Recently, Bosch announced the launch of production of electric motors at its Charleston, S.C. manufacturing facility. Additionally, the company plans to invest more than $260 million to further expand production of electrification products at the site, which is expected to create at least 350 net new jobs by 2025. Mike Mansuetti, president of Bosch in North America said: “We have grown our electrification business globally and here in the North American region. We’ve invested more than $6 billion dollars in electromobility development and in 2021 our global orders for electromobility surpassed $10 billion dollars for the first time. Local production helps to advance our customers’ regional electrification strategies, and further supports the market demand for electrification.”
The Charleston plant stands out with a long history of process competency as well as its knowledge in the area of automation and robotics. Production at the site features highly-automated processes, and the site utilizes artificial intelligence and Industry 4.0 methods to gain more efficiency.T
The Bosch Charleston facility, which opened in 1974, is the largest manufacturing site in the United States for Bosch from an employment perspective with around 1,500 associates. It covers more than 900,000 square feet of floor space located on 118 acres.
The newly launched production of electric motors is located in a building formerly occupied by production of diesel components. Bosch has provided reskilling and upskilling opportunities to associates to prepare for the production of electric motors. This includes associates travelling to other sites within the global Bosch production network for training and best practice sharing.
Bosch is also collaborating with local schools to begin implementing fundamentals related to electrification into curriculum.
Due to the collaboration with Digital Charging Solutions (DCS), Kia offers the drivers of its BEV and PHEV vehicles the access to about 167,000 recharge stations in all Europe.
By signing up for KiaCharge, in fact, it is possible to gain access to the infrastructures of the primary energy providers through a single platform, to facilitate and to speed up the energy supply. Moreover, through the eRoaming, customers can manage recharge costs on the whole European network in a single monthly invoice, without having to stipulate additional contracts with multiple suppliers.
«The availability and the suitability of public recharge points –Emilio Herrera, Chief Operating Officer of Kia Motors Europe, affirmed – remains a hindrance for many potential buyers of electric vehicles. With the introduction of a complete accessible public recharge service from a single account, we are committed to making the use of an electric vehicle simpler, and then the choice more feasible».
Since October 6th, KiaCharge users will gain access to the DCS net through a single radiofrequency identification card (RFID) or an app at disposal on Play Store or App Store, and therefore they will be allowed browsing the information about prices in real time and choosing the stations that better suit their requirements, too.
KiaCharge plan is available, astride September and October 2020, in Italy, Poland, Spain, Austria, France, Germany and Switzerland; in the United Kingdom they will instead use it since the fourth 2020-quarter.
Top player on a world scale in the production of stators and rotors for electric motors and generators, today Euro Group Laminations is one of the most dynamic and smartest realities in the international panorama of hi-tech components for electric motors and generators.
The company has been recently protagonist of a strategic move to increase its investments in the electric vehicle segment, signing a binding agreement with Tikehau Capital for the entry into the capital of the alternative asset manager and pan-European investor with the 30% minority share.
Euro Group Laminations is a reality that counts 7 factories in Italy and 5 non-European, a staff of 2,000 workers and a turnover exceeding 404 million Euros in 2019. Tikehau Capital is instead a Group of alternative asset management and of independent investment with over 25 billion Euros as management.
Marco Arduini, CEO of Euro Group Laminations
«We have signed an important partnership with Tikehau – states Marco Arduini, CEO of Euro Group Laminations – that further strengthens us, to seize the opportunities offered by big automotive brands in the electric mobility. The pandemic context has further accelerated towards a “green” mobility. All this without forgetting the important boost that comes also from the other sectors where we operate».
The presence of electronic and electromechanical components in machinery, and therefore in industrial processes, has been rising for some time now in manifold sectors and its growth goes on hand in hand with 4.0 systems. To comply with the trend, it is necessary to create a new generation of skilled professionals
Not only transports: the manufacturing industry in general is concerned by the increasingly massive presence of motors and drives that exploit electric energy instead of the more conventional hydraulic and pneumatic systems.
Besides, it is common opinion that the higher electrification of manufacturing activities or of the building sector might lead – as calculated by Bloomberg NEF in a recent report – to the 60% decrease of greenhouse-effect gases by the half of the century.
Certainly, as highlighted by Enel and Turin Polytechnics in a research presented last December, the secret resides in the will and capability of the various stakeholders of giving birth to an integrated strategy.
What, in other words, the energy provider and the University identify with the expression, the triangle of electricity, at whose vertices we can find renewables, electrification of final consumptions and efficiency of digitalized networks.
Expectations are high: the study estimates that within the next biennium the above-mentioned renewables can represent almost half of total provisioning sources (48%) while from now to 2050 the consumption electrification should reach percentages by 42, 41 and 53% respectively in the ambits of general industry, mobility and residential.
