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Brainy alien hunter obsessed with finding life on Mars

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A brainy alien-hunter is apparently obsessed with finding life on Mars. The Purdue scientist is playing a critical role in the 2020 NASA Mars rover mission.

Briony Horgan (main picture), associate professor of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences at Purdue University, is working to determine whether we are alone in the universe or if life once existed on other planets such as Mars.

When the NASA Mars rover Perseverance launches in the next few weeks, it will travel to Jezero Crater, which preserves evidence of a time when rivers flowed on Mars. [Read more…] about Brainy alien hunter obsessed with finding life on Mars

Vitesco Technologies celebrates 25 years and its new ‘high degree of automation’

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In the scenic setting of Frenštát pod Radhoštěm at the foot of the Beskid Mountains, the Vitesco Technologies site is celebrating its 25th anniversary as well as its “high degree of automation” which is enabling the company to produce advanced technologies more efficiently than ever before. 

In May 1995, the site started producing electronic components for the automotive industry, initially with 100 employees.

Today, the Czech site with its workforce of approximately 3,000 is one of the largest employers in the region and is also one of the largest electronics plants owned by Vitesco Technologies, the Powertrain Technologies group sector of Continental. [Read more…] about Vitesco Technologies celebrates 25 years and its new ‘high degree of automation’

Volkswagen invests €450 million in battery manufacturing joint venture with Northvolt

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Volkswagen is to construct buildings and infrastructure for the battery cell factory it has agreed to build with Northvolt. The automotive giant has made initial investment of some €450 million.

The joint venture between Volkswagen Group and the Swedish battery producer Northvolt is gaining further momentum.

It has been decided that Volkswagen itself will erect the buildings and infrastructure for the joint venture’s “Northvolt Zwei” factory that is to produce lithium-ion battery cells, in order to leverage synergies at the Salzgitter site – based on the existing Center of Excellence for Battery Cells. [Read more…] about Volkswagen invests €450 million in battery manufacturing joint venture with Northvolt

Groupe PSA restarts manufacturing at facilities in a ‘progressive’ way

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Groupe PSA – which owns automotive brands such as Peugeot, Citroën, DS, Opel and Vauxhall – says it is restarting manufacturing at facilities in a “progressive and secured” way.

The company says it has reinforced health measures, shared with the social partners, and deployed before any restart of activity with voluntary employees.

It says it will start an audit campaign to guarantee their “perfect implementation in 100 percent of the group’s industrial, commercial, tertiary and research and development sites”. [Read more…] about Groupe PSA restarts manufacturing at facilities in a ‘progressive’ way

The Future of Self-Driving Construction Equipment

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The global self-driving vehicle market is expected to reach $1 million this year, with a projected growth rate of $1.6 million by 2025, according to Allied Research Market.

We have seen driverless shuttles being utilized in exhibition areas, logistics, and even in transporting goods.

In the construction industry, the development of on-site equipment is incorporating robotics and AI technology to make them more efficient when used on construction sites. [Read more…] about The Future of Self-Driving Construction Equipment

Fabric raises $110 million in new investment round backed by Kraft Heinz

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On-demand fulfillment services startup Fabric has raised an additional investment to its Series B round from Evolv Ventures, the investment arm of Kraft Heinz, one of the largest global food and beverage companies in the world.

Led by a team of food, startup, and venture capital veterans, Evolv Ventures is focused on strategic investments in emerging technologies across the food value chain.

Their undisclosed additional investment to the $110 million-dollar round is a resounding vote of confidence from a leading food tech investor and the iconic food company. [Read more…] about Fabric raises $110 million in new investment round backed by Kraft Heinz

Mercedes expands development of autonomous commercial vehicle systems

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From project to product: With AXYARD, Lab1886 and Daimler Trucks automate the operation of commercial vehicles

The automated snow removal by two self-driving Mercedes-Benz Arocs in Immendingen shows a successful application for automated commercial vehicles in closed areas.

The joint project of Lab1886, the innovation unit for new business models within Mercedes-Benz AG, and Daimler Trucks, the inventor of the truck, has now become a product that can be used as a solution for various customer requirements in sectors such as on-site logistics and agriculture.

Lab1886 and Daimler Trucks, together with Fraport, demonstrated the operation of self-driving snow-clearing vehicles in non-public closed areas for the first time in October 2017 as part of a pilot project on the site of the former Pferdsfeld air base. [Read more…] about Mercedes expands development of autonomous commercial vehicle systems

5 Examples How to Improve the Usability of an E-Commerce Store

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Beautiful design of the online store does not guarantee its high conversion rates. Your visitors may like beautiful pictures. But they came to buy something.

And if the process of selecting, comparing and ordering products will be inconvenient, none of designer tricks will hold them.

Moreover, visitors make up their opinion instantly. According to Microsoft research, on average, it takes 10.5 seconds. [Read more…] about 5 Examples How to Improve the Usability of an E-Commerce Store

AGCO to expand manufacturing facility in France with €40 million investment

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AGCO, an agricultural machinery giant, is to further expand its manufacturing site in Beauvais, France.

Martin Richenhagen, CEO of AGCO, made the announcement at the Choose France summit, led by French President Emmanuel Macron.

Richenhagen said: “We are delighted to keep our promise, made exactly one year ago at the Beauvais 3 Logistic Centre opening event, to announce the acquisition of the 15.7 hectares of the next door ex-Froneri Site, effective from 19th September 2019 to consolidate our presence in Beauvais. [Read more…] about AGCO to expand manufacturing facility in France with €40 million investment

Danfoss supplies automation drives to limestone quarry

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Fearless of the difficult applications – dust and bad weather – the Danfoss VLT AutomationDrive FC 302 was chosen to ensure efficient production of 800,000 tons of hard limestone at the Roussas quarry (main picture).

With an annual cement production capacity of 60 million tons and 42 cement plants across four continents, Italcementi Group is a leading global supplier of construction materials.

The group is a major player in the French building-material market; in the cement business through Ciments Calsia, in the ready-mix concrete sector through Unibéton and in aggregates production and supply with GSM. [Read more…] about Danfoss supplies automation drives to limestone quarry