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Manufacturing

Timken to acquire precision drive company Cone Drive

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The Timken Company, an engineered bearings and power transmission products firm, has reached an agreement to acquire Cone Drive, a specialist in precision drives used in diverse markets including solar, automation, aerial platforms and food and beverages.

Cone Drive sales are expected to be slightly above $100 million for the full year 2018. It is headquartered in Traverse City, Michigan, U.S., and has manufacturing operations in the United States and China. The company employs approximately 500 people.

The business produces a broad range of highly customisable precision drive products that include Cone Drive and H-Fang branded high-torque worm gears, harmonic solutions and precision slew drives.

[Read more…] about Timken to acquire precision drive company Cone Drive

Xometry gives away 3D scanners in online competition

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On-demand manufacturing company Xometry is giving away a couple of 3D scanners in a competition which runs until August 15th. 

To enter the competition, all you have to do is upload a 3D CAD file to Xometry’s Instant Quoting Engine.

The first prize is an EinScan-SP 3D scanner, which has a retail price of around $2,200. The second prize is an EinScan-SE 3D scanner, which retails for approximately $1,300. Third prize is a 3DConnexion SpaceMouse Wireless Kit, worth $200.

Winners will be chosen through “sweepstakes”, says the company.

Xometry recently acquired MakeTime, which has “doubled” its network capacity to more than 2,300 shops.

einscan 3D scanner

It also raised $25 million in additional funding to expand the overall operation.

Okuma launches new CNC machine with additive manufacturing functions

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Okuma America Corporation is introducing the new MU-8000V Laser EX multitasking CNC machine, combining the latest laser additive technology with subtractive manufacturing capabilities. The machine is said to enable complete part production on one machine.

The MU-8000V Laser EX revolutionizes production by using laser metal deposition (LMD) technology with the ability to cut unique parts of many different sizes and shapes. LMD supplies powder from nozzles and performs laser melting and bonding to parent material.

This allows for various types of materials to be combined and layered in addition to the possibility of three-dimensional fabrication and cladding.

[Read more…] about Okuma launches new CNC machine with additive manufacturing functions

Doosan applies its collaborative robot to its engine production process

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South Korean industrial giant Doosan has applied its newly built collaborative robot, the M1013, to its engine production process. 

The company says the application of Doosan Robotics collaborative robot to its “G2” engine production will lead to the “improvement in the working environment” and increase productivity.

Doosan adds that the G2 engine injector press-fitting process using collaborative robots is consistent with safety certifications and international standards.  [Read more…] about Doosan applies its collaborative robot to its engine production process

Volkswagen’s main plant in Wolfsburg wins the Automotive Lean Production Award for the first time

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Volkswagen’s main plant in Wolfsburg, Germany has won the Automotive Lean Production Award for the first time in the automotive giant’s history. 

When assessing lean solutions at more than 50 stations of Volkswagen’s Wolfsburg plant, the expert jury was impressed by the “rapid pace of change at the plant”.

Volkswagen Wolfsburg will receive the award as the best original equipment manufacturer at this year’s Automotive Lean Congress in Bremen at the beginning of November.  [Read more…] about Volkswagen’s main plant in Wolfsburg wins the Automotive Lean Production Award for the first time

Motors giant Nidec enters into $260 million joint venture with automaker PSA

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Nidec, one of the world’s largest suppliers of motors and other industrial components, has entered into a joint venture with global automaker PSA Group.

The “Nidec-PSA emotors” joint venture has been created by Groupe PSA and Nidec to initiate the design of “future electric motors”.

Shigenobu Nagamori, CEO of Nidec, and Carlos Tavares, CEO of Groupe PSA, endorsed the establishment of Nidec-PSA emotors, saying the new business will be “dedicated to the design, development, manufacture and sale of electric traction motors”.  [Read more…] about Motors giant Nidec enters into $260 million joint venture with automaker PSA

Lightweighting: How GM and Autodesk are using generative design for vehicles of the future

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Autodesk and General Motors have been working together to develop new technologies for engineering design, as Bill Danon reports (see video below)

General Motors’ auto engineers have been heavyweights in vehicle lightweighting for years.

Just since 2016, GM has launched 14 new vehicle models with a total mass reduction of over 5000 pounds or more than 350 pounds per vehicle.

The lighter the car, the less fuel it uses, the less carbon it emits and the more money the driver saves. Pretty important stuff.  [Read more…] about Lightweighting: How GM and Autodesk are using generative design for vehicles of the future

Canon partners Aveva on imaging technologies for smart factories

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Canon Inc.  is starting a partnership with Aveva Group plc on smart factories through Canon imaging technologies to achieve “factory visualisation.”

The technology partnership will combine Aveva capabilities, including industrial automation and information management software, with Canon’s imaging technology.

Aveva’s InTouch SCADA1 system will be integrated with Canon products such as network cameras, industrial cameras and software for production centres to create new value based on video and image processing technologies employed on factory floors.

[Read more…] about Canon partners Aveva on imaging technologies for smart factories

Global spending on 3D printing to reach $7.4 billion by 2022

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European purchases of 3D printers, materials, software, and related services are expected to total $3.6 billion in 2017, according to the latest update to the Worldwide Semiannual 3D Printing Spending Guide from International Data Corporation (IDC).

The combined spending on 3D printing for Western Europe and Central and Eastern Europe will experience a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.3%, with revenues reaching $7.4 billion in 2022, says the report.

Western Europe delivered 83% of total European 3D printing revenues in 2017 and will remain by far the largest contributor in the wider European region, growing at a CAGR of 14.4% for 2017–2022. Central and Eastern Europe will be the fastest-growing region, however, with a CAGR of 19.1% for 2017–2022.

[Read more…] about Global spending on 3D printing to reach $7.4 billion by 2022

Omron agrees sale of its Laserfront business

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Omron has agreed the sale of its Laserfront business to Towa Corporation, manufacturer of semiconductor molding machines.

Omron and Towa reached the agreement to transfer all those stocks of Omron Laserfront owned by Omron to Towa. The stock transfer will be completed on August 1, 2018.

Omron Laserfront is involved in semiconductor manufacturing and is one of the affiliated companies of Omron Corporation.  [Read more…] about Omron agrees sale of its Laserfront business