Irrespective of the future possible scenarios, the irremissible matter is that skills are needed to manage them.
And they are not the manifold innovative skills that have been a topical theme since the dawn of Industry 4.0.
The dear old electrotechnics is instead at stake, implemented and refined by a degree in electronic engineering that is in itself synonym of certain employment.
This is the belief – and we will see it hereunder – of the secretary of ANIE Automation and ANIE Energy Marco Vecchio, who however started from other reflections for his interview with Electric Motor Engineering.
Different requirements in the various sectors
«We monitor», Vecchio stated, «the electrification process in mechanics and mechatronics, that is to say how products of this kind converge then into chains like machine manufacturing.
Marco Vecchio, secretary of ANIE Automation and ANIE Energy
It is an indicator of the trends that enliven the transition from hydraulics to electrical-electromechanical.
From 2013 to 2019, the percentage of electromechanical and electronic components increased by 7% yearly versus the value of machines themselves, also due to the contribution of drives and motors.
For some applications, electromechanics assures more efficiency than hydraulics but this does not mean it is the absolute best option.
It depends on application sectors and fields. In the future, electro-hydraulics grants more energy efficiency and durability, as well as controllability inside a supply chain.
However, it is more correct to say that if in some cases electromechanics is winning, hydraulics and hydraulics-pneumatics is the winner elsewhere».
For instance, «where remarkable performances are imposed – I think of machinery and packaging with their requisites of motion control that mandatorily need a significant contribution by electronics» then «we can affirm the automation injection has quintupled in the around last ten years».
On the contrary, traditional mechanics is still the privileged choice for more basic operations and fields, such as woodworking and textile.
Concerning environmental impacts and consumptions, Marco opportunely preferred making some distinctions.
«There is efficiency enhancement, he pointed out, «and this implies a lower energy demand, although basically electric motors have some of the highest consumptions, no matter what their application field is, from white goods to automotive».
A matter of class
Their subdivision into categories by requirements, the assignment of a precise energy class also to drives and inverters, is one of the aspects at which associations like ANIE have worked in collaboration with institutions. This has resulted in a regulation on eco-drives that will come into force since next July (2021/341).
«In cascade», the number one of ANIE Automation and ANIE Energy added, «we expect regulations about pumps and other parts and on their efficiency, to be read according to a vision of systemic approach and not just for the single component».
Regarding renewables and the European New Green Deal, Vecchio is cautious: «What is contained in the national recovery and resiliency Plan about the green source theme is important.
Nevertheless, the problem is that to concretize the goal of the national Climate-energy Plan, the installation of renewables should increase by six times yearly from now onwards.
We unceasingly dialogue with institutions also in this field, in the attempt of overcoming the hindrances of the well-known NIMBY effect».
The shift to green in its turn needs competences. Therefore, developing them becomes fundamental for the Country system, as well as for the players engaged in various capacities in the energy sector.
An investigation about employment carried out in 2020 revealed that among the 121 students who in 2018 graduated in Electric Engineering at Milan Polytechnics the employment rate was by 96% one year after the degree; in 90% of cases within six months and prevailingly (70%) with permanent contracts.
Commenting the statistics, Vecchio had specified that «electrotechnics should be among the primary choices for a young graduate who approaches University», while «data coming from Italian Universities and associated companies highlight that finding human resources on the market with these skills is instead very difficult».
After some time, the opinion has not changed.
«We are dealing with an important energy and industrial evolution», Vecchio stated, «and we need professionals who can manage it. Digital is strategic and very topical; the so-called soft skills are essential, but if it is true that complexities rise, it is as true that we need people who can face all-round complexities and be problem solving. New professionalisms are precious, provided that we do not forget the tradition of electrotechnics, which has its own specialties, problems and peculiarities. To put it in a joke», he ended, «the knowledge of digital technologies is indispensable but also the acquaintance with a transformer». (by Roberto Carminati)
The opening event of the new plant ofArdemagni Spa (an Italian excellence that is part of Duferco) has been held last June 10th. «The old headquarters at Cinisello Balsamo have been recently dismantled – explained Stefano Sacchi, CEO and Giovanni Lanza, Vice-president – after some months of transition that saw the coexistence of both sites. Nowadays we are operating at full rate in the new site, located in Emilia avenue at Cinisello Balsamo, at a distance of one kilometre and a half from the previous one, in Monfalcone 25 street».
The choice of not abandoning the zone mirrors the will of not losing the key logistic advantages.
«Previously we relied on 6,000 covered square metres in 3 different workshops – they affirmed – whereas today everything is concentrated in a single factory taking up 10,000 covered square metres, organized with a much smarter layout, devised according to a lean concept. The space is equipped with 4 slitter manufacturing machines placed in a row».
