati, Energica, McLaren and Norton.

Developing an innovative vehicle control unit

The British manufacturer Saietta Group has accomplished the development of a new vehicle control unit (VCU), which has been developed in collaboration with HCLTech specifically for three and four wheel light electric vehicles (LEV) in Asia. The addition of the VCU to the existing range of motors, controllers and transmissions by Saietta improves the company’s capability of providing OEM with complete eDrive solutions that can be customized quickly and cheaply for specific applications.
The VCU will be manufactured in India by Saietta VNA, a joint venture between Saietta Group and Padmini VNA and the first units will be delivered as part of complete eDrive solutions to one of the major manufacturers of electric three-and four-wheelers in India. The VCU is highly modular and can be configured to optimize the operation of a complete electric powertrain, managing the operation of the motor, of the controller, of the transmission, of batteries and of the recharge process of batteries, as well as of other manifold critical functions of the vehicle.
Tony Gott, Executive Chairman and Interim Chief Executive Officer, Saietta Group plc, said: “As with all elements of our leading-edge eDrive solutions, the VCU is designed to be cost-effective for Asia and is highly modular. This allows our engineers to tailor the functionality precisely to a customer’s requirements and thereby deliver a competitive edge”.

Why do certified components in end products matter in the marketplace? Find out in the UL Solutions’ webinar

Certified components in end products are increasingly important in the marketplace. The advantages are essential whether you manufacture components or end products. Adopting a safety-by-design approach places user safety at the forefront of appliance development to prevent harm rather than to remediate after the fact.
However, safe appliances and extended appliance lifetime aren’t just consumer demands. European governments are driving manufacturers to take responsibility for their appliance products’ environmental impact, urging them to make sure they can remain in use for as long as possible. Increasing appliances’ repairability level is one way to extend their lifetime and support more sustainable production and consumption.
To reflect on these issues, UL Solutions proposes the webinar “Appliances and Components: an overview of safety and repairability” on November 21st at 3 PM.

SIGN UP for the webinar! Participants will receive a promotional code for a 10% discount on testing and certification services related to component certification and/or appliance repairability.

Speakers:
• Giorgio Decataldo, Business development manager for appliances, HVAC and components, UL Solutions
• Pika Patel, Global business development manager for Controls, UL Solutions

Moderator:
• Alessandro Garnero, Editor in chief, Tecniche Nuove