Ifo World Economic Climate Deteriorates Further
The Ifo World Economic Climate has worsened in the fourth quarter. The index is now significantly below its long-term average. The deterioration was due to less favourable assessments of the current situation and even more so to the expectations for the next six months. The results confirm the difficult situation of the world economy. Read more
Allheat Pumps with Uncooled Mechanical Seal
Colfax Corporation, a global leader in fluid-handling solutions for critical applications, announces through its business platform Colfax Fluid Handling the introduction of its new Allweiler Allheat series of heat transfer pumps. Allheat pumps are capable of pumping synthetic oils at temperatures up to 400°C and design pressures up to 40 bar (PN 40), yet the design requires no mechanical seal cooling. Read more
Kuka: 500 Industrial Robots to Ford Europe
International carmakers continue to invest heavily in new models and manufacturing systems. Thanks to these initiatives, Kuka was able to win another major order in August 2011 for the supply of industrial robots to Ford Europe. Read more
High feed Rates for Tool and Mould Makers
The Tetra HF high feed rate milling cutter is a new addition to the milling cutter range of the French toolmaker Safety. It will be unveiled to the trade and public for the first time at this year’s EMO. Read more
New Round Connector
Multi-Contact presents a new connector in the 3 Powerline. The single pole, insulated Ø 21mm round connector complements the well established 10BV and 16BV systems, adding to the program a particularly powerful solution with current carrying capacity up to 800A. Read more
Schaeffler Bundling Electric Mobility Activities
Schaeffler is bundling its numerous activities relating to electric mobility in an eMobility Systems Division. With the creation of the new eMobility Systems Division, Schaeffler is pursuing a holistic approach that integrates the expertise of both the Automotive and Industrial divisions. Read more
Fujitsu Infrastructure for SAP HANA
Fujitsu announced the global availability of Fujitsu infrastructure certified by SAP AG and optimized for running SAP HANA appliance software, backed by a new Global Demo Center in support of SAP HANA. At the same time, Fujitsu has also completed a major implementation of SAP HANA for customer Mitsui & Co., Ltd. Read more
Gartner Announces Supply Chain Top 25
Gartner, Inc. has released the findings from its seventh annual Supply Chain Top 25. The goal of the Supply Chain Top 25 research initiative is to raise awareness of the supply chain discipline and how it impacts the business. Apple maintains the top position for the fourth year in a row. Read more
Series Production for Lead-free Piezo Material
PI Ceramic (PIC), a worldwide player in the field of actuator and sensoric piezo products, now offers a lead-free piezo material for lead-free ultrasonic transducers.
The PIC 700 material is based on bismuth sodium titanat and is produced as a block by pressing technology. The piezoelectric characteristics are promising: PIC 700 has a high coupling factor for the flexural vibration and is thus suitable as an ultrasonic transducer in the MHz range and also for sonar and hydrophone applications. The maximum operating temperature is 200°C. PI Ceramic is currently investigating technologies to reliably manufacture lead-free ceramic components in series production.
Figure: PIC 700 Material, photo PI Ceramic (PIC)
Lightweight Construction in the Fast Lane
Fierce competition has broken out in the automotive industry. Who can build the lightest car? The less a vehicle weighs, the more likely it is to meet maximum energy efficiency requirements. Cars of the future will be measured by their fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Regardless of whether the car is powered by an electric drive system, a hybrid drive, or has a conventional combustion engine – the lightweights will come out top. However, car bodies must lose none of the necessary rigidity. Modern car body engineers are experimenting with suitable compound materials, combining different metals such as steel and aluminium. This meant a rethink of the assembly processes. Read more
Jenoptik Signs Delivery Contract with Magna
Jenoptik’s Optical Systems division and Magna Electronics Europe GmbH & Co. KG have entered a framework agreement for the supply of optical sensors. The agreement in the low double-digit million euros range starts in mid-April 2011 with the technical systems for the new contract installed at Jenoptik’s Triptis, Germany facility. Series production of the sensor will start in the summer of this year. Read more
Market Report: Adhesives
They secure tiny electronic components as well as huge wind turbines. They hold both car bodies and trains together. Modern adhesives almost do wonders. “Adhesive bonding has become a key technology in many industrial sectors,” says Oliver Kutsch, CEO of Ceresana Research. The market research institute has scrutinized the European adhesive market from top to bottom. Read more
Strong Demand for Copper Products
In fiscal year 2009/10 Aurubis AG achieved a considerable increase in earnings, generating earnings before taxes (EBT) of € 258 million. The Group benefited from the worldwide economic recovery and from the increased demand for products from copper processing. The high refining charges for copper scrap and the price for sulphuric acid, which recently rose again, also contributed to the increase in earnings. Read more
ZF Realigns Activities
At the beginning of 2011, ZF Friedrichshafen AG will realign its business activities and adapt its structures to better meet the requirements of the market and the customers. To this end, the previous five divisions will be reclassified in a four-division model: Powertrain Technology, Chassis Technology, Commercial Vehicle Technology and Industrial Technology. Read more
Siemens Selects TI Best Supplier Worldwide
Siemens AG has honored its best suppliers worldwide in fiscal 2010. The four awards are shared between two major concerns and two mid-sized companies. The U.S. company Texas Instruments took first place in the overall ranking. In addition, Siemens selected the Trips Group Germany as the most innovative supplier, Franke GmbH with headquarters in Aalen, Germany, as the best in the Global Value Sourcing category and Deutsche Post DHL as the most sustainable supplier. Read more
High Profit Margins for Auto Suppliers
Revenues in the global automotive supplier industry have been recovering and are almost back to pre-crisis levels. EBIT margins will even reach an all-time high of approx. 6% in 2010. According to a new study of Roland Berger Strategy Consultants and Lazard, profit recovery is particularly strong at European and North American suppliers. Read more
Low-Emission Foam Gaskets in BMW 7 Series
Rampf Giessharze has been issued with a series release by Bavarian auto maker BMW for its Raku-Pur 32-3250-26 two-component sealing gaskets across all of its vehicle types. The thixotropic system provides impressive mechanical strength and low emission values, and is simple to apply even on components with the most complex geometries. Read more
Structural Oversupply on the Newsprint Market
Stora Enso to permanently close down 195 000 tonnes per year newsprint machine at Maxau by the end of November 2010. Read more
German Imports Hit Record Level in June
Germany exported commodities to the value of EUR 86.5 billion and imported commodities to the value of EUR 72.4 billion in June 2010. Hence, German exports increased by 28.5% and imports by 31.7% in June 2010 on June 2009. This was the highest monthly export value reported since October 2008 (EUR 88.7 billion). The import value for June 2010 was the highest ever reported since foreign trade statistics have been compiled for the Federal Republic of Germany in 1950. Read more
Hoisting Equipment by Pfaff-silberblau and Yale
The Columbus McKinnon Group’s (CMCO) two German subsidiaries present their products together. In a new brochure, the two companies are now showcasing their joint range of hoisting equipment that is approved for use in areas with potentially explosive atmospheres.
For the first time since it was acquired by the U.S.-based Columbus McKinnon Group (CMCO) in 2008, Pfaff-silberblau Hebezeugfabrik GmbH of Kissing, Germany, is presenting its products together with its German sister company, Yale Industrial Products, Velbert. Read more
