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GM and LG agree $2.3 billion partnership to mass-produce car battery cells

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General Motors and LG Chem have agreed a partnership to mass-produce battery cells for future electric vehicles.

Together, the companies will invest up to a total of $2.3 billion through a new, equally owned joint venture company.

The joint venture will establish a battery cell assembly plant on a greenfield manufacturing site in the Lordstown area of Northeast Ohio that will create more than 1,100 new jobs. [Read more…] about GM and LG agree $2.3 billion partnership to mass-produce car battery cells

BMW bids to shape the future of battery cell technology

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The BMW Group is building on its leading position in the world of electric mobility and has pooled its many years of experience with battery cells and extensive knowledge in the field in a new Competence Centre.

The purpose of the facility in Munich is to advance battery cell technology and carefully dissect the production processes.

Oliver Zipse, chairman of the board of management of BMW, says: “The new Battery Cell Competence Centre puts us in an enviable position. [Read more…] about BMW bids to shape the future of battery cell technology

International Space Station creating new biological life forms

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The International Space Station is creating new biological life forms using “cutting-edge 3D biomanufacturing”.

3D printing – also known as additive manufacturing – is a well-known method of making things here on Earth, and on the ISS, but this method uses materials such as plastics and metals.

However, 3D biomanufacturing uses biological materials such as new tissue or blood vessels. (See video below.) [Read more…] about International Space Station creating new biological life forms

Xilinx unveils ‘world’s largest’ FPGA chip with 9 million system logic cells

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Xilinx has launched what it claims is the “world’s largest” FPGA chip featuring 9 million system logic cells.

Xilinx says the new chip represents the expansion of its 16 nanometer (nm) Virtex UltraScale+ range.

The new FPGA – the Virtex UltraScale+ VU19P – has 35 billion transistors, and provides “the highest logic density and I/O count on a single device ever built”, according to Xilinx. [Read more…] about Xilinx unveils ‘world’s largest’ FPGA chip with 9 million system logic cells

Continental inaugurates new fuel cell laboratory with German university

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Continental AG is expanding its fuel cell technology sector, opening the newly established Fuel Cell Laboratory for Fuel Cell Technology with the Chemnitz University of Technology Professorship of Advanced Powertrains (ALF).

With the installation of a large hydrogen tank (H2 Tank) in February 2019 at a laboratory belonging to ALF, a central requirement for the expansion to more extensive measuring capabilities was put into place.

ALF, headed by Prof. Dr. Thomas von Unwerth, has an excellent reputation in the field of research and development of fuel cells.

[Read more…] about Continental inaugurates new fuel cell laboratory with German university

Efficient Robotics launches technology for biomolecule screening

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Efficient Robotics GmbH has announced the commercialisation of its Nano-Titer-Pipe (NTP) Screening Workstation for screening millions of biomolecules and cells in hours and days, as opposed to conventional technologies that takes weeks and even months.

The microfluidic platform  revolutionises the process of ultra-high throughput screening for the optimisation of enzymes, antibodies, proteins, microbial strains and mammalian cells, says the company.

The NTP Screening Workstation is said to be faster and more cost-effective than conventional technologies based on conventional “robotic arm” screening technology.

[Read more…] about Efficient Robotics launches technology for biomolecule screening

Proton Motor to install new robot to accelerate fuel cell production

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Proton Motor says it is planning to install a new robot to accelerate the manufacturing of fuel cell units intended for use in road vehicles and other technologies. 

The new “stack manufacturing robot” – referring to a fuel cell stack – will increase production capacity to 5,000 fuel cells a year, says Proton.

Germany-based Proton Motor Fuel Cell is a designer, developer and producer of fuel cells and fuel cell electric hybrid systems with a “zero carbon footprint”. Its technology is used in the e.Go, an autonomous electric vehicle (main picture). [Read more…] about Proton Motor to install new robot to accelerate fuel cell production

Volkswagen to invest €1 billion in new battery cell production facility

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Volkswagen is planning to move into the battery cell manufacturing market with an investment of €1 billion in a new production facility in Europe.

The automotive giant will set up the battery cell production facility in the Lower Saxony region of its native Germany.

The company is working with the local government to choose a suitable location for the factory complex, and is likely to partner with businesses from relevant sectors.

[Read more…] about Volkswagen to invest €1 billion in new battery cell production facility

Bosch to cooperate in large-scale production of fuel cells for trucks and cars

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Bosch is entering the market for mobile fuel cells and paving the way for the breakthrough of this technology in trucks and cars.

A crucial component is the stack. As the core of the fuel cell, is converts hydrogen into electrical energy.

To further improve and manufacture these stacks, Bosch has now formed an alliance with Powercell Sweden AB, the Swedish manufacturer of fuel-cell stacks.

[Read more…] about Bosch to cooperate in large-scale production of fuel cells for trucks and cars

Software developer and integrator Universal Logic receives order for 60 Yaskawa Neocortex AI robotic work cells

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An industrial technology integrator called Universal Logic says it has receieved a large order for 60 of its specially designed robotic work cells. 

The company has developed a software-intense work cell which it calls Neocortex, aimed at supply chains and logistics operations which require automated material handling systems for high-mix, high volume applications.

Universal Logic’s Neocortex Goods to Robot Cells for automated order fulfillment of consumer goods have now been ordered by an undisclosed customer, who wants 60 complete cells for their order fulfillment of consumer goods.  [Read more…] about Software developer and integrator Universal Logic receives order for 60 Yaskawa Neocortex AI robotic work cells