Robotics & Automation News

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germany

Tests reveal potential of truck ‘platooning’ in Germany

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A pilot project on truck platooning has been successfully completed by DB Schenker, MAN Truck & Bus and Fresenius University of Applied Sciences in Germany.

‘Platooning’ is when two or more trucks drive in a tight convoy on a motorway, benefiting from reduced air drag. All vehicles driving in the platoon are electronically linked to each other

Operating electronically linked trucks on German motorways is safe, technically reliable and easily applicable in the routine of a logistics company.

[Read more…] about Tests reveal potential of truck ‘platooning’ in Germany

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

Firestone unit opens first facility in Germany

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Firestone Building Products, a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas, has opened its first greenfield plant in Heinsberg, Germany.

The facility, which broke ground in March 2017, employs a workforce of approximately twenty and is located in the Dremmen District of Heinsberg, Germany.

The new facility represents an opportunity to supplement Firestone insulation production in North America in order to meet the growing demand for complete roofing solutions in a global market.

[Read more…] about Firestone unit opens first facility in Germany

VW unveils cutaway model of electric Golf car

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Volkswagen has demonstrated a cutaway model of an electric version of its popular Golf model of car, calling it “eGon”.

Volkswagen released details of the multifaceted program in store for visitors at IdeenExpo in Hannover, Germany from June 15 to 23.

eGon, the cutaway model of an e-Golf, is one of Volkswagen’s highlight projects to be showcased at Germany’s largest youth event for science and technology.

[Read more…] about VW unveils cutaway model of electric Golf car

Airbus satellite and space technology centre begins operation

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Airbus’ Friedrichshafen site in Germany has opened Europe’s most state-of-the-art satellite integration and space technology centre, known as the Integrated Technology Centre (ITC).

The ITC, which triples the area of clean room space to 4,200 m2, is dedicated to building satellites, probes, space instruments and experimental technologies. The centre took two years to build at a total cost of approximately €45 million.

“Space flight has undergone huge positive development over the past few years,” said Nicolas Chamussy, Head of Airbus Space Systems.

[Read more…] about Airbus satellite and space technology centre begins operation

Hanwha Q Cells is No.1 in German solar module market

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Hanwha Q Cells Co., Ltd., one of the largest solar cell and module manufacturers in the world, achieved top market share in Germany’s solar module market in 2018, according to the survey, Global PV InstallerMonitor 2018/2019 by EuPD Research.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), Germany’s electricity production from solar energy accounted for 6.1% of the total electricity generation in 2017, while electricity production from renewable sources reached 33.6%.

In 2018, renewables overtook coal to become Germany’s main energy source, supplying just over 40% of electricity production according to research from Fraunhofer.

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‘Silicon Saxony’ aims to build platform for ‘next-generation’ automotive electronics and sensor technology

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A consortium of seven technology networks with a total of 200 companies and research facilities have joined forces in the Federal State of Saxony, in Germany, with the objective of developing new sensor technology concepts and launching them on the market.

Spanning various industrial branches and technologies, the focus of the initiative will, for example, be on applications for self-driving passenger cars, lorries, buses, and trains, for the implementation of Industry 4.0 principles in mechanical engineering, and for medical engineering.

The consortium says Saxony is “unique throughout Europe”, and is an Innovation cluster for automotive electronics and sensor technology systems.  [Read more…] about ‘Silicon Saxony’ aims to build platform for ‘next-generation’ automotive electronics and sensor technology

Merkel blocks Chinese bid to buy German industrial company

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The German government has blocked a Chinese bid to buy another of the country’s industrial companies, according to a report on IndustryWeek.com. 

A deal had been discussed for China’s Yantai Taihai Group to take over Leifeld Metal Spinning, an industrial machine builder established in 1891.

Industry Week reports that Yantai had already withdrawn the bid before the German government issued its veto, but the current business environment appears to be different from what it was a couple of years ago.  [Read more…] about Merkel blocks Chinese bid to buy German industrial company

Belt and Road: Siemens partners with Chinese companies on giant Eurasian transportation network

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Siemens has entered into more than 10 agreements with Chinese partners relating to opportunities arising from the Belt and Road Initiative, which is a plan to build a giant transport network linking Asia to Europe.

A recent conference called the Belt and Road International Summit, held by Siemens, brought together more than 1,000 leaders and executive representatives from governments, enterprises, investors, financing institutions and think tanks from more than 30 countries and regions.  [Read more…] about Belt and Road: Siemens partners with Chinese companies on giant Eurasian transportation network

Infineon establishes development center for automotive electronics and AI in Dresden

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Infineon is setting up a new Development Center at its Dresden location, creating around 100 additional new jobs in the first phase and employing a total of around 250 people in the medium term.

One focus of it will be to develop new products and solutions for automotive and power electronics, as well as artificial intelligence. It is scheduled to be launched in the course of the 2018 calendar year.

In Dresden, the Infineon Group already has one of its largest and most cutting-edge locations for developing wafer technologies and manufacturing processes, as well as a highly automated production plant.

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