In the new site they have installed two brand-new slitting lines, which allow faster production featuring excellent quality. Moreover, they have perfected two packaging lines, one of them fully automated. «This new project has been accomplished in May – they added – with the installation of other two slitting lines, resulting in 4 slitters and three packaging lines in all. Worth highlighting the system on automated carriages that transport the coils from the warehouse to machines: a concept of Industry 4.0 where all plants are interconnected with our IT infrastructures».
In the new 10,000 covered square meters, Ardemagni has dedicated broad space to the warehouse, with a maximum capacity of 15,000 tons of stock on site, an aspect that today is more crucial than ever: a certainty for customers that can always have available material and for the production that can be optimized.
In 2010, Duferco and China Steel Corporation accomplished the takeover of Ardemagni service centre. It is a steel service centre that receives large coils of electrical steel that is then slit for the creation of strips with different widths depending on the requirements of customers, which are mainly manufacturers of motors and laminations.
Today, Ardemagni imports, processes and distributes electrical steel from China Steel Corporation in Italy and in Europe, with an export percentage amounting to 50%.
The Workshop, organized by Electric Motor Engineering and Mecspe, will give concrete answers to these questions involving the whole chain of the present electric mobility world: from applied research to the energy distribution on the territory for the vehicle charge, listening also to the opinions by Bikeconomy international observatory, the indications by ELMO Interuniversity Consortium on the electrification of mobility, the witnesses by some manufacturers of solutions for the automotive industry and by producers of electric vehicles. Today, competences, technologies and infrastructures already enable the sustainable mobility course.
Conference moderator will be prof. Marco Villani, professor of Electric Machines Design and Electric Systems for Mobility at University of L’Aquila and technical director of Electric Motor Engineering review.
WORKSHOP PROGRAMME
10.00 – 10.05
Greetings and start of proceedings
Alessandro Garnero, editorial director Tecniche Nuove Group
10.05 – 10.20
Event presentation
Marco Villani, professor of Electric Machines Design and Electric Systems for Mobility at University of L’Aquila.
10.20 – 10.40
RESEARCH – Synergies at the service of research and sustainable development in the e-mobility sector
Ciro Attaianese, University of Naples Federico II and President of Elmo Consortium
10.40 – 11.00
ECONOMY & MOBILITY – Sustainable multi-mobility astride Next Generation EU and urban and territorial regeneration
Gianluca Santilli, President of Bikeconomy Observatory
11.00 – 11.20
AUTOMOTIVE, The electric car for all
Stefano Sordelli, Future Mobility Manager of Volkswagen Group Italia
11.20 – 11.40
AUTOMOTIVE, The electric mobility of the future: Bosch vision
Federico Brivio, Director, customer Electrification, Robert Bosch S.p.A.
11.40 – 12.00
TECNICA, European Project H2020 Refreedrive: new solutions of electric motors for automotive
Giuseppe Fabri, researcher at the Department of Industrial Engineering and Information and Economics of University of L’Aquila
12.00 – 12.20
TECHNOLOGY, Schaeffler innovative systems and components for sustainable mobility solutions
Eugenio Bizzocchi, Director Automotive Technologies Schaeffler Italia
12.20 – 12.40
INFRASTRUCTURES, Direct Current Infrastructures for electric vehicle charge – Protection and Sectioning
Marco Carminati, Global Direct Current & Arc Flash Mitigation Applications Specialist, ABB Group
The protagonists of a decennial strategic partnership are Polaris and Zero Motorcycles that together foresee the development of off-road vehicles and snowmobiles. The intention of Polaris is proposing within 2025 vehicles with electric motor inside each of its main segments, with the first debut forecast by the end of 2021.
It is a revolutionary partnership that avails itself of two talented work teams, oriented to widen notably the offer of electric vehicles in the world of motor sports.
“Due to the progresses in results, price strategy and performances in recent years, and customers’ ever-rising interest –Scott Wine, president and CEO of Polaris, declared – it is now the time for us, thanks also to the collaboration with Zero Motorcycles strategic partner, to implement our rEV’d up programme and incisively accelerate our ranking in the electrification sector in motor sports.
The choice fell on Zero Motorcycles because it plays a pioneer role in electrification, with advanced technologies and notable know-how.
“Zero Motorcycles – stated Sam Paschel, CEO of the company  – is pleased and honoured to give birth to this strategic collaboration that will change the sector, while we are collaborating and developing the vehicle technologies and platforms that will enhance the electrification future in motor sports.
The race to the full electric is priority for an ever-increasing number of brands, aware of the necessary mobility direction. Each winning idea might make the difference; just for this reason Hyundai, Kia and LG Chem have released EV & Battery Challenge, a challenge aimed at selecting 10 start-ups specialized in electric cars and batteries for potential investments and collaborations.
Hyundai Motor Group, for instance, pursues the ambitious target of releasing on the market 44 “green” cars within 2025, 23 of which are electric. New Energy Nexus, the international organization that supports start-ups, is entrusted with the task of managing the competition, in which will be selected the ten start-ups that will have the opportunity of working in strict collaboration with Hyundai, Kia and LG Chem and of developing proofs of concept, benefitting from the technical expertise, the resources and the laboratories of the three international brands that aim at enhancing their technological competences.
The development of GROB is unstoppable. The German company continues to expand itself in Italy too, in order to complete its European presence and focus increasingly on the production of electric motors.
Top player in the design and construction of high-efficiency machining centres and production lines, the family-run company GROB – now in its third generation – is investing resources in the Italian territory, and last 12th march it has inaugurated the construction of a new plant in Pianezza, close to Turin. We were present at the ceremony for laying the foundation stone. The inauguration of the construction took place in the presence of the German management board of GROB, Christian Grob and German Wankmiller, the CEOs of GROB Italy, Mauro Marzolla and Marco Debilio, the mayor of the municipality of Pianezza and the main exponents of the local industrial fabric.
From left to right: German Wankmiller, Margherita Marzolla, Christian Grob and Antonio Castello, mayor of the municipality of Pianezza (TO)
The company
Let’s take a step back. In 2017, the machine tool manufacturer GROB acquired DMG meccanica, an Italian manufacturer of machines for the production of stators for alternators and electric motors. This strategy underlines the willingness of the German player to focus more on the e-mobility sector and to establish itself as a manufacturer of electric motor components.
Today GROB has a total of 6,900 employees and a turnover of 1.5 billion euros, fifteen branches around the world, five production plants in Germany, the United States, China, Brazil and Italy, in Buttigliera Alta (current headquarters of the former DMG meccanica).
“With this establishment” – Christian Grob said, – “we add another piece to our puzzle. We want to strengthen our presence in the electric vehicle sector, engaging even more in research and development of technologies for the electromobility sector. We are also investing in this new Turin headquarters with the aim of bringing together the entire production circuit, from the idea to the realization.”
The foundation stone of the new Italian plant of GROB
The factory
Today, the plant located in Buttigliera Alta is no longer able to cope with the higher productivity required by the development of the business, increasingly projected to automatic lines for the production of electric motors. The new Pianezza site will be ready in about 14 months, starting at full capacity in the summer of next year.
“The transfer of the GROB Italy plant from Buttigliera Alta to Pianezza,” – explained Margherita Marzolla, – “is part of a multi-year development plan, intending to make Pianezza a reference point in the design and construction of special machines and automation solutions aimed at creating electric motors.”
The new plant in Pianezza will be a highly functional centre, distributed on a total area of 24,000 m² of whit 4,800 m² of production area and 3,300 m² of offices and services. The goal is to understand the entire production circuit, from conception of the idea to its practical construction, and the economic investment allocated to date is about ten million euros.
This is good news for local employment: the current GROB Italy workforce includes about 60 employees, but an increase of around 40-50 new jobs is expected in the first phase. Internal training courses will therefore be activated, which, in collaboration with a vast network of local excellence in education, will provide young people with a specific technical preparation.
At the end of the year, Audi takes stock and very proudly announced that in 2021 the brand has doubled the BEV models in the range and that, in 2022-2026, 37 billioninvestments in research and development, estates and factories are foreseen.
Out of them, 18 billions are intended for the offer electrification and hybridization. The way is therefore clear and connected with the issue of the recharge infrastructure, with an acceleration of the network expansion and installation of the first Audi charging hub in Nurnberg.
Starting from 2026, Audi will introduce just new full-electric models on the global market, whereas the production of thermal motors will end by 2033.
The latest introductions of electric models concern Granturismo Audi e-tron GT quattro and Audi RS e-from GT and the compact SUV Audi Q4 e-tron and Audi Q4 Sportback e-from. Within 2025, Audi will rely on over 20 purely electric models.
«Within 2030, Audi aims at offering a real electric ecosystem to the customers of BEV vehicles. The Vorsprung 2030 plan – explained Markus Duesmann, CEO of Audi AG – will allow the brand to face and to win the challenges of the future. The changes inside the civil society are following one another at a dizzying pace: for this reason, we are accelerating our transformation».
The Charleston plant stands out with a long history of process competency as well as its knowledge in the area of automation and robotics. Production at the site features highly-automated processes, and the site utilizes artificial intelligence and Industry 4.0 methods to gain more efficiency.T
