This Week in Power & Motion: CNH Industrial Invests in Advanced Engineering Center
There is much going on in the world of fluid power and motion control from technology introductions and industry advancements to new trends and industry leaders. To keep our readers as informed as possible, the Power & Motion team has collected some of the latest news which could be pertinent to their work.
Keep an eye out for a new edition each week to ensure you stay up to date on what's happening in the world of fluid power and motion control.
Navistar Opens Benchmark Manufacturing Facility
Truck manufacturer Navistar recently celebrated the grand opening of its San Antonio Manufacturing Plant. The company says it is a benchmark facility leading its manufacturing in process optimization, real-time production management and sustainability in manufacturing operations.
The 1 million sq. ft. facility features a body shop, paint shop, general assembly shop and logistics center. It it equipped to produce Class 6-8 vehicles, both diesel and electric powered.
"The San Antonio manufacturing plant was meticulously planned and constructed to highlight our many manufacturing strengths and build toward future manufacturing goals surrounding Industry 4.0 technologies, quality and sustainability," said Mark Hernandez, executive vice president, Global Manufacturing and Supply Chain.
"We are incorporating the latest manufacturing principles—digital factory, connected machinery, robust lean manufacturing processes and cloud analytics—to enable predictive quality and maintenance, and allowing data-driven decisions to be made on the shop floor in real time," said Hernandez.
Read more about the new facility from our colleagues at Fleet Owner.
DENSO Engineer Receives STEP Ahead Award
Monique Radersma, former director of engineering for DENSO's thermal manufacturing facility in Guelph, Ontario, has received a STEP Ahead Award from The Manufacturing Institute. These awards are given annually to women in the manufacturing industry who have demonstrated excellence and leadership.
Radersma held various roles with increasing responsibility during her time with DENSO, which began in 2005; she retired at the end of 2021. During her career with the company she helped to develop a quality management system which secured business with a major automaker and helped create the Women in Engineering business resource group at DENSO's Guelph location. She also developed programs to help grow the skills of female team members.She has also been an advocate for women in STEM through various speaking engagements and mentoring of students.
"Monique entered engineering when not many women were in the profession," said Denise Carlson, vice president of DENSO's North America Production Innovation Center and Executive Lead for Diversity & Inclusion (D&I), in the company's press release announcing Radersma's award. "Her skills, her leadership and her support of others throughout her career has not only inspired colleagues, but also young women who will lead our industry in the future."
Festo Partners with Pre-apprenticeship Program, Honored for STEM Education Efforts
Festo Didactic is collaborating with two high schools in southwestern Ohio on pre-apprenticeship programs that will aid with workforce development efforts. Festo says its pre-apprenticeship program introduces students to modern day smart manufacturing which will help prepare them for jobs in today's manufacturing facilities.
The program utilizes hands-on and experiential learning to provide students with exposure to bionics and robotics, as well as beginner-level engineering concepts in pneumatics and mechatronics. It incorporates both classroom and lab work to provide a more encompassing learning experience. Students receive a certificate for completing the program, as well.
Festo Didactic is also scheduled to receive an award March 26 from Kenosha School of Technology Enhanced Curriculum (KTEC) for its dedication and support of the school. Fest has been working with the school to integrate bionics and mechatronics into its STEM learning program for students in 6-8th grade.
Festo is also aiding development of KTEC's Automation and Robotics career pathway.
The company will be awarded the Distinguished Partner award which recognizes community partners who have invested time, resources and expertise to provide students at KTEC with hands-on, real-world experiences.
CNH invests in advanced engineering center
Global construction and agricultural equipment manufacturer CNH Industrial has opened an engineering center in Scottsdale, Ariz. The company says the new engineering center will support rapid growth of its Raven precision agriculture technology.
“Our industries are undergoing a significant tech transformation and CNH Industrial wants to attract a growing talent pool of engineers and digitally-focused professionals that will shape this future,” said Kevin Barr, chief human resources officer, CNH Industrial. “Our new Scottsdale hub will be an attractive, dynamic and innovative workplace where we will accelerate progress in the digital, automation and autonomous spaces.”
CNH says it also plans to expand Raven's existing Innovation Campus in Baltic, S.D. The company acquired Raven Industries in 2021 to help further advance automation technology development for agriculture equipment, an area in which Raven had been pioneering for several years. These technologies could also be applied to construction equipment.
DOE Launches Battery Workforce Initiative, Supports U.S. and European Battery Supply
The U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE) is continuing to further its efforts to support battery development in the U.S. It recently announced it will coordinate with the U.S. Dept. of Labor and the AFL-CIO to launch a national workforce development strategy for lithium-battery manufacturing. An investment of $5 million will be made to support up to five pilot training programs in energy and automotive. Efforts will also be made to advance workforce partnerships between industry and labor to advance domestic supply of lithium batteries.
"American leadership in the global battery supply chain will be based not only on our innovative edge, but also on our skilled workforce of engineers, designers, scientists, and production workers," said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm, in the DOE's press release announcing the initiative. "President Biden has a vision for achieving net zero emissions while creating millions of good paying, union jobs—and DOE’s battery partnerships with labor and industry are key to making that vision a reality."
According to the DOE, a broad national workforce strategy will be developed by bringing together manufacturers, organized labor and training providers. This will lead to the creation of national industry-recognized credentials and aid additional programs to support the battery supply chain in the U.S.
This announcement came shortly after the DOE and European Commission announced their support for a collaboration between the European Battery Alliance and U.S. Li-Bridge alliance. The collaboration aims to accelerate development of robust supply chains for lithium-ion and next generation batteries says the DOE in its press release announcing support for the collaboration.
Both nations looking to address emissions, and electrification is one of the key ways they are attempting to do so. Having a secure battery supply chain will aid with those efforts.
The DOE states the alliances will work together to assure resilient battery supply chains by:
- Developing sustainable industry capacity that can satisfy a growing demand for batteries in transportation and energy systems;
- Researching next generation, high performing and sustainable battery technologies;
- Ensuring sustainable and ethical sourcing of critical raw materials;
- Accelerating battery recycling and reuse, including recovering critical raw materials;
- Investing in in the battery workforce; and
- Prioritizing the environmental justice when supporting the broader transition to a clean energy economy.
California Mobility Center Signs MOU with Qatar Mobility Innovations Center
The California Mobility Center (CMC)—a public-private entity providing future mobility innovators resources to accelerate commercialization of their products—has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Qatar Mobility Innovations Center (QMIC). Doing so enables the collaboration between the two organizations to aid development of advanced mobility technologies such as electric vehicles.
QMIC aims to use local engineering to enable home-grown technology development as a means of addressing local and international challenges, such as emissions reduction. Intelligent transport, logistics, road safety and connected and autonomous mobility are among the areas in which it has been focusing product development over the last several years.
"QMIC is one of the first technology innovations centers in the Middle East region using R&D to develop and deploy intelligent mobility and smart cities platforms and technologies," CMC Board Chair Arlen Orchard told a live audience at its anniversary event on March 17. "The MoU with the Qatar Mobility Innovations Center is exciting for us because it offers enormous potential for cross-collaboration that can lead to a high-value partnership between two leading innovation institutions in the fields of intelligent mobility and smart cities."
The new MOU is one of 65 formal partnerships the CMC has established to help advance mobility developments.
During the public announcement of the MOU on March 17, there was also an unveiling of the Zeus Electric Chassis Class 5 all-electric heavy-duty work truck. It was built to specifications for the Sacramento Municipal Utility District and the first official commercial transaction between two CMC members.