There is much going on in the world of hydraulic, pneumatic and electric motion systems, from technology introductions and industry advancements to new trends and industry leaders. Each week the Power & Motion team collects the latest industry news to help keep our readers up to date on what's happening in the fluid power and electric motion control sectors as well as the industries they serve.
Dakota Fluid Power Expands Operations
Dakota Fluid Power, a Singer Industrial company, has opened a new location in Council Bluffs, IA, to help serve customers in the region. This increases Singer Industrial's total North American footprint to over 100 locations.
The new location will allow Dakota Fluid Power to better serve an expanding customer base, providing fluid power products, technical expertise as well as service and repair and a stocked inventory for replacement parts.
"We're thrilled to provide such essential services in the area, much needed and greatly appreciated. It's a significant time and money saver to have these conveniences closer to home," said Brian Zweibohmer, Council Bluffs Branch Manager.
VMAC Adds Digital Controls and Telematics to UNDERHOOD 40 Air Compressors
VMAC, a developer of mobile air compressors, introduces a new version of its UNDERHOOD 40 air compressor which includes digital controls and telematics. The digital controls are designed to seamlessly integrate with a vehicle to provide performance and maintenance information about the air compressor.
Telematics, built-in soft start, safety controls and enhanced diagnostics are included as part of the digital controls. "The new Controller continually monitors sensor health and safety interlocks, while optional telematics provide real-time diagnostics, system use, hours, service intervals, remote start/stop, and error codes through industry standard J1939 interface," explains Steve Danielewicz, VMAC’s Engineering Team Lead.
The new UNDERHOOD 40 air compressor is designed for trucks and commercial vans and provides up to 40 CFM at 100% duty cycle.
Demand Increases for ZF CeTrax lite Electric Drive
ZF is experiencing increased demand for its CeTrax lite electric drive not long after starting production on the unit in April 2023. The company received a larger initial order from an OEM customer for its latest light distribution truck, and plans to start additional volume production in 2024 to meet continued demand for the drive unit.
The all-electric central drive can be used to electrify existing commercial vehicle platforms which ZF said makes it easier for OEMs to transition to electrification. CeTrax lite is an all-electric drive with a peak output of 150 kW and sits centrally in the vehicle frame in the space normally occupied by a conventional transmission.
There is a greater transition toward electric drive options like the CeTrax to help meet the electrification needs of various vehicle types. These units sometimes completely replace the hydraulic components which were used in conventional drive components, or still include them but to a lesser degree than previously.
The demand growth experienced by ZF for the CeTrax drive unit is indicative of the market push for both on- and off-highway vehicles to become electrified. ZF is anticipating continued growth for the CeTrax lite and other units in the CeTrax portfolio in the coming years.
"CeTrax lite is on its way to becoming a successful global product and is accelerating purely electric and locally emission-free delivery traffic," says Kleber Vinhas, Location Manager of the ZF Friedrichshafen plant. "At the same time, we are investing and preparing further volume production launches for customers with the CeTrax 2 dual, the next electric central drive from Friedrichshafen for heavy commercial vehicles, set to start production."
ASTM Names New President
Standards organization ASTM International has appointed Andrew G. Kireta Jr. as its new president which will be effective May 1, 2024. According to the organization, his background in standards development and familiarity with ASTM will aid with future growth.
Kireta succeeds Katharine Morgan who served as president from 2017 and is retiring after a 40-year career with ASTM. He is president and CEO of the Copper Development Association and has servedthe past two decades in an executive management capacity. He has also been an active member of ASTM since 1998 and served in various roles with the organization.
"I am honored and excited to serve as the new president of ASTM International," says Kireta. "I have great respect for ASTM’s mission, staff, members, and partners, and I am humbled to lead an organization that has made such a meaningful impact on industry and society over its 125-year history. I am eager to work with the ASTM community to build upon that success as we advance our mission of helping our world work better."
Q5D Recieves Investment to Develop Automated Wire Harness Technology
Q5D Technology, a developer of hardware and software tools for automating wiring harness manufacture, has received a new round of funding to help grow its business.
The company has developed robotic tools combined with computer-aided design and manufacturing software which enables the autonomous addition of wiring and printed electronics directly onto product surfaces. This helps to speed up what has traditionally been a laborious manufacturing process.
Q5D's technology has proved useful in the automotive industry, helping OEMs to reduce production costs and more. According to the company, this new investment from aerospace and defense company Lockeed Martin comes at a pivotal moment as Q5D is transitioning from project-based revenue to machine sales after the launch of its first hardware product in 2023.
"We see the opportunity for increased versatility and agility in Q5D's technology," said Chris Moran, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin Ventures. "Wiring is a complex and expensive aspect of the manufacturing process. Q5D's technology can offer flexibility with the potential for hardware to efficiently switch between manufacturing different parts without compromising quality."
Learn more about Q5D's automated wiring harness manufacturing technology in our video interviews below with the company's CEO Steve Bennington